Compaq DIGITAL Server Cluster Kits for Windows NT manual Compaq Clustering Solutions, Why Compaq

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Compaq Clustering Solutions

Compaq Clustering Solutions for Windows NT maximize access to enterprise data by providing a means by which users can continue working even in the event of a server failure. These high-availability solutions allow a pair of DIGITAL Servers running Windows NT to be managed and accessed as a single system and support both DIGITAL Clusters for Windows NT (DCNT) and Microsoft Cluster Server (MSCS) as part of Microsoft Windows NT Server, Enterprise Edition. System-level high availability is assured through dual active servers, shared SCSI, optional redundant power supplies and a redundant interconnect between the nodes. The addition of subsystem RAID Array assures high availability of shared data.

Clustering

The cost of downtime has been reported to be anywhere from $1,400/minute to $130,000/minute, depending on your particular business. The need to keep your systems up and running in this high technology era is critical to save not only thousands and sometimes millions of dollars, but to maintain user productivity and customer satisfaction as well.

With the introduction of Windows NT Server Enterprise Edition, Microsoft has brought clustering capabilities to the mainstream. Clustering provides high availability for server-based applications and file shares by loosely coupling two active servers with a shared disk subsystem. When one server goes down, the clustering software migrates applications, associated disks and file shares, and client workload to the other server without interruption at the client level. With a minimal hardware investment, any business can protect their mission-critical data and applications to maintain optimal user productivity.

DCNT is a proven, mature product. It supports IP address failover, enabling automatic failover for applications, such as Microsoft Internet Information Server, Netscape Enterprise Server, Lotus Notes and Lotus Domino, Microsoft SQL Server 6.5, Oracle 7 Workgroup Server, and Oracle 7 Enterprise Server 7.3. A Migration Wizard utility provides easy migration from DCNT to MSCS.

Compaq’s clustering technology provides industry leadership for application availability, scalability for data storage and user support, cluster system management, high speed storage interconnects, high performance TP, and Disaster Tolerant capabilities for Windows NT systems.

Why Compaq

DIGITAL, a pioneer in cluster technology, has been shipping cluster solutions since 1983, including DCNT for a full 18 months before MSCS. With over 75,000 installed clusters and 500,000 clustered nodes deployed across Windows NT, DIGITAL UNIX, and OpenVMS, including over 7,000 DCNT licenses, DIGITAL, now Compaq, is unquestionably the market leader. In fact, Compaq has more experience with clustering and more engineers trained to support Windows NT than any other vendor, including Microsoft.

Hardware

Customers have the option of purchasing DIGITAL Servers for Windows NT (Intel or Alpha-based) for their cluster. Providing customers with a totally scalable solution, the DIGITAL Server product line extends the Intel-based server products for NT, offering quad processors for additional performance and into the Alpha-based DIGITAL Server products. Compaq also offers external RAID Arrays -- all certified to run with both DCNT and MSCS. Redundant controllers, power sources, and cooling fans help your high-availability configuration to approach levels of fault-resilience.

DIGITAL Server Cluster Kits for Windows NT Configuration Guide