
	Home > Disaster Recovery Tips > Disaster recovery tips > Using clusters to ensure failover

Disaster Recovery Tips:

EMAIL THIS

TIPS & NEWSLETTERS TOPICS

DISASTER RECOVERY TIPS

Using clusters to ensure failover

Christopher Poelker
10.24.2005
Rating: --- (out of 5)

Digg This!

StumbleUpon

Del.icio.us

What you will learn from this tip: How to use clustering to share disk resources between two nodes for DR.

A SearchStorage.com reader recently asked: I want to disconnect a LUN from one Windows server and connect it to another Windows server in case of disaster. Is it possible to connect to it without Windows writing a new signature and losing all my data?

The best way to do this with the most success and easiest failover is to use a cluster to share the disk resources between two nodes. You can use any available clustering technology you wish such as Microsoft Cluster Server (MSCS) or Veritas VCS. MSCS is included with the Enterprise and Data Center editions of Windows. Dynamic disks should not be used in a cluster.

I have had intermittent success without the cluster software installed, but you might try this technique: Make sure both servers are similar in their slot layout for the HBAs, and use BASIC disks when writing the disk signature on the first server. Never have both servers up at the same time when not in a cluster, or your data may become corrupt. Once the signature is written, export the D

Digg This!

StumbleUpon

Del.icio.us

RELATED CONTENT

	Disaster recovery tips
	Best practices to help avoid and recover from security disasters
	Change management in disaster recovery and business continuity planning
	Using data classification tools to aid in disaster recovery planning
	Disk array-based data replication: The pros and cons
	Data replication options for disaster recovery
	Data replication tools for disaster recovery
	Data backup strategies simplify remote disaster recovery
	The economic benefits of a hot site disaster recovery investment
	Disaster recovery team planning: Guidelines on DR roles and training
	IBM Tivoli Storage Manager Disaster Recovery Manager best practices

Disaster Recovery Facilities/Operations

New Orleans law firm prepares for hurricane season with detailed disaster recovery plan

Remote data center management for disaster recovery purposes

Change management in disaster recovery and business continuity planning

The economic benefits of a hot site disaster recovery investment

Data center emergency power strategies in disaster recovery planning

Verizon Business aims to back up and restore data without overburdening networks

Using a business continuity plan template: A free business continuity template and guide

Disaster recovery and failback: Five tips

Including server virtualization in your disaster recovery plan

Best practices for selecting a disaster recovery facility

Disaster Recovery Storage

Users go for Simply Continuous cloud disaster recovery service with service-level agreements and data deduplication

VMware VMotion between data centers could change disaster recovery

A tutorial on self-healing data storage systems

Disaster recovery news briefs: SunGard survey says virtualization has a role in disaster recovery

Using data classification tools to aid in disaster recovery planning

Array-based data replication: The pros and cons

Disk array-based data replication: The pros and cons

Data replication options for disaster recovery

Data replication tools for disaster recovery

Data backup strategies simplify remote disaster recovery

RELATED RESOURCES

2020software.com, trial software downloads for accounting software, ERP software, CRM software and business software systems

Search Bitpipe.com for the latest white papers and business webcasts

Whatis.com, the online computer dictionary

ISK registry subkey parameters for the new disk, and import the subkey parameters into the other server. Back everything up before doing this, and make a backup of the registry keys on the server you are importing to in case anything goes wrong. You may not have to do the registry trick if the second server sees the disk and does not try to write a new signature.

A better approach would be to use SAN-based booting for the servers in question. Having your "C:" drive on the SAN allows a server of the same configuration to boot to the failed server's SAN-based root drive, and the new server would then acquire the exact same profile as the server that was lost. I call this technique "poor man's clustering." You need to have similar server hardware configurations for this to work properly.

For more information:

Clustering comes to NAS

Checklist: How to design LUNs for high performance

Checklist: How to troubleshoot your LUN

Four experts in four minutes: Creating LUNs

About the author: Christopher Poelker is a storage architect at Hitachi Data Systems, and SearchStorage.com's storage networking expert.

Rate this Tip
To rate tips, you must be a member of SearchDisasterRecovery.com. Register now to start rating these tips. Log in if you are already a member.

DISCLAIMER: Our Tips Exchange is a forum for you to share technical advice and expertise with your peers and to learn from other enterprise IT professionals. TechTarget provides the infrastructure to facilitate this sharing of information. However, we cannot guarantee the accuracy or validity of the material submitted. You agree that your use of the Ask The Expert services and your reliance on any questions, answers, information or other materials received through this Web site is at your own risk.

Disaster Plan - DR Best Practices, Mitigating Risk, Disaster Business Impacts

SEARCH

TechTarget provides technology professionals with the information they need to perform their jobs - from developing strategy, to making cost-effective purchase decisions and managing their organizations' technology projects - with its network of technology-specific websites, events and online magazines.


TechTarget Corporate Web Site \| Media Kits \| Site Map All Rights Reserved, Copyright 2008 - 2009, TechTarget \| Read our Privacy Policy