Hi,


Why not, how else would NetWorker function in a clustered environment ?


IKP

Yeah I know.

But what I meant was, can you use simply in a multi site configuration where you want to use a storage node as a failover.

So simply create the hostids files on both machines and create and register with the new one.

So in case you want to failover, you mount the NetWorker SAN disk to the storage node, start the server processes and do all the other necessary things.


Regards

Steven

To me that sounds like a cluster without cluster software

I'm not sure really if NW is checking if cluster is running and if it does goes after hostid or it just uses hostid. I would assume in both cases EMC licensing would check hostids you asked for and would require you to run power edition (to support NW cluster concept). So, it's possible, but you must be aware that you do it in way that it would be supported one day if someone would take closer look.

I know for a fact few years ago pretty same setup was suggested by EMC itself at one site. Well, at that time it was Legato. I personally see no issues if you use it that way and someone at EMC would probably have same opinion. So, you just need to get to that someone.

Yes that's true.

I know it is sort of workaround and I wonder (nobody seems to answer this) if EMC² licensing allows it.

Because with the hostids file, you only get one single hostid but possible to use on 2 different servers. This is also the hostid used for the licensing.

I know one setup where it works like this with Power Edition but I don't know if they ever had to open a support call with EMC².


For me it seems like the best and most simple method to have a NetWorker Server DRP. But like you mentioned, if it isn't supported it will be difficult to maintain.

Regards and thanks

Steven

Hi,

our customer has similar implementation - 3 NW servers and a standby machine waiting to jump in for any server that might fall out. Servers are running with Network Edition license - since NetWorker Server isn't a) cluster integrated and b) isn't really HA in it's proper sense there are no complaints from licensing. Composite hostid includes local hostid and hostid of standby machine.

best regards,
Mladen

Interesting... I thought there would be a catch in code where if no power edition license is found there would be no check for hostids file or environment variable. Oops, if EMC coders saw this one now....