Clustering and Storage Area Networks

Clustering / SAN Specialists

What is Clustering?

Clustering is the high availability technolgy for Server Infrastructure. A number of servers (minimum of 2) are interconnected via a private network and all have access to a shared area of storage (disks). The information is hosted by these servers and in the event of a failure is switched to another server. Resilient Clusters give the business 99.99% data availability and virtually eliminate down time.

Why would I require Clustering?

Clustering is required if the information stored on the servers is mission critical. In other words if not having the data for a day is unacceptable then Clustering is required. Clustering ensures that there is enough resilience available in the system to combat most failures.


	View large diagram The diagram above shows a resilience Server Cluster along with the redundant hardware. In the case of failure, a redundant piece of equipment will take over the services whilst the users carry on working. If for example a server crashed, the services hosted upon it would be


	transferred across to another, if a Fibre switch failed (or a fibre cable), the services would be transferred across to the other. SDS use Hewlett Packard Storageworks for their hardware. This hardware is reliable and expandable as well as being cost effective. The hardware is monitored through specialist HP software that is forwarded across to SDS on a daily basis. This lets us identify any potential problems before they occur. SDS specialise in Clustered Novell Systems and the specialised Novell support for them. Backups can easily be added to Clustering and again resilience ensures that backups are always completed and that data can always be restored. For more information on Clustering, please contact our Clustering Specialists at clustering@swift-ds.co.uk.

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