SteelEye DataKeeper Cluster Edition extends Windows Server Failover Cluster

SteelEye DataKeeper Cluster Edition

SteelEye DataKeeper is a highly optimized host-based replication solution which integrates seamlessly with Windows Server 2008 Failover Clustering. New features of Windows Server 2008 Failover Clustering such as cross-subnet failover and tunable heartbeat parameters makes it possible for administrators to deploy geographically dispersed clusters. SteelEye DataKeeper provides the data replication mechanism which extends Windows Server 2008 Failover Clustering, allowing administrators to take advantage of these advanced features to support high availability and disaster recovery configurations.

Stand out features of SteelEye DataKeeper include:

Host-based synchronous or asynchronous block level volume replication
True Continuous Data Protection (CDP) allows any point in time rewind
Built in WAN optimization enables SteelEye DataKeeper to “pack the pipe” of a high speed/high latency network connection without the need for WAN accelerators
Compression algorithms make efficient use of available bandwidth
Bitmap-based intent logging eliminates the need for complete re-syncs
Bandwidth-throttling provides complete control over replication traffic
Intuitive wizard-driven MMC 3.0 User Interface
Supports multiple targets across LAN/WAN for cascading failover configurations
Extends traditional 2-node shared storage clusters to a 3rd node for disaster recovery

DataKeeper and Microsoft Windows Failover Cluster (WSFC) together

With the new features of WSFC making geographically dispersed clusters easier to implement and more robust, there is still one key ingredient that is needed in order to fully enable this feature - wide-area data replication. With the exception of Exchange 2007 CCR, Microsoft is supporting 3rd party hardware and software vendors to bring this technology to WSFC. SteelEye DataKeeper is one such solution and provides the optimal balance of ease of use, features and priceperformance to facilitate geographically dispersed clusters.

White Paper Supporting geographically dispersed Windows Server® 2008

SteelEye DataKeeper and Hyper-V clusters

One of the most compelling reasons to deploy virtualization in your data center is server portability. A VM can be moved from one server to another as simply as restoring a VM file to an alternate server, without regard to the server make and model. Such portability is extremely attractive when it comes to disaster recovery planning as VM restoration is much less complicated than traditional bare-metal recovery from tape backups.

SteelEye DataKeeper Standard Edition addresses the gaps of traditional backup and restore of Hyper-V VMs by doing acontinuous replication of a live running Hyper-V VM from your primary server to an alternate server located either locally in the same data center, across the WAN in your disaster recovery site, or both by utilizing the multiple target feature of DataKeeper.

White Paper Windows Server® 2008 Hyper-V™ Disaster Recovery and High Availability Solutions using SteelEye® DataKeeper

Multi-site clusters with DataKeeper

SteelEye DataKeeper Cluster Edition integrates with and extends Windows Server Failover Clustering (WSFC) and Microsoft Cluster Service (MSCS) to enable "shared-nothing" and multi-site failover clusters. DataKeeper replaces the traditional shared physical disk cluster resource with a DataKeeper replicated volume resource. Any application that can be clustered with Microsoft clustering can now be further protected with SteelEye DataKeeper Cluster Edition, eliminating the single point of failure represented by shared storage while also facilitating multi-site clusters for disaster recovery.

Challenges and Advantages

Multi-site Cluster Challenges	SteelEye DataKeeper Cluster Edition Advantages
Replication solution must integrate with the Windows cluster seamlessly	A new cluster resource type "DataKeeper Volume" is used to manage the replication from the cluster GUI, providing a completely integrated user experience.
Replication solution must be compatible with my current storage infrastructure	Replication between heterogeneous storage arrays is fully supported, including local attached disks, iSCSI and all SAN storage array types.
Common multi-site replication solution across all my applications	With support for any application, DataKeeper is an ideal multi-site cluster replication solution for Hyper-V, SQL, Exchange, File Servers and all other cluster resource types.
Array based replication efficiency in a host based replication solution	Unlike other host based replication solutions that which use file level replication, DataKeeper uses a much faster and efficient block level replication engine, which is commonly only delivered with expensive array based replication solutions.
Replicating across a WAN efficiently	SteelEye DataKeeper has built in WAN acceleration technology, eliminating the need to deploy hardware based WAN acceleration solutions commonly sold as an add-on with other host based replication solutions.
Need to guarantee data is always in sync	A choice of synchronous or asynchronous replication is included, allowing administrators to choose the best data protection for their requirements.
Must be simple to install, configure and manage	From a single setup executable, intuitive MMC interface and complete integration with the Windows failover cluster interface, DataKeeper makes multi-site clusters easy to build and manage.

partner

For help and information for the selected solution contact our partner.

Open Minds High Availability Solutions

17a Maybrook Rd

UK-B761AL Birmingham

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CC Computersysteme und Kommunikationstechnik GmbH

Wiener Strasse 114-116

D - 01219 Dresden