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March 24, 2023	Webinar: Maximizing Uptime: High Availability Strategies for SQL Server and Multi-Platform Environments Webinar: Maximizing Uptime: High Availability Strategies for SQL Server and Multi-Platform Environments Register for the On-Demand Webinar High availability is a critical requirement for any modern database system, and Microsoft SQL Server is no exception. Ensuring that your SQL Server databases remain available and operational in the face of hardware, software, and network failures requires careful planning and deployment of appropriate high-availability solutions. In this webinar, Dave Bermingham, SIOS Director of Customer Success, will explore the various high availability options available for SQL Server, including AlwaysOn Availability Groups, failover clustering, and database mirroring – as well as the advantages and limitations of each approach, and how to choose the right one for your particular needs. Dave will also discuss strategies for managing cross-platform compatibility, data consistency, and failover across different systems. Reproduced with permission from SIOS
March 15, 2023	3-node Clusters Frequently Asked Questions and Answers 3-node Clusters Frequently Asked Questions and Answers In today’s fast-paced business world, high availability and disaster recovery are essential for ensuring the continuity of operations and avoiding downtime. To achieve this, organizations are increasingly turning to 3-node clusters, which provide a way to increase reliability and protection from local, site-wide and even regional disasters. In this article, we will take a closer look at what a 3-node cluster is, why you might need one, and the different cluster management software solutions available for setting up a 3-node cluster in the cloud. What is a 3-node cluster? A 3-node cluster is a group of three interconnected computers that work together to provide increased reliability, availability, and scalability compared to a single node. At least one node in the group is geographically separated from the rest to enable operations to continue in the event of a disaster. Each node in a 3-node cluster can perform the same functions, and if one node fails, the others can take over to provide uninterrupted service. Why would I need a 3-node cluster? 3-node clusters are typically used in situations where high availability and disaster recovery are required. For example, a 3-node cluster is often used to protect mission-critical applications, such as ERP systems and databases that must be available 24/7. They may be used in on-premises data centers, in the public cloud, or in a combination of both. How does a 3-node cluster work? In a typical 3-node cluster, the critical application is run on the primary server node (A) and replicates data to secondary target node (B) located nearby and tertiary target node (C ) located in a geographically separated location. The clustering software monitors the application environment on A and, if it detects a failure, fails over operation to node B. Node B assumes the role of primary node and now must replicate to node C to maintain disaster protection. When operation is restored to node A, the nodes need to be switched back from B to A where A resumes replicating to C. What software do I need to set up a 3-node cluster? There are various cluster management software solutions available that can be used to set up a 3-node cluster. Some popular solutions provide the necessary tools and protocols to detect failures, and perform failovers. Limitations and Challenges of Cluster Management Software Solutions: While some clustering solutions are available for setting up a 3-node cluster, many have their limitations and challenges to be aware of. Many Linux-based solutions are challenging to set up and configure for those without extensive Linux experience and may not be the best solution for more complex and large scale deployments. Additionally, they may not provide some advanced features, such as automatic failover, which are available in other cluster management solutions. In several popular clustering LInux-based solutions, the failover from A to B, the replication change from new primary B to C and the switchback to original operations is highly manual and prone to errors, making protection of critical applications potentially unreliable. These solutions require specialized skills and knowledge to diagnose and troubleshoot issues that may arise in the cluster and may not be well-suited for large scale deployments. Adding Nodes to an Existing 3-node Cluster: The process for adding nodes to an existing cluster depends on the cluster management software you are using. In general, you will need to install the software on the new node and then join it to the existing cluster. You may also need to configure the software to recognize the new node and integrate it into the cluster’s management and failover mechanisms. What happens if more than one node fails in a 3-node cluster? This scenario could result in a complete loss of service if the remaining node does not have the necessary resources to continue providing the service. To avoid this, it is important to have a backup plan in place, such as having additional nodes available to take over if necessary or using cloud-based services to provide additional resources. With the ever-increasing demand for seamless and uninterrupted business operations, having a comprehensive understanding of these crucial aspects can set your organization apart and guarantee its success. From ensuring data protection and minimizing downtime, to providing an overall robust infrastructure, implementing high availability and disaster recovery is a valuable investment for your organization’s future. Embrace the challenge and take the first step towards a more resilient and efficient future by exploring the world of high availability and disaster recovery today! Contact SIOS today for High Availability and Disaster Recovery Solutions. Reproduced with permission from SIOS
