Shutting down an oVirt environment requires a careful, step-by-step approach to ensure the integrity of virtual machines (VMs) and hosts. Here’s a quick guide to help you gracefully stop an oVirt environment without risking data loss.
Step 1: Shut Down All Virtual Machines
Begin by logging into the oVirt management console. Navigate to **Compute → Virtual Machines** and select each running VM to initiate a **Shut Down**. Wait for each VM to shut down fully before moving to the next. For critical services, ensure they are safely stopped within the VMs themselves.
Step 2: Place Hosts in Maintenance Mode
Once all VMs are shut down, go to **Compute → Hosts**. Place each host in maintenance mode by selecting **Maintenance**. This automatically migrates any running VMs to other hosts, provided they are available. If not, make sure all VMs on a host are completely stopped before proceeding.
Step 3: Stop the oVirt Engine
Log into the server running the oVirt Engine (whether a VM or a physical server). Run the following command to safely stop the oVirt management engine:
systemctl stop ovirt-engine
Step 4: Optionally Shut Down Hosts
If necessary, you can now shut down the individual hosts by running:
systemctl poweroff
This step is optional if your goal is to stop only the VMs and management engine.
Step 5: Verify the Shutdown
Finally, verify that all VMs, hosts, and the oVirt Engine have stopped. Double-check each element to ensure the environment is completely inactive.
By following these steps, you can stop your oVirt environment gracefully, preserving data and maintaining system integrity. A structured shutdown approach ensures your infrastructure remains stable, minimizing potential issues when you restart your environment.
