IT Infrastructure Migration Project

The IT Infrastructure Migration Project is a university‑wide initiative led by IT Services to modernize and strengthen the institution’s technology environment. As part of this initiative, all University virtual machines (VMs) will be migrated from VMware to Oracle Linux Virtualization Manager (OLVM).

This migration involves:

• Establishing the new OLVM platform and preparing the servers that will host the migrated virtual machines.
• Copying, converting, and validating each virtual machine to ensure compatibility with the new environment.
• Recreating the necessary network configurations and storage connections required for each system.
• Verifying that all applications and services continue to function as expected once migrated.

The goal of this project is to transition university systems to a more sustainable, cost-effective, and reliable infrastructure with minimal disruption to operations.

A helpful way to understand the migration is to think of it like moving from one apartment building to another. First, we need to make sure the new building is fully ready. Then we move each individual “apartment” (VM), reconnect all the “utilities” (network, storage, access), and verify everything works the same way it did before. 

The migration will begin in February 2026 and continue through the summer, with all migrations completed by August 2026.

Migrating to updated system platforms will help the university:

• Reduce licensing and operating costs
• Make better use of existing technology investments
• Strengthen the long‑term stability of our IT environment

Yes. Many applications and services require brief, planned outages while they are migrated to the new infrastructure. 

Most outages will last 1–2 hours. However, systems running on larger or more complex virtual machines may require slightly longer downtime. 

Each application will require at least one planned outage. Applications with associated databases may require two or more planned outages. 

  

Outages will be planned in consultation with impacted departments to reduce disruption and avoid peak operational periods whenever possible. 

In most cases, no action is required. The migration work happens behind the scenes. You will simply need to avoid using affected systems during the scheduled outage windows. 

Affected users or departments will be notified well in advance with details on timing, impact, and what to expect. 

Each application has a dedicated system analyst who will coordinate the migration for the application and related servers.