| G'day Larry,
I saw your notes in DECnis conference. To clarify the DL3000 first. It is
in fact a combination of our DEFZA-AA card and Digital Link T3 technology.
Digital Link did the reengineering to glue the two pieces together. Now
that we have that piece of trivia out of the way, down to the good stuff.
Presumably your customer is after a disaster tolerant computing environment
and as such a decision needs to be made about the level of "availability"
that is required. I am assuming that your customer has performed a business
impact analysis and have generated from that, a disaster recovery plan.
This will determine how the VMScluster gets set up and managed. At the end
of this note I have attached a sales update article which positions Business
recovery server (BRS=managed) vs FDDI VMScluster (unmanaged), its worth an
optic at the very least, if you haven't seen it already.
The config. at one of our sites is connecting DL3000 to DC500 boxes and
hosts connected to FDDI. DECnis 600 is used as the FDDI to Ethernet
interconnect and WAN cards as backup land line links using ST.
In the other site we have config. of GIGAswitch using AGL-2 line card,
hosts connected to GIGAswitch, DECbridge 600 as the FDDI to Ethernet
interconnect, existing TransLAN's as land line backup links.
As far as I am aware routed clusters are not supported. Bridged yes !
The problem with the first scenario is that all FDDI traffic regardless of
which site it is in, is sent across the T3 service, meaning unnecessary
traffic is being generated over the T3 link, this is a function of the
DL3000. This is where it is much better to have GIGAswitch/T3 as GIGAswitch
will filter traffic off the T3 service, keeping bandwidth availability to a
maximum.
GIGAswitch/AGL-2 uses ATM framing (AAL5) irrespective of whether
you are using T3 or SONET physical interface. My understanding is that FDDI
packet is encapsulated in AAL5 frame then broken into 53 byte ATM cells,
loaded into T3 or SONET/SDH frame payload and transmitted.
I can only provide to you a costing exercise for T3 �wave as applicable to
the Australian marketplace not knowing tarriffs and �wave prices in North
America. In OZ, PTT T3/E3 services are limited in distance and extremely
expensive. For a maximum distance available of 39Km's and for a MINIMUM
rental period of 3 years the cost is in excess A$440K/year not including
original installation, clearly very expensive. For a service such as yours
at around 17Km's cost per year is greater than A$300K plus install.
Now when we configure a T3 �wave network, the cost to the customer is around
A$170K and includes installation, 12 months onsite DECservice warranty,
radio licensing fees. The system price also includes 2 power supplies
(usually 48VDC) and is field upgradeable to redundant T3 connection, ATI call it
Hot Standby protected, Hot swap and Live insertion are supported) plus inbuilt
scrambling as I mentioned before. The only thing that is not costed is building
top rental, if applicable, ie if your customer owns the building no rent, if
they don't well some negotiation will take place between the customer and the
building owner. ATI, at least here in Australia will help facilitate this
process on our behalf. I ramble.......
Anyway you don't have to be a rocket scientist to work out that microwave
option is cost effective (at least down here anyway), it really comes down
to how your customer wants to budget the expense either via capital and
have a private network or lease a service, carry annual expenses and be at
the mercy of the local carrier.
Locally, field service are servicing everything but the Antenna and RF head
as the radio electronics is modular and are easily serviced by them.
In the near future ATI will be adding SNMP capability (this was at our
request) so we will be able to monitor/manage the microwave network out of a
network management platform and also ATI will have OC-3 SONET interface
soon so all we need to do is to change the PMD on the AGL card and we have
a 155Mb/s connection (I have no idea of the cost of this baby but its
sounds good to me, as we won't have public ATM service for some time yet).
Hopefully this has provided you with the info you need.
Cheers
Shelly
PS. BRS engineering are looking at how they can use a T1 link to act as the
quorum breaker (NOT a cluster interconnect) you will however need to
contact BRS product manager Dave VSSPC::ARRIGO for more on this.
Attachment 1. Sales update article
16-MAY-94 Positioning the Business Recovery Server, Vol. 25, 23
Our Disaster Tolerant Cluster
Contact
U.S.: David Arrigo, DTN 293-5755, (508) 264-5755, BXB
Nick Carr, DTN 381-2806, (603) 881-2806, ZKO
EUROPE: Shaun McCaughan, DTN 842-3515, BSO
Phil Moore, DTN 847-5502, HHL
AP: Rolf Jester, DTN 730-5168, SNO
Paul Marshall, DTN 739-3271, MEO
Highlights
o Differentiate between the Business Recovery Server and an FDDI Cluster
supported on OpenVMS systems
o Position the Business Recovery Server as a Disaster Tolerant/Recovery
Solution to win large scale solutions opportunities
Product Description
The Business Recovery Server (BRS) is a systems-engineered software and
services solution that integrates Cluster, Volume Shadowing, FDDI, and
Digital's System and Network Management tools into redundant system and
operations management platforms.
