Cluster Computing:

NOVELL CLUSTERING SOFTWARE AUTOMATES DISASTER RECOVERY PREP

Novell announced the availability of Novell Business Continuity Clustering 1.0, software that automates the configuration and management of high- availability, geographically dispersed clustered-server solutions, protecting key business systems against site downtime and disasters. Built on Novell Cluster Services 1.7 and NetWare 6.5, Business Continuity Clustering ensures that in the event of an isolated server problem or severe data center calamity, customers' systems continue to function normally and without interruption.

Novell Business Continuity Clustering connects and synchronizes a "cluster of clusters" -- two to four server clusters with up to 32 servers per cluster, which are often located at separate geographic sites. If a data center's cluster goes offline for any reason, the other clusters assume its workload to ensure nonstop, seamless user access to mission-critical data and resources.

"I can't think of a business today that can afford network downtime, and users certainly can't prevent every cause of network outages," said Chris Stone, Novell vice chairman -- Office of the CEO. "With the ability to easily manage and configure up to 128 clustered server nodes, even the largest enterprises can have peace of mind that if a data center is damaged or goes offline indefinitely, they can continue to meet customer demands, maintain a Web presence and keep on conducting business."

While the market offers a variety of high-availability and failover services, only Novell Business Continuity Clustering 1.0 is integrated with an enterprise-caliber directory, Novell eDirectory. With one click, customers can migrate services, configurations and other essential data from one data center cluster to another. These services may be server-based applications and databases (Novell GroupWise, Apache, MySQL*, PHP and other J2EE* Web applications) and those using native file access protocols of client workstations, including Novell, Windows*, UNIX*, Linux*, Macintosh*, Web and Internet clients and servers.

Kuldeep Sandhu, executive vice president of storage solutions for Xiotech, said, "Many companies have already built and deployed geographically mirrored data centers leveraging the benefits of Xiotech's Magnitude 3D clustered storage and Novell Cluster Services. Now, with the introduction of Novell's Business Continuity Clustering, companies can easily manage multiple cluster sites and automate the failover process between them with no loss of data or application services."