- Do the binding servers need to be identical?
No. They can be any of Windows 2003/XP/2000 machines.
- Can a complete system be replicated using your software?
No. ClusterReplica ENT is a data replication/Failover solution. It replicates only the data files.
- Can I run ClusterReplica in a domain environment?
Yes. ClusterReplica supports Windows domain system. However, it is recommended that the Domain controller and the DNS server are not used as the clustering systems.
- What is the difference of Windows clustering and ClusterReplica clustering?
The answer to this question can be summarized into three simplified points:
- ClusterReplica runs clustering directly on the MS SQL servers, while Windows clustering involves a separate SAN system.
- ClusterReplica replicates data in real time; Windows clustering does not
- It is significantly easier to configure ClusterReplica than Windows clustering system.
- How many Windows systems can I bind in one clustering?
Up-to-8. ClusterReplica Enterprise is a software with flexibility in scaling and modeling. With the capacity of binding up to 8 Windows systems into one clustering, ClusterReplica Enterprise offers users the flexibility to scale up. Starting from one or two servers, more systems can be added into the clustering without affecting the existing infrastructure. Users can also choose the data replication model of one-to-many, many-to-one or many-to-many to local and remote locations.
- How many ClusterReplica licenses do I need for one clustering of four Windows systems?
One license of 4-nodes. ClusterReplica Enterprise offers centralized clustering management. With all configurations done on the Master servers, only one license is needed for the entire clustering. The specified number of nodes in a license determines the total number of computers can be bound in a ClusterReplica Structure.
- Does ClusterReplica ENT support SQL 2005 Standard Edition?
Yes. ClusterReplica ENT supports MS SQL 2005 Standard and Enterprise editions. It also supports MS SQLExpress and MS SQL 2000.
- Do I need to have two Microsoft SQL server licenses to run
ClusterReplica ENT?
The answer to this question is "yes" and "no". ClusterReplica Enterprise provides two access mode: Active/Standby and Active/Active. If you don't have the need to access the Secondary SQL server, selecting the Active/Standby mode would allow you to run ClusterReplica Enterprise with one SQL server license - that is to install both clustering SQL servers with one license. However, if you do need to access the Secondary SQL server you will set ClusterReplica Enterprise in the Active/Active mode, then you will need two SQL licenses for each of the clustering server.
- Can I connect the clustering servers via a SQL connection in our .net application?
Yes. ClusterReplica Enterprise supports Windows .net appliction.
- Can I connect the clustering servers using Microsoft MS SQL Enterprise manager?
Yes. ClusterReplica Enterprise supports MS SQL Enterprise manager.
- How do I know if there is a problem of the clustered systems?
ClusterReplica is equipped with an "Email Alert utility tool". With the proper setup of this tool, system administrators will be notified of the problem.
In two situations this feature can show importance:
- When a Failover occurs
- When a Data Replication definition item is disabled by ClusterReplica process to prevent improper data replication
- Do I really need two network cards to run ClusterReplica ENT?
No. Two cards are recommended but not required. The two most outstanding benefits of using two network cards in each of the clustered systems running ClusterReplica are security and efficiency. The two network cards allow you to use two different sets of IP addresses. The internal and external communications can then be separated, and therefore increasing security and efficiency. However, if you want to use only one network card in each of the clustering server, ClusterReplica will also work.