The Business Recovery Server provides the Operations Management Station
(OMS) integration software with Digital's Consulting Services, ensuring
configuration integrity, and efficient and proper system management
capability for the customers disaster tolerant platform.
In highly competitive environments, customers depend heavily on their
computing resources and must keep any downtime resulting from a fault,
failure, or disaster to an absolute minimum. At the same time, customers
need to have an information solutions partner who can implement and
support a cost-effective, disaster-tolerant solution for their operation,
thus allowing them to focus on their line(s) of business.
COMPARISON OF THE BUSINESS RECOVERY SERVER AND AN FDDI CLUSTER ON OpenVMS
Today, the Business Recovery Server is implemented using existing
VAXcluster technology distributed between two data centers (sites) via
FDDI media, with support for AXP systems and T3 planned soon. Thus, the
Business Recovery Server, like an OpenVMS FDDI Cluster, uses the highly
integrated VAXcluster software as described in the VAXcluster Software for
OpenVMS VAX Software Product Description (SPD 29.78.xx).
However, the Business Recovery Server specifically allows for the
successful implementation and management of disaster tolerant
configurations in order to deliver predictable recovery from a data center
or site fault, failure, or disaster. An FDDI Cluster is not specifically
designed to provide a disaster tolerant platform, but is an integrated
product used within the Business Recovery Server solution.
Platform for Disaster Tolerant Computing
o Business Recovery Server -- A systems engineered, tested, and supported
solution providing the platform for building a disaster tolerant
system. The system testing and qualification process ensures that the
configuration(s) recommended and supported provide a platform for
optimal performance, component integrity, and system dependability for the
purpose of configuring a disaster tolerant solution.
o FDDI Cluster -- The VAXcluster software supports FDDI as an
interconnect for the implementation of a Local-Area or an Extended
Local-Area VAXcluster. The systems engineering testing is for general
VAXcluster support to provide a highly integrated distributed OpenVMS
computing environment.
o Difference -- The Business Recovery Server systems engineering efforts
address disaster-tolerant, specific configuration and recovery issues
using the FDDI Cluster as a building block to the disaster tolerant
platform while also providing a solution in which the cost to implement
can also be measured.
The Business Recovery Server solution includes the Operation Management
Station (OMS) software which integrates the system and network
management tools installed on the redundant management platforms,
enabling the effective management of the entire configuration from either
site.
Also, the Business Recovery Server includes the Operations Management
Station Software Installation Service provided by Digital Consulting
Services. The service includes a configuration review, OMS software
customization and installation, and a review and demonstration of the
recovery procedures on the BRS configuration to validate the solution
Operations Management Station Software
o Business Recovery Server -- This is the designed, tested, and supported
disaster management integration software used in conjunction with
Digital's systems and network management tools. It allows for the
management of the entire configuration from either site or data center.
It also allows for the change of control -- on demand -- to either
site.
If one site becomes inoperable, the Software automatically transfers
system management control to the operable site in seconds. The
Software includes scripted site-continuation commands to provide for rapid
recovery at the surviving site eliminating the possibility of errors.
Also included in the Operations Management Station Software at
installation is the automatic generation of command files for the
prerequisite system and network management tools needed to monitor the
disaster tolerant platform.
o FDDI Cluster -- An FDDI Cluster does not include any designed, tested,
and supported integration software for use with Digital's system and
network management tools for the disaster management. Each system and
network management tool must be individually installed, configured, and
tested in an FDDI Cluster environment, and repeated as new versions are
released.
o Difference -- The Business Recovery Server integration software used in
conjunction with Digital's system and network management tools,
provides the operations management tools specific to the needs of disaster
tolerant system management. The rapid recovery process results in less
costly downtime in the event of a fault, failure, or disaster while
eliminating the possibility of inducing system failure during recovery.
