clone a server

[inetbogey]

Hi Guys,
looks like i am being asked to go a step beyond "Backup". the management of the company want to clone the Biz server and make it active. they want 2 the same servers running the same software being updated at the same time. this server is an IBM series 5 running AIX UNIX with proprietary biz software.
the first thing on my mind is can i clone the server,.......... then just install the daily backup tape to update it. (without trying to bring it on line)
need some ideas. i have never heard of this, so i am at a loss. (can i even clone a server on to identical equipment?)
thanks.
inetbogey

 

[Markverhyden]

By series 5 do you mean i5, the ones running PPC's? With those you are getting into some great features. Like LPAR, which is IBM's proprietary version of doing VM's. I can tell you it is possible to mirror a *nix server in many circumstances. Hearbeat is one tool. I looked at this option in OS X but opted for setting up a mirrored target disk mode setup.

If it was me I would not do this myself. Way too many things could go wrong.

 

[inetbogey]

this is what the IBM series 5 server looks like.
this is a replacement for the rs 2k server that lost a motherboard. i was not available and i advised them to use the services of an IBM tech, which they did. they bought this on ebay and the tech was able to move the hdds to the new server and get it to boot up with no lost data.
Now the guys "Up front" know that at any time they can loose Biz when the server is down. Thats why they think 2 "the same" is better than 1. If they start to loose HDDs they would be right.
*they don't have an install disk for the OS
*they don't have an install disk for the 'proprietary" Biz software.
*they don't know the difference between business server hardware and commercial grade hardware for your PC.
so now i am explaining the difference to them and somehow they don't get it.
And now you know why i am looking to clone a server and have it run "Live" (Their idea, not mine.)
i would much rather find a way to clone the software onto another series 5 server and then maybe update the data once a week.
any Ideas??
thanks.
inetbogey.

 

[Markverhyden]

Well, their situation is very risky from what you have described at this point. Yes, you can move *nix disks to a new box and usually have them boot depending on the situation. I know I've done this many times with Linux and Intel based boxes.

My direction would be to get them to virtualize that instance if they insist on staying with the existing LoB app. And move it to a modern hardware layer. The problem with the PPC stuff is parts are not being made anymore. So everything is being recycled. The problem with virtualizing AIX is that AIX can only be virtualized within the IBM hardware environment. The IBM virtualization layer is all hardware/firmware based unlike other hypervisors like VMware or Microsoft.

 

[nlinecomputers]

What is the app they run? Chances are it can run on Linux and then you can do as Mark suggests and get it running on RHEL or CentOS on modern hardware and then use a Datto appliance to provide a virtualized backup solution. (I think Datto can work with Linux.)

 

[inetbogey]

Hi Guys,
Like i mentioned before, they have no disk for the OS or the Biz software. the guys up front teamed up and bought the business and name from the "other folks" that owned it. the "others" stopped support for the Biz software and IBM support for the server because they were way behind in monthly payments. the guys up front say they will get a new brand of Biz software .................but in the mean time could i help them out with this "clone" thing. i wanted to do a VM server with a Linux box way back when, but that never happened because of how much back monies they owed the software support people.

 

[nlinecomputers]

Then you really aren't going to be able to do this. You can't just clone a server on the fly. True sync software for redundancy is more complicated than that. More so if there is some kind of database involved. You are letting an ignorant end user who thinks he has come up with an idea dictate the solution when it isn't realistic. You need a good offsite backup solution and if the hardware of the server is critical then you could purchase spare parts or even a used duplicate unit and keep it in reserve to repair or replace the unit you have.

 

[Markverhyden]

Agreed. You need to take charge of the situation. Tell the customer what are the possible options. If they cannot comprehend the situation then tell them you cannot help them. I've had a couple of customer's that insisted on solutions that were not possible or practical. I just let them go.

Assuming you have root credentials you can put together a BDR solution, including purchasing identical backup hardware. And design a system to minimize data loss. Their vision of a "push button" solution is not realistic in this situation.

 

[nlinecomputers]

And then they need to get off there cheep asses and quit pirating software and get it moved over to modern more serviceable hardware which would make a crisis when it happens less severe.

 

[TAPtech]

Sounds like your best bet is to have standby hardware on hand. I'm sure there is some sort of backup/recovery solution for those servers but you'll need to do some digging. Also sounds like you don't want to sink too much time/money into a client that doesn't have much of either!

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Datto added support for linux serverse last year, may want to look into that...you'd have to become a partner or reach out to one of us partners here on the boards...as they don't sell direct. Basically the Datto Siris lineup is as close as you're going to get to a "hot spare" as you can get, without some supported "cluster" setup.

But my above suggestion is if they are looking for an excellent backup system which will get them back up and running within minutes of their main server exploding or catching fire.

But based on your additional replies...I am not clear on their goals...as it seems to be hinting at doubling some "pay for" software without paying for additional licensing. In which case...I'd walk away from a client wanting to pirate.