March 11, 2023	Cloud Repatriation and HA Cloud Repatriation and HA There is a small but growing media buzz about a phenomenon called “cloud repatriation”. In simple terms, cloud repatriation means taking your workload from the public cloud and bringing it back to your own data center. This move could potentially boost the demand for on-premises equipment, such as servers, storage, and networking gear. It could also ramp up the need for solutions that make it easy to manage both on-premises and cloud-based resources. For companies running critical workloads in the cloud, repatriation could have significant impact on the ways they deliver high availability protection. It’s worth noting that the impact of cloud repatriation on the high availability market depends on a few things, like why organizations are choosing to go back to on-premises data centers, as well as other industry trends and competition. So why might organizations opt to leave the cloud? Common Reasons for Cloud Repatriation Cost: Running workloads in the cloud can be expensive and costs can be unpredictable, especially if an organization’s usage patterns and requirements change over time. Repatriating workloads back on-premises can help organizations reduce costs, particularly if they have unused capacity or can leverage existing infrastructure. It can also help make IT budgets more predictable. Data sovereignty: Some organizations may be subject to regulation that dictate what country their data is stored in, who has access to it, and how it is protected. Repatriating workloads can give organizations more control over their data and help them comply with data sovereignty laws and regulations. Security: Organizations may have security concerns about running workloads in the cloud, particularly if they handle sensitive data or are subject to strict regulatory requirements. While clouds have a variety of security measures, misconfguration is common and can result in security issues. By eliminating the need for cloud-specific knowledge, repatriating workloads can give organizations more control over their security posture. Latency: Cloud providers may be located far from the organization’s users, which can result in higher latency and slower response times. Repatriating workloads back on-premises can help organizations reduce latency and improve performance for their users. Control: While moving to the cloud saves companies the cost of IT infrastructure management, these savings come at the cost of control. Cloud providers manage and maintain the IT environments according their own schedules. Companies who repatriate their data centers regain complete control over their infrastructure, upgrades, updates, and maintenance. . Lack of Cloud Provider’s specific service or feature: Organizations may find that a particular service or feature is not available in the public cloud, and thus they might decide to repatriate the workload back on-premises. Please note that there could be other additional factors at play, but it’s crucial to keep in mind that these reasons may differ based on the organization’s industry and unique needs. High Availability in the Context of Public Cloud Repatriation For years, the public cloud has been popular as businesses flock to cloud-based solutions for their computing needs. But according to a recent InfoWorld [link to article] article, we might see a shift in 2023 as companies start to bring their data and workloads back in-house or to private clouds. One major reason for this move is the desire for greater availability and control over infrastructure. High availability (HA) is a critical aspect of modern IT infrastructure, ensuring that applications and services remain accessible and operational even in the face of hardware failures, software bugs, or other unforeseen events. In a public cloud environment, high availability is typically achieved through a combination of redundant infrastructure and automatic failover mechanisms, such as load balancing and auto-scaling. However, some businesses may find that the level of control they have over their cloud infrastructure is limited, and they may have concerns about data security, compliance, and vendor lock-in. These concerns can lead to a desire to bring workloads and data back on-premises or to private clouds. How a Hybrid Cloud Model Can Solve Problems One potential solution to these concerns is to adopt a hybrid cloud approach, where businesses leverage the best of both worlds by combining the scalability and flexibility of the public cloud with the control and security of on-premises or private cloud infrastructure. Hybrid cloud architectures can be designed to provide high availability by replicating data and services across multiple locations, both on-premises and in the cloud. Implementing a hybrid cloud architecture requires careful planning and design, with a focus on ensuring that workloads and data are distributed in a way that maximizes availability while minimizing latency and other performance issues. Some key considerations include selecting the appropriate cloud providers and on-premises infrastructure, ensuring that data is replicated and synchronized effectively, and designing failover mechanisms that can handle both planned and unplanned outages. Another important consideration is the need for effective monitoring and management of the hybrid cloud environment. This includes implementing automated monitoring tools to detect and respond to outages, ensuring that backups are regularly performed and tested, and establishing clear processes and procedures for handling incidents and disasters. SIOS High Availability Solutions So, while public cloud adoption has been on the rise for several years, concerns about control, security, and availability are leading some businesses to consider repatriating workloads and data to on-premises or private cloud environments. A hybrid cloud approach that combines the scalability and flexibility of the public cloud with the control and security of on-premises infrastructure can be an effective way to address these concerns while maintaining high levels of availability. In short, nailing a hybrid cloud setup takes serious prep work and know-how. Luckily, SIOS High Availability Solutions has got you covered. We invite you to learn more about our tools and services so you can confidently navigate your hybrid cloud journey. Reproduced with permission from SIOS
March 7, 2023	Video: High Availability for State, local government, and education (SLED) Video: High Availability for State, local government, and education (SLED) In this video, Dave Bermingham, SIOS Director of Customer Success, discusses the company’s provision of high availability solutions to state, local government, and education (SLED) organizations. Dave highlights the importance of high availability for SLED organizations, specifically mentioning communication and collaboration tools used by emergency services, financial management systems, student information systems, and learning management systems, which all need to be constantly accessible. He highlights the key features that a high availability solution should have, such as being cost-effective, reliable, providing redundancy, maintaining high-performance levels, detecting failures and performing recovery actions, scalable, and integratable with existing systems and infrastructure. Bermingham gives two examples of SIOS’s SANless clustering solution in action. The first example is how they provided high availability at both the application and data center level to eliminate downtime during university enrollment. The second example is how they worked with an integrator to ensure the call center CAD system was highly available and able to dispatch police, fire, or rescue teams during multiple disasters. It’s important to consider adding a high availability clustering solution like SIOS that can address the application level high availability needs which can then contribute towards maintaining application performance. Reproduce with permission from SIOS
