Performing R1 R2 swap with Async devices

Have you checked the Symmetrix Procedure Generator on PowerLink? This may have the information you are looking for. If within PowerLink you select Support then Support by Product you can then select Symmetrix. Once on the Symmetrix Support website on the right hand side the Top Tools is a link to the Procedure Generator. The following link may also get you there https://support.emc.com/products/Symmetrix.aspx

I did check the procedure generator first but found it a tad unclear. It states that "dynamic swap cannot be performed for SRDF/A devices that are enabled for consistency protection or if the SRDF/A session is actively copying". Are there pre-commands I run to take consistency protection off and to ensure there is not a session actively copying?

I guess you need the following command:

symrdf -g YourOwnDg disable

"actively copying" = devices are Consistent (RDF is pushing data from R1 to R2).

You can check if SRDF/A is already running using symrdf command (again) ...
Issue the following command and check both the output and the return code ($?)

symrdf -g YourOwnDg verify -consistent

AFAIK symrdf swap works with both static and dynamic pairs. In case you have dynamic pairs it's quick and easy. In case you have static pairs it will trigger a couple of symconfigure to actually swap pairs (thus you need a code that supports swapping static pairs via symconfigure).

I did this in my last job, don't have the documentation with me
but after you've disabled consistency
you use the symrdf -g swap refresh R1|R2 to perform the "personality swap" I believe this only work for dynamic RDF devices.

Stefano, based on the procedure for the RDF Swap in the procedure generator you are correct and that you can swap both static and dynamic RDF pairs.

good calls guys, I never tried it with static RDF pairs but was told that it wouldn't work.

the info came from our EMC solutions architect. In our implementation, we're doing SRDF/A with our celerra using static RDF pairs, would that make any difference?

I guess we need to talk directly to the guy that told you it's not possible. There are a lot of different things that he may know and we ignore. Can you please write me an email (you can easily guess my email address, write my surname without spaces, followed by an underscore and next by my name at emc.com) and tell me his/her name .. We'll talk to him/her directly and share results with you.