Pau Lo
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high availability of physical servers
Is there anyway to build in fault tolerance/high availability into physical servers? Our IT section has a core applicaiton server that is still a physical - for virtual machines if the host they were on blew up - the HA cluster would restart them on another host, but for physical servers - what kind of HA safeguards can you build in if any? Or are they single points of failure?
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ASKER
Can you elaborate on this:
>.First of all the OSes involved.
>.There are active/active and active/passive Clusters.
>.First of all the OSes involved.
>.There are active/active and active/passive Clusters.
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What are the general ballpark costs for a high spec applicaiton server (physical) in todays market?
ASKER
Wondering if the lack of cluster setup may be due to limited resources £/$
Availability is just about, money, how much downtime can the business afford, and the technical ability to implement a solution. (which could be money, if your need Consultancy!)
Spend more money on a solution, and obtain high availability.
e.g. simple downtime, you will need an additional server, and additional Microsoft OS, for Clustering, with 1-2mins of downtime, zero downtime, more money.
Spend more money on a solution, and obtain high availability.
e.g. simple downtime, you will need an additional server, and additional Microsoft OS, for Clustering, with 1-2mins of downtime, zero downtime, more money.
ASKER
What are the general ballpark costs for a high spec applicaiton server (physical) in todays market?
ASKER
And if you have no cluster setup - can you give an expert opinion how long it takes to rebuild a physical server from scratch, i.e what considerations are there on this front as to how quickly you can rebuild and get back up and running, are you talking days, weeks, longer?
At a rush, it would take us 5 hours, that's from inserting DVD/CDROM, Applying the same Security Patches, based on Windows 2008 R2, and applying specification configuration.
That is just a base OS, install 4 hours+patches, 1 hour configuration.
That's 5 hours to complete, not 5 man hours of effort.
Considerations, what does the server do?
That is just a base OS, install 4 hours+patches, 1 hour configuration.
That's 5 hours to complete, not 5 man hours of effort.
Considerations, what does the server do?
ASKER
Do you not have to wait for the new kit to arrive though? I.e. if a physical server dies, is there not also the period of time where the new hardware arrives - what are common turnaround times for that?
That's assuming we have hardware in stock, which we do! (in the warehouse!), of all production systems for clients! (New, Sealed in Boxes!).
Lead times for hardware replacement, and assuming different hardware, that 5 hour, could be weeks.
Procurement time - 2 weeks, delivery of hardware is not uncommon, for Dell or HP, IBM.
Of course, most hardware is under Support and Service Agreement with Dell/HP, on a 1 or 4 hour turnaround.
Lead times for hardware replacement, and assuming different hardware, that 5 hour, could be weeks.
Procurement time - 2 weeks, delivery of hardware is not uncommon, for Dell or HP, IBM.
Of course, most hardware is under Support and Service Agreement with Dell/HP, on a 1 or 4 hour turnaround.
If you don't have a HA solution, you should at least set up a Disaster Recovery (DR) policy. The DR documents what steps must be performed in order to make the Server UP again. Furthermore, the DR also estimates how long the Server will be DOWN in case of different failures.
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>Of course, most hardware is under Support and Service Agreement with Dell/HP, on a 1 or 4 hour turnaround.
What does this mean, i.e. 1 hour to get the actual hardware to your office? or what is the 1-4 hour turnaround specific too?
What does this mean, i.e. 1 hour to get the actual hardware to your office? or what is the 1-4 hour turnaround specific too?
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Log a call with HP, and they will supply and engineer and parts to fix your server within 1 or 4 hours, depending upon Support Contract.
What OS/application is involved, there may be a cluster solution at the application level, e.g. Oracle RAC.
ASKER
OS is WIndows Server but it isnt a well known application.
ASKER
I'm confused, this hints at a new server would take 2 weeks to arrive, but then the bottom bit says it would only take 4 hours to get the hardware. Or are you saying once purchased (i.e. the 2 weeks), then it is only 4 hours for the admin to arrive with it and fit it for you. So in total 2 weeks and 4 hours.
Procurement time - 2 weeks, delivery of hardware is not uncommon, for Dell or HP, IBM.
Of course, most hardware is under Support and Service Agreement with Dell/HP, on a 1 or 4 hour turnaround.
You either
1. purchase a new server if you have NO SUPPORT CONTRACT
2. Get it repaired if you have a SUPPORT CONTRACT
1. purchase a new server if you have NO SUPPORT CONTRACT
2. Get it repaired if you have a SUPPORT CONTRACT
ASKER
understood, many thanks
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