Front-End Server for Migration?

[matt.miller]

We're currently running in a single-server environment on a server with a 32-bit processor. We're looking to get up on 6.0 x64 on new server hardware and migrate our existing production clients into the new environment.

Ideally, I'd like to be able to run the 6.0 x64 system side-by-side with the old 5.x 32-bit system with some kind of front-end server which could take over the old host name and mediate traffic so that our existing clients can continue to access the 5.x environment none-the-wiser while we build the 6.x environment, migrate a few test domains over to the new side and get familiar with it, and then gradually move all of our client domains over to the new side and decomission the 5.x server.

I admit that this may be a pipe dream.

My question is two-fold: is there some way that I can make this "front end" server setup work using the zimbra-proxy services (which I have no experience with)? If not, how would you stage the upgrades that I have described?

We are running with the benefit of iSCSI storage for /opt/zimbra, if that might influence your answer.

Thanks very much!

[phoenix]

Why not set-up a Split Domain?

[matt.miller]

Originally Posted by phoenix

Why not set-up a Split Domain?

I might be missing what you're suggesting, but I don't think that this would solve the problem of our clients (we're a Zimbra host for other customers and have a number of domains associated) needing to change the hostname to which they connect when we move them to the new system.