Operations Management Station Software Installation Service
o Business Recovery Server -- The Operations Management Station
integration software included with the Business Recovery Server license is
delivered by Digital Consulting Services. These Professionals provide a
review of the current and planned disaster-tolerant configuration,
reviewing it with Digital's Engineering organization if necessary, while
providing the software customization, installation, system and operator
training, and OMS hands-on orientation that ensures rapid recovery.
o FDDI Cluster -- An FDDI Cluster provides no associated services for
configuration review or hands-on training since an FDDI Cluster is not
designed, tested, and supported as a solution providing disaster
tolerant platform computing.
o Difference -- The consulting and installation service provided with the
Business Recovery Server license provides the most efficient and cost
effective implementation of a disaster tolerant computing platform to a
customer. By assisting the customer with the establishment of a
consistent disaster management process at each site, reduces the impact
of changes in customer personnel.
The Digital designed, tested, and supported disaster-tolerant platform
and integrated operations management tool, standardizes the systems and
components needed for a customers business critical computing
environment. This affords a customer the ability to focus on the goals
of their business while partnering with Digital to provide the
computing solution needed, and assist their business in achieving it's
objectives.
The Business Recovery Server as a Disaster Tolerant/Recovery Solution
The Business Recovery Server solution enables customers to gain rapid
control of their business-critical computing environment during a disaster,
often in a recovery period of seconds to minutes. The platform is built
on proven OpenVMS technology, providing for a cost-effective solution that
requires no application modification. This allows customers to expand and
change their business while protecting their investment in hardware,
software, and user training.
The Business Recovery Server can be the ideal alternative for mainframe
sites that need alternative solutions to their specific need for disaster
tolerance.
For more information on the Business Recovery Server, please refer to Vol.
25 No. 7 issue of Sales Update, dated October 4, 1993.
Benefits
o Supported Solution -- An FDDI Cluster specifically tested and
configured for disaster tolerance as a building block for a supported
solution.
The OMS integration software provides framework for the system and
network management platform necessary for rapid recovery of business
critical computing resources at surviving site.
o Implementation Cost -- The cost to implement, support and maintain, and
update can be better determined with each updated release.
Digital's support for the implementation also reduces the impact to
changes in personnel allowing the customer to invest and focus on their
business goals and objectives.
o Operations Management Software (OMS) -- Designed, tested, and supported
disaster management integration software allowing for the operations
management of the entire configuration from either site ensuring that a
consistent disaster management process is present in each site.
Automatic transfer of system management control to the surviving site
in seconds providing for rapid control of console management functions
resulting in less costly downtime.
Scripted site continuation commands providing for rapid recovery at the
surviving site eliminating the possibility of inducing system failure
while recovering from a disaster event.
o Consulting Services -- Review of the current and planned configuration to
ensure appropriate versions of operating system software, supported
systems, disks, and other peripherals critical to the platform, and the
prerequisite software needed in conjunction with the OMS integration
software.
Training syllabus customized to meet the needs of the customer for the
use of the OMS integration software in conjunction with Digital's
system and network management tools.
Review of the system recovery procedures that pertain to the
configuration emphasizing the use of the OMS integration software
operations management platform.
Validation of the Business Recovery Server configuration from a fault,
failure, or disaster by performing agreed to failure inducements and
providing for an approximate length of time for platform recovery.
Pricing/Ordering Information
Model No. Description U.S. List
QB-MC8AA-BA The Business Recovery Server V1.1 $60,000
Package including the customized
installation of the OMS software.
QA-MC7AA-HW The Business Recovery Server V1.1 1,115
Software Media and Documentation Kit.
QL-MC7A9-RA The Business Recovery Server V1.1 7,884
Update License. This can only be
applied if the customer has purchased
and installed V1.0. Installation
charge to be quoted by the respective
Service Delivery Organization (see Service
Contacts listed below).
Service Contacts
The Business Recovery Server is delivered by the following services
organizations:
Europe: The Bristol Consultancy Services Organization.
Contacts: Shaun McCaughan, DTN 842-3515, BSO
Phil Moore, DTN 847-5502, HHL
North America: The Eastern/Western Information Technology Consulting
Centers in the US.
Contacts: Fred Gipson, DTN 339-5315, DCO
Denise Schorsch, DTN 474-5360, ACI
South Pacific/ Digital Consulting Services in the South Pacific Region
Pacific Rim: Office.
Contacts: Rolf Jester, DTN 730-5168, SNO
Paul Marshall, DTN 739-3271, MEO
To ensure a quality delivery of the Business Recovery Server, the needs of
the customer should be well understood and the solution properly
configured.
It is highly recommended that these trained professionals be involved in
the sales process before any final sales quotation be presented to the
customer.
Resources
External
o SPD 35.05.xx
o AA-PKR9B-TE, Business Recovery Server Configuration Guidelines 35.05,
Business Recovery Server SPD and System Support Addendum
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