HP ProLiant 3000 Compaq Servers: Enterprise Class Performance Leading the Way - Page 4

ECG078/0498 WHITE PAPER COMPAQ SERVERS: ENTERPRISE CLASS SYSTEMS 4... High Availability System performance is only part of the Compaq story concerning enterprise class performance. High availability is also required for database servers to support applications that are required to be available around the clock to support critical business needs. Compaq uses five levels of availability spanning a wide spectrum of availability requirements to design solutions tailored to each customer's environment. ♦ Level 1 High Availability (HA), currently available, is a realm characterized by single server configurations. Although these are single server environments, a lot of HA capability is built into Compaq servers to enhance uptime and minimize downtime, (e.g. redundant components, hot-swap components, etc.). Level 1 HA includes the standard subsystems such as Error Checking and Correction (ECC) memory, PCI Hot Plug, and Redundant NIC technology. Remote Insight Board, a highly intelligent remote management board providing continuous out-of-band communication and critical alert delivery, is also a Level 1 HA property. Remote Insight Board offers complete hardware independence from the server. With its own processor, memory, and battery backup, the board allows access to the server even if there has been a hardware fault or power loss. Thus, even though server components or the entire server have failed at a remote location, support staff at another location can dial into the server, ascertain the problem, and begin problem resolutions. As a result, server "health" is always known, and unplanned downtime can be greatly reduced. Combined with these hardware HA features, availability-enhancing software, such as system and network management facilities and anti-virus protection, are combined with good business practices such as security and appropriate training. In addition, appropriate services agreements are implemented, (e.g. improved response time). ♦ Level 2 solutions, also currently available, are designed to increase data protection and to improve data availability. Compaq servers utilize hardware RAID technology such as Compaq Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology (S.M.A.R.T.) drives, and SMART-2 controllers and drive arrays. Compaq further improved data high availability by recently delivering fibre channel-based storage solutions to the market, which results in nondisruptive growth. In addition, Level 2 solutions include On-Line Storage Controller Recover Option (OSCRO) that is an automatic failover option that protects from server failure, a failed array controller, or a failed external cable. Using OSCRO, these systems will automatically failover, providing redundancy without loss of access to storage. ♦ Level 3 solutions build upon Level 2 data availability solutions and concentrate on delivering higher server and application availability for both planned and unplanned downtime. Level 3 HA is based on multi-server, cluster configurations, in which two or more servers are connected together for increased availability, or higher performance, or both. Cluster management software constantly monitors the health of each server. If either server experiences component or complete server failure, the cluster management software automatically detects the error or failure. Immediately and automatically, ownership of application software, disk and network resources is passed to the other node in the cluster, quickly returning complete services to end users. Such error or failure detection and application failover is fully automated; no operator intervention is required. Level 3 RSO Clusters are currently available. In addition to RSO Clusters already offered, Compaq will offer two new series of cluster products within the ProLiant Cluster family. Both of these new products utilize the Microsoft Cluster Server (MSCS) as the cluster software. The "Series F" supports a broad range of