[SunHELP] REPOST: rsync for one time Oracle data migration to new array

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 >>rewritten for those that are particular about presentation and for 
potentially better yields of course... =)

     I would like feedback on a proposal that I have made to management 
which involves migrating an Oracle E-business suite installation from an 
older EMC FC4700 to a CX500 storage array.  One option proposed by EMC 
was to use LVM mirroring and detach the mirror later while the system 
was down.  This option does sound good because it allows us to bring the 
system up while resyncing.  We don't use Vertitas Volume manager for 
unlisted reasons and while I do use SDS for the root OS mirrors and have 
good success with it, I do not like altering my source data or access 
methods in any manner that could jeopardize its integrity.

    EMC Sancopy was also investigated, but an SSA at EMC has recently 
advised us that differences in flare code between the FC and CX arrays 
have lead to incompatibilities.

    I have cloned these installations many times both locally an across 
the wire using rsync and haven't had anything crop up which would lead 
me to believe my data was not 1 to 1.  I have proposed that I would 
perform an initial sync of the files during the day to get the majority 
of the work done before a migration weekend.  When the system could be 
brought down I would have rsync copy or delete what it needs on the 
target to get things 1:1 with the source.  Since the Oracle database 
files are every changing and large I've chosen to skip these files until 
we are down and executing the migration. 

     One of the questions I was asked by management was if rsync had any 
directory depth limitations.  My initial response is that I think rsync 
would complain if it ran into something like and I also believe that 
rsync would use up the system memory before it ran into a depth 
limitation.  I'm pretty certain that the file types (ie. regular files, 
links, etc) in an Oracle installation can be handled by rsync.  For any 
option I think most of the concern lies within mapping the luns 
correctly, copying the data to the right luns, making sure all relevant 
mount points for each server are considered, and using the original 
mount point names for the new luns.

Do you guys have any feedback on this?  Its fuel to fire or perhaps 
things I should consider.

Thanks.

2 servers Solaris 9, 2 Solaris 8
all running rsync 2.6.8