Valid points.
Downtime. That's why we measure planned and unplanned downtime.
Unplanned downtime is normally not an issue with the System i and i5/os.
Golf, I hate to mention it but we have not had unplanned downtime in 7+
years. Lost a processor cooling fan on a 620. Right now I can count on
one hand the number of unplanned outages that we have had since 1988.
Of those 3 were human error. Only 2 that were system related.
Planned downtime isn't bad but I think in certain circumstances we may
look worse than other environments. Size matters. My larger systems
due incur longer downtimes for planned functions - backups, IPL, PTF
apply, new release, etc. We still maintain a 99.5% number but it's
tight on my larger systems. Our smaller systems have room to spare.
Michael Crump
Manager, Computing Services
Saint-Gobain Containers, Inc.
1509 S. Macedonia Ave.
Muncie, IN 47302
765.741.7696
765.741.7012 f
While you're waiting, read the free novel we sent you. It's a Spanish
story about a guy named 'Manual.'
Dilbert
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-----Original Message-----
From: midrange-nontech-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:midrange-nontech-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Joe Pluta
Sent: Wednesday, January 16, 2008 3:07 PM
To: 'Non-Technical Discussion about the AS400 / iSeries'
Subject: RE: i5 Youngsters
From: Walden H. Leverich
All servers WILL GO DOWN. Period. They'll both go down for unexpected
reasons (software/hardware/environment) and for planned reasons
(software/hardware/environment upgrades). What I'm describing is a way
to provide application availability on a 24x7x365 manner at a fraction
of the cost of a single System i, let alone the minimum of two you'd
need to support 24x7x365.
I'm going to avoid most of the debate here, but I am going to make a
couple
of points. Take 'em or leave 'em.
First, I question the phrase "fraction of the cost". Please make sure
when
you price your Windows solution, you price in tape backup and solid
backup
software, neither of which comes with a standard Windows server
configuration (at least that I've seen). The "fraction" becomes a much
higher fraction, and that's when comparing one machine to another.
I'm also going to make sure you're VERY specific about high
availability.
In my experience, very few sites need 24x7x365. Nearly every production
system, from banks to storefronts, have periods of scheduled downtime
where
all they need is a web page that says "will be back shortly".
With proper journaling and save-while-active, an i5 need only be
unavailable
for short, scheduled downtimes. Something like an hour somewhere
between
once a month and once a quarter, depending on the workload, primarily to
apply PTFs.
That's something like 99.95% uptime; please identify the situations
where
you need more than that. Correct me if I'm wrong, but that level of
uptime
for a Windows server typically requires multiple reboots because you
have to
apply patches regularly. So unless I'm mistaken (and you'll correct me,
Walden, I'm sure <smile>), it really requires two Windows servers to
match
the availability of a single System i for all but the most rigorous
requirements. Add THAT to your "fraction" and I think you might be
surprised which is cheaper.
I'm not arguing that Windows server is much more stable than it used to
be.
But I still have a problem saying it's equivalent to the stability of
i5/OS,
and the ease of administration of the operating system.
I just want to make sure we're talking about real business needs, not
marketing hype. Personally, I think the phrase "24x7x365" is something
of a
marketing hypebole. (Heck, it really should just be "24x365", but I
digress. <grin>)
Joe
midrange.com
