RE: Cost of the IBM Clustering solution

["Paul Nelson" <nelsonp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

This shop doesn't have an administrator for their iSeries. They change tapes
every morning, and that's it.

If something doesn't seem right, they reboot. Ask Larry about the folks in
Detroit.  :-))

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 5:06 PM
To: Midrange Systems Technical Discussion
Subject: 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