Omni-NFS-Series

Example two: Real-time data replication plus DPM-like functions

Highlight:  A software development company needs real-time data backup of multiple versions for roll back. The individual programmers self-managing of their working files are also required.

 The XYZ Corporation is a software development company which sells its products through OEM channels as well as online retail. They keep a web server in the office for the web site hosting. There are also some file servers for programmers to keep their working files. Because the software development source files are the most valuable assets to the company, they take file backup seriously. Allowing each programmer to self-manage their own working files and go back to a previous version at the time needed is also important.

 In their research for the data protection product, they found Xlink ClusterReplica ENT to be most compatible to their requirements.

 The key points that are needed by the XYZ Corporation are as following:

•  Real-time data replication and IIS web server auto-configuration for data replication – Modified portion of a file are replicated to a defined target location in real time with multiple version options. The predefined Replication Set template for IIS web server with configuration options support auto-configuration of the IIS web server web site structure to ensure accurate data replication.

•   The automatic failover with technology backed guarantee – The conventional High Availability software keeps a single data image for a failover event without the ability to bring a successful failover should the data image on the Primary server is corrupted. ClusterReplica ENT keeps up to 64 versions of data image so that if the current data image is corrupted, it will look into the previous versions until a good data image is found. Failover is thus 100% ensured successful.

·         User self-service of backup and retrieving archived files – all users of the Cluster-Replica ENT environment can manage their own files in the self-service manner. The files on the “replica” stations are managed just like the Microsoft’s DPM systems with versionized files for file roll back and Windows file arrangement for easy allocate of files.

·         Group project version backup – Xlink ClusterReplica ENT allows different replication destination from the source location. This feature supports define of common workspaces for group projects. All working files worked on by different people for a project are to be archived in one location. And all files can be bundled into time-defined versions for easy management.

With strict technical analysis and careful consideration, the XYZ Corporation decides to use Xlink’s ClusterReplica ENT for their data protection and server availability environment. Their system configuration is presented in following picture.

 Three additional Windows systems are purchased to be used as the Replica Members in the ClusterReplica Structure. The original web server is configured as the Primary Master station. The original files servers that keep all working files are set as the Repli-Master stations. They are the source of data replication. With Data Version Management set on the Replica stations, programmers can retrieve older versions of working files archived on the Replica stations from their working computers.

 In this cluster environment, the Primary master is the host of the company’s web server which is also connected to a “replica” in a remote site for automatic failover. This arrangement guarantees the web server 24x7 available to public connection.

 The four file servers in the office are set as the Repli-masters. They are connected to different “replica” stations on the remote site for real-time data replications purposes. Because the programmers create many versions of files each day, and they have the need to constantly retrieve older versions of a file during each working day, the user self-service feature of ClusterReplica ENT fits their needs perfectly.