Move a Search Engine Index to Another Machine

When the Search Engine index is full, you can move the index to a Search Engine on a virtual machine that is configured in search-only mode. In search only mode, the content indexing data in the Search Engine is available for searches, but no new data can be content indexed by the search-only Search Engine. Because there are no content indexing operations performed by the search-only Search Engine, fewer computing resources are required by the search-only Search Engine than the normal Search Engine.

Before You Begin

• Plan enough time to move the Search Engine index. Moving the index includes optimizing, backing up, and copying the index. Depending on the size of the index and the performance of your computer hardware and network, moving the Search Engine index might take several hours to complete.

• You must download the P2V CI Index Move workflow from the Commvault Store, and then deploy it on the Workflow Engine you want to use.

• Stop any active content indexing jobs running on the CommCell. See Killing a Job in the Job Controller.

• Create a virtual machine for the search only Search Engine that meets the following minimum requirements:

  • An operating system supported by the Search Engine software.

  • Unique host name and IP address.

  • 8 virtual CPU cores.

  • 16 GB RAM Memory.

  • Disk space equal to 110% the size of the content index.

  For additional Search Engine requirements, see System Requirements - Search Engine.

Procedure

1. Disable content indexing in the CommCell environment.

   For information, see Disable Offline Content Indexing.

2. On the physical Search Engine, run optimization.

   For information, see Optimize the Search Index.

   Note

   Optimization involves rewriting the entire search index. As a result, the disk where the index is located must have free disk space that is equal to the size of the index. For example, if the index you want to optimize is 1TB, then the disk where the index is located must have at least 1TB of additional free disk space. The optimize command will fail for an index located on a disk without enough free disk space. For a large index, optimization could take several hours to complete.

3. Install the Search Engine software on the virtual machine.

   During installation of the Search Engine software, complete the following additional steps:

   • Install the Search Engine package.

   • Select Join Existing Search Engine to add the virtual Search Engine to the same Search Engine cloud as the physical Search Engine. Do not create a new Search Engine cloud.

   For instructions about installing the Search Engine software, see Installing the Search Engine.

4. Back up the physical Search Engine index and EXTStoreIndex folders.

   Caution

   There are several folders in the CIIndex folder. Only backup the index and EXTStoreIndex folders within the index location (by default, CIIndex\index and CIIndex\EXTStoreIndex). Do not backup the entire contents of the index location (CIINDEX) folder.

   For instructions, see Back up the Search Index.

5. Run the P2V CI Index Move workflow to move the index from the physical Search Engine to the Search Engine on the virtual machine.

   For instructions, see Change the Location of the Search Index.

6. After the workflow job is complete, log in to the physical Search Engine client, and do the following:

   1. Stop the services.

   2. Rename the CIIndex\index and CIIndex\EXTStoreIndex folders to index_old and EXTStoreIndex_old.

   3. Start the services.

7. Verify that search and restore operations can be performed on the virtual Search Engine from the Web Console or Compliance Search.

8. Log in to the physical Search Engine client, and delete the contents of the CIIndex\index_old and CIIndex\EXTStoreIndex_old folders.

9. Re-enable content indexing in the CommCell environment.

   For instructions, see Disable Offline Content Indexing.