Linode Forum

[sblantipodi]

Hi,
in some months CentOS 6.0 should be available.

I'm sure that the linode's guys will support this distro as soon as it will be available but in the meantime I would like to know the best way to switch with zero downtime for my services.

Correct me if I'm wrong.

I must buy a second linode for only one month,
I deploy the CentOS 6.0 on it,
I configure it, once I finished configuring it what I need to do?

Should I clone new linode on the old one or what?

Thanks.

[pclissold]

sblantipodi wrote: I must buy a second linode for only one month,
You will be charged for one month, but you pay for the Linode only as long as you use it - once you delete the instance, any unused time is credited to your account and can be set against future invoices.

sblantipodi wrote: I configure it, once I finished configuring it what I need to do?

Should I clone new linode on the old one or what?
If both Linodes are in the same datacenter, you can just swap the IP addresses over.

[sblantipodi]

Ok, thanks.

Correct me if I understood well.

Current situation:
VPS #1 is running a fine configuration of CentOS 5.5 and it has 8 months remaining.

When CentOS 6.0 will be available I will buy a second VPS #2 where I will install CentOS 6.0 paying only one month.

Once the configuration on VPS #2 is finished,
I swap the IP address from Linode manager than I deactivate VPS #1 and the 8 months unused from VPS #1 will be added to VPS #2?

Right? :)

[Erasmus Darwin]

sblantipodi wrote: Once the configuration on VPS #2 is finished,
I swap the IP address from Linode manager than I deactivate VPS #1 and the 8 months unused from VPS #1 will be added to VPS #2?

As a quick note, swapping the IP address requires both linodes to be shutdown.

I believe the process will look something like this:

Create VPS #2 as monthly and have your CC get billed the prorated monthly fee (i.e. if it's the middle of the month and it's a 512 linode, you'd get billed 15/30 * $20 = $10)
Configure VPS #2 and make sure it's using DHCP for its IP address.
Shutdown VPS #2.
Shutdown VPS #1.
Swap IP addresses between #1 and #2.
Boot VPS #2.
Destroy VPS #1 and your Linode account (not your CC) will be credited with the prorated cost of the remaining 8 months worth of service (for a 512 linode, that should be around 8 * ($20 * 90%) = $144).
Submit a support ticket to Linode to switch VPS #2 over to yearly billing (which should eat up most of the credit on your account).

The (relatively minor) issues with this process:
- You'll be left with an extra credit on your account roughly equal to what you paid for the prorated month of VPS #2. It will, of course, get used up 8 months down the road when your next yearly fee is due. Unless you've got an expensive linode and a tight budget, I wouldn't worry about it. If you do worry, you can always make the switch toward the end of the month to minimize the amount.
- You will have a few minutes of downtime. The biggest factor will be the boot time of VPS #2 after you do the IP switch. I'd expect the downtime to easily be under 5 minutes (barring a problem). However, if you absolutely, positively need ZERO downtime, you'll need to use another method.

[sblantipodi]

From your explanations this will be a painless switch for me,
thanks for the kind answer.