March 2, 2023	8 Changes That Can Undermine Your High Availability Solution 8 Changes That Can Undermine Your High Availability Solution As VP of Customer Experience I have observed that most organizations are conscious and careful of deploying any tools or processes that could have an impact on their businesses’ high availability. These companies typically go through great care with regards to HA including strict change vetting for any HA Clustering, DR, Security, or Backup solution changes. Most companies understand changes to these tools needs to be carefully considered and tested so as to avoid impact to the overall application availability and system stability. IT administrators are aware that even the most inconspicuous change in their HA Clustering, Disaster Recovery, Security, or Backup solution can lead to a major disruption. However, changes in other workplace and productivity tools are most often not considered with the same diligence. Eight changes that can be undermining your HA solution: Lost Documentation Your existing tools often encapsulate a lot of documentation around the company, decisions, integrations, and overall HA architecture. As teams transition to new tools, these documents are often lost, or access becomes blocked or hampered. Suggested Improvement: Export and import all existing documents into the new tool. Use archive storage and backups to retain complete copies of the data before the import. Lost Requirements Similar to the lost documents, requirements are often the first thing to be lost when transferring tools. Suggested Improvement: Document known requirements, export requirements related documents from any existing productivity tools. Lost History and Mindshare Almost as important as the documentation and requirements is the history behind changes, revisions, and decisions. Many organizations keep historical information within workplace and office productivity tools. Such information could include decisions around tools and solutions that have been previously evaluated. When these workplace tools are changed or transitioned, this type of history can be lost. Existing tools often have a lot of tacit knowledge involved with them as well. As the new tools are integrated, that knowledge and mindshare disappears. Two decades ago our team migrated bug tracking solutions. The knowledge gap between the tools was huge and impacted multiple departments, including the IT team now tasked with managing, backing up, and resolving issues. Suggested Improvement: Be sure to adequately train and transfer mindshare and knowledge between new tools. Be sure that history, context and decisions around the current tools and previous tools are documented before terminating the current tool Lost Access / Access control Every new tool has a different set of security and access rules. Often in the transition teams end up with too many admins, not enough admins, or too many restrictions on permissions. Suggested Improvement: Map access and user controls, based on requirements and security rules, in advance and have a process for quick resolution. Lost Contacts Email and contact system migrations are rarely seamless. Even upgrades between existing versions can have consequences. One downside of a migration from one tool (Exchange to Gmail) could be lost contacts. Our team worked with a customer who once called our support team for help obtaining their partner contacts. Their transition for email systems had stalled and access to critical contacts was delayed. Suggested Improvement: Plan for contact migration and validation. Be sure that any critical contacts for your HA cluster are definitely a part of a validated migration step. Broken integration Broken integrations is a very common item that impacts high availability, monitoring and alerting. As companies move towards newer productivity tools, existing integrations may no longer work and require additional development. As a relative example, a company previously using Skype for messaging, moved away to Slack. Many of the tools that delivered messages via Skype needed to be adjusted. In your HA environment, a broken integration between dashboards or alert systems could mean critical notifications are not received in a timely manner. Suggested Improvement: Map out any automated workflows to help identify integration points between tools. Also work to identify any new requirements and integration opportunities. Plan and test integrations during the proof of concept or controlled deployment phase. Lost Champions Every tool set has a champion and a critic. The champion may or may not be the same as your administrator. The role of the champion changes within each organization and often with each tool, but what is common among them is their willingness to address issues, problems, or challenges with the new productivity tool for the benefit of themselves and others. The champion is the first to find the new features, uncover and report new issues, and help onboard new people to the toolset. Champions go beyond mindshare and history. Often with the changing of tool sets, your team will lose a champion. Lost Productivity New tools, even those not directly related to HA have an impact on your team’s productivity. Even tools related to priority management, development and code repositories require ramp up and onboarding time. This time often translates into lost productivity, which can translate into risks to your cluster. Make sure your processes related to all of the existing and new tools are documented well so that the change to a new tool does not cause confusion, break process flow and lead to even greater losses of productivity. Suggested Improvement: Reduce the risk of lost productivity by using training tools, leveraging a product champion, and making sure that rollout focuses on shortening the learning curve Changing workplace productivity tools so that you don’t undermine your high availability solution requires capturing requirements, identifying key documents, transferring mindshare, mapping dependencies, testing and configuring proper access, identifying a toolset champion. It’s making sure that your new tools actual improve productivity rather than pull your key resources away from maintaining uptime. Cassius Rhue, VP Customer Experience Reproduced with permission from SIOS

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