can you achieve business continuity after a disaster?

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How to Strengthen Your HA/DR Strategywith Software-Based Data Replication

Can You Achieve Business Continuity After a Disaster?

HelpSystems Corporate Overview. All rights reserved.

Your Presenters

Tom HuntingtonExecutive Vice President of Technical SolutionsHelpSystems

with special guests

Robert SealPresident/OwneriSam Blue

David ContrerasSenior Architect/Engineer/Project ManagerContreras Technologies International


Agenda

• Expert insight into the IBM i high availability marketplace

• Pros and cons of software- vs. hardware-based replication

• Roadblocks to high availability and how to overcome them

• Questions and answers


What Drives HA Purchases?

• Fear of disaster– Hardware/equipment

– Natural

• Actual disaster– Too close hurricane

– Accidental human error

• Desire for business continuity

• Insurance policy

• Regulations


How Much Does One Hour of Downtime Cost?


Which Downtime Factors Make You the Most Concerned?

ITIC Study 2016


Top Causes of Downtime

ITIC Study 2016


The percent of IBM i shops without high availability has decreased year after year.

IBM i Marketplace Survey Resultsfrom HelpSystems

20162015 2017


Interview with Robert Seal

• http://www.isamblue.com

• 20+ years of HA experience

• Developer and implementer

http://www.isamblue.com/


iSam Blue Protects Our CustomersiSam Blue is focused on a single goal, protecting our customer data. We protect our customer’s data as if their lives depended on it, because a company’s economic life does depend on having access to their data.

iSam Blue has built its reputation by providing the best products and services at a fair price, backed by outstanding support! We sell products, but we build relationships.

Products Services

iSB-HA Enhanced real-time protection made easyRobot HA Business continuityiSB-DR Backup virtualizationiSB-AC Enhanced access controliSB-CR Compliance reporting

iSB-HST Hosting production and backup systems,

data storage (cloud)iSB-MON HA monitoring on IBM iiSB-MIG Migrations, upgrades, etc.iSB-CHK HA wellness checks

Hot products, proven services, and outstanding support, call i Sam Blue today.

801.938.3490 [email protected] iSamblue.BIZ


Agenda






Software-Based Replication Diagram

• Remote journaling– PF, data queues, data areas, IFS

– Real-time

• Save API– All other object types

– Interval-oriented

• User defines the rules

• IFS and library objectsImage credit: Glenn Robinson, RSI Consulting


Advantages of Software-Based Replication

• Faster activation of target system– No IPL or IASP vary-on required to switch

• Works with any disks

• Works across different levels of IBM hardware and software installations

• Replicated data can be used for other reasons like business intelligence (BI)

• Requires less bandwidth than hardware-based replication

• Provides granular control of data/objects/settings to be replicated

• Offers flexible configuration for multi-site replication


Disadvantages of Software-Based Replication

• Consumes IBM i CPU and memory overhead

• Must ensure you’ve identified all objects that need to be replicated

• Must ensure those objects are in sync and switch-ready at all times

• Introduces apply lag during batch processing and installations with large number of IFS objects

• Resources, operations, administration time and complexity– Send/apply lag, out-of-sync conditions, journal entry mismatches

• Complexity decreases confidence in switch readiness


PowerHA Hardware-Based Replication Diagram

• Hardware-based

• Anything in IASP

• Requires IASP

• Target IASP is not live

• Admin Domain is software for user profiles

Image credit: Laural Bauer, IBM


Advantages of Hardware-Based Replication

• Any object added to IASP is replicated

• Fast for planned role swaps

• Less babysitting

• Other advantages like FlashCopy with IBM storage area networks (SAN)


Disadvantages of Hardware-Based Replication

• Not granular

• Still requires local journals

• Requires more bandwidth

• What happens in a real emergency?– 34-step process on target

– Think abnormal IPL

• Must load all applications in IASP

• Hardware needs to be similar

• Confusing options from IBM


Consider Services

• Hire an expert for the role swap– You should be able to set up the software yourself

– You may only get one chance

• Many independent consultants who represent all HA technologies

• Consider an MSP to do it for you– Site for you to test

– Hosts your HA server


Timing

• When is the best time to test?– Weather considerations

– Flood considerations

– Seasonal business

– Time of month

– End of quarter

• Does timing matter in a true disaster?


Agenda






Roadblocks to High Availability

• Financial

• Fear

• Knowledge

• Deciding on a solution


Financial Roadblock

• HA is an insurance policy

• ROI is going to be based on cost of downtime– Potential for lost revenue

– Out of business

• ITIC study numbers can be used to help justify

• Contact your financial team to help determine what an hour of outage costs

• Your costs have to include CBU, software, and labor

• Consider working with a managed service provider


Fear Roadblock

• Fear of the technology is real

• This is proven technology

• IBM i has a lot of success stories

• Walk before you run on the role swaps

• Roleplay a failure and create a flow of the steps– Share with your colleagues

• Hire an expert


Knowledge Roadblock

• Do you understand your own environment?

• How easy is the solution you picked to implement?

• How easy is the day-to-day care?


Deciding on a Solution Roadblock

• Most solutions are mature by now

• The pros and cons of software vs. hardware

• Vendor help is a big factor

• Services and support offerings


Interview with Dave Contreras

David ContrerasSenior Architect/Engineer/Project Manager

Contreras Technologies International


Recap





Robot HA

Complete IBM i replication:

• Libraries

• IFS directories

• Object authorities

• System values and network attributes

• User profiles + authorization lists

• Configuration and TCP/IP attributes

• Spooled files

• Protect your business• Avoid data loss• Gain competitive advantage• Affordable to own• Quick and easy to install• Automatic auditing of backup• Eliminate hidden infrastructure costs


• Discuss HA goals

• Understand source/target requirements

• Review application requirements

• Build an implementation plan

Getting Started Servicesfor Robot HA

• Make sure the product is installed

• Initialize environment

• Synchronize users

• Set up email support

• Start defining replication objects

• Start replication

• Verify synchronization

• Product menus and commands

• Monitoring

• Role swap preparation and procedures

Planning Discussion Installation and Basic Setup Basic Training

Additional services available for:

• Complex replication configuration

• Role swap assistance


• We make every interaction a positive experience• 24/7 emergency support worldwide• 90% of support tickets are closed by the next day• Our support experts have vast experience• We do not use voicemail during business hours• Live chat is available via our website• We use web conferencing to troubleshoot• Our support team is dedicated to delivering

outstanding customer support

Customer Service Is a Core ValueHelpSystems is passionate about resolving problems and helping you get the most from your investment

Toll free: 800-328-1000Phone: +1 952-933-0609

[email protected]/support


Get Started

24/7 business demands 24/7 system and application availability. When you’re ready to avoid downtime—be it planned or unplanned—Robot HA is the fastest, easiest, most affordable way to establish high availability at your organization.

Visit www.helpsystems.com/cta/demo-robot-ha-live or call 800-328-1000 to request a demo.


Questions and Answers


Thank You for Attending!

Contact Information

Website:www.helpsystems.com

Telephone:800-328-1000 sales+1 952-933-0609 support

Presenters: Tom Huntington, HelpSystems+1 [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]