Unlocking the Power of wrangler_

The utilisation of wrangler_ for transitioning HCS or on-premise customers to Webex Calling is widely acknowledged. However, the potential of wrangler_ extends beyond mere like-for-like user and configuration migration.

In this article, we delve into the versatile capabilities of wrangler_ that address intricate customer demands. These include:

  • Cluster consolidation and separation

  • Hybrid redeployment

  • Configuration cleansing and standardisation

  • The wrangler_ rules and data validation engine

  • Phased migrations with fast rediscover

Cluster consolidation and separation

Whether you’re moving to the Cloud or staying where you are for now, consolidation of Call Manager clusters can reduce cost and management overhead. When moving to WxC (DI or MT) cluster size will be dictated by users and so out of your control.  The complex process of combining multiple clusters of information is historically a tedious manual process filled with opportunities for error, business disruption and costly, time consuming roll backs. For specific cases like redeploying to a hybrid architecture or divestiture, cluster separation is vital.

wrangler_ significantly simplifies this process by identifying multiple source clusters and seamlessly mapping user and configuration data to new targets. The robust rules engine within wrangler_ ensures data integrity before attempting migration, instilling confidence in successful cut-overs.

Hybrid Redeployment

Perhaps it does not yet makes sense to take all users to the Cloud but there is a good business case for moving a range of users such as certain sites or a particular functional group, don’t let the complexity and cost of migration be a blocker. wrangler_ has the ability to take your existing cluster/s and plan for staged redeployment to WxC DI, WxC MT, On-premise clusters or any combination of the above that makes sense for you. 

Cross-site dependancy checking will notify you when configuration spans migration groups and offers one-click resolutions to move configuration into the current migration batch or cut the configuration dependancies to be re-joined at a later stage of the project.

Configuration cleansing and standardisation

Our collaboration environments can have a rich history, sometimes the base configuration that has evolved into today’s solution was deployed decades ago. Your organisation has grown, business requirements have changed, acquisitions have led to multiple naming conventions etc. etc. Upgrades and migrations are the ideal opportunity to bring some order to the chaos but invariably it’s all hands on deck with manual data manipulation just to get the migration delivered on time.

When you use wrangler_ to perform the heavy lifting of data migration it free’s up your time to standardise and improve. wrangler_’s powerful data mapping and bulk editing engine allows for the configuration to be cleansed away from the source or target environment. The best bit is knowing whatever changes you make will be checked via wrangler’s data validation engine before you attempt to load to the new systems. 

The wrangler_ rules and data validation engine

Migrating to a new platform or just upgrading to the latest release, wrangler_’s data validation engine ensures that your data is ready prior to attempting any system loads. Source data is validated upon import, any changes made within the data are validated, migration batches and inter-site dependancies assessed and load order established. Once this is complete we check the data prior to loading - that’s a lot of validation but this exhaustive validation process eradicates the risk of failed loads or cutover disruptions.

“wrangler_ was used recently to migrate 425,000 configuration objects from a customer mega-cluster. This messy system had more than 45,000 configuration errors that were quickly and easily corrected through validation rule resolutions and bulk changes. This system loaded with only 230 unexpected errors resulting in a 0.054% error rate, with those being resolved in a few hours”

Phased Migrations with Fast Rediscover

wrangler_ empowers you to define migration batches and exert meticulous control over migration timing. There’s no need for extended change freezes or messy manual tracking of system changes. Following an initial system discovery, subsequent rediscovery can be accomplished in minutes, integrating source updates into migration configurations.

wrangler_ is unequivocally indispensable for Webex Calling migration. Yet, its true might is exhibited through functionalities extending beyond migration. With cluster management, redeployment options, data cleansing, and robust validation, wrangler_ transforms complex operations into streamlined endeavours. It's not just a migration tool; it's a comprehensive solution for evolving communication landscapes. Of course once users have been migrated it’s time to test with test_mate.

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Migration Factory - Part 8 - WxC-MT testing using test_mate