Re: Cost of the IBM Clustering solution

Really? We don't spend very much time on ours... we do the morning checks
which only takes a few minutes. Sometimes there might be an issue, but
that is almost always a network problem which we pass on to someone else.
I would think that you have to do some checks each day with the PowerHA
stuff just to keep an eye on how many records you are behind, and your
maximum exposure window.


Thanks
Bryce Martin
Programmer/Analyst I
570-546-4777



Jim Oberholtzer <midrangel@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent by: midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx
03/29/2011 06:05 PM
Please respond to
Midrange Systems Technical Discussion <midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx>


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Re: Cost of the IBM Clustering solution






Actually, once it is set up , it is. The extra skills needed to keep a
PowerHA environment running is significantly lower than an application
layer product. It's only slight difference in Admin functions.

Ask anyone who really administers any one of the application layer
products how much time they spend making sure the replication is
working. It's lots by comparison to almost none.

Jim Oberholtzer
CEO/Chief Technical Architect
Agile Technology Architects, LLC


On 3/29/2011 4:41 PM, Paul Nelson wrote:

Hmmm. Sounds like the IBM tool is not designed for a shop with zero

iSeries

talent.

Paul Nelson
Office 512-392-2577
Cell 708-670-6978
nelsonp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx


-----Original Message-----
From:midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Jim Oberholtzer
Sent: Tuesday, March 29, 2011 4:31 PM
To: Midrange Systems Technical Discussion
Subject: Re: Cost of the IBM Clustering solution

I don't know about "built in", but they do have totally integrated
products.

PowerHA is the replication tool that pushes data at a storage level (as
opposed to application layer like the Vision products do) between
systems. The same software can do clustering. Each of those software
pieces are extra charge options for IBM i, but they are also very
inexpensive as compared to similar products. They are massively cheaper
than full blown SAN replication software from IBM or EMC.

Roll your own, I'm guessing that's not gonna happen in any meaningful
way since you cannot write code that exists in the LIC the way IBM can,
so it would have to be at the application layer. Vision has that all
wrapped up.

Jim Oberholtzer
CEO/Chief Technical Architect
Agile Technology Architects, LLC


On 3/29/2011 3:43 PM, Paul Nelson wrote:

I had somebody ask me this question today:

"Why would I buy a High Availability program when IBM's got

clustering

built

in?"

I didn't have an answer for him, but I said I'd find out. My initial

thought

was that it would be cheaper to buy a package than to roll your own.

Any and all suggestions are welcome. Thanks.
Paul Nelson
Cell 708-670-6978
Office 512-392-2577
nelsonp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx