Mark:
thanks for your valuable input. I, many years ago, performed a cross-platform dump-n-load to move databases from windows to SUN. And now moving the same databases, albeit much larger, from SUN to Linux. So, know some of the steps -- but thanks for the link.
I am not changing dataserver page size, character set and/or sort order, so the cross-platform dump-n-load process may be best option.
I do have a replication environment, so if you have more details on how to minimize downtime/migration time would be great!
and YES, i am a true sadist -- so, changing both platform and minor upgrade (from 15.5 to 15.7) during the migration. I should start the process to migrate the test environment next week.
Thanks again.
Joe