[Info-vax] Multi-site OpenVMS field upgrade options?

[Dave Froble]

On 4/15/2019 8:16 AM, Rod Regier wrote:
> Floor for SFF SAS drive controllers is RX2660.
> Very few of those in my installed installed base systems are running those.
>
> Installed base unlikely to sustain pricing of whole sale upgrade
> of DS10L, DS15 and RX2600 units to RX2600 units or beyond.
>
> RX2600 configuration will only economically support 3 drives.
> Since I run RAID mirroring for reliability, that means only one
> RAID set per system.  Makes it hard to have separate RAID mirror
> sets for "operating system" and "everything else".
>
> The combined logical volume "ship" for everything to keep hardware costs low
> has already "sailed" for my organization.

Nothing is ever "done".

I like RAID-1.  So much more robust, assuming that failure of a disk is 
determined quickly, and not until after the second, or last, one has 
also failed.

However, consider static vs dynamic data.  A system disk can be rather 
static, and not benefit as much from RAID-1.  True, recovery isn't as 
easy and clean.  But stand alone backup to recover a system disk isn't 
all that bad, assuming that it doesn't happen often.

>  I'm unlikely to revisit that concept at this late date in the application cycle.

However, it seems that you're doing that right now, and not liking your 
options so much.

So, you wish to continue to share a single drive between OS and app. 
Should not be too much of a problem.  Just make sure there is a clear 
demark between each.

If you have remote access to your customer systems, which today is 
rather easy, then you should still be able to ship in a single disk with 
VMS configured in whatever manner is desired.  An on-site person could 
then install the disk, without the RAID-1, along with a single disk from 
the old system.  Running on the new disk, copy over whatever is 
necessary, such that the apps are ready for use.  Then re-install the 
"mirror".

> My customers use the supplied systems on a turnkey basis.  Giving them an
> attempt at a canned procedure to offline copy all of the non-OS components over is unlikely to be a formula for a successful short upgrade outage.
>
> I'm looking for more than just disks that will run for a few months.

I don't feel that is a good conclusion to reach for used disks.  Some 
might fail.  Many will run for years.  Regardless, any disk, including 
new, can and most likely will fail at some time.

> The list for Nemonics alleged "new" drives is impressively long - over 100+ different models spanning over a 15 years of product evolution.
> Makes me skeptical they are "new" in the sense of an actual drive SMART data reporting under 5000 hrs of actually spin time.
>

It will be interesting to observe your solution.  Good luck.

-- 
David Froble                       Tel: 724-529-0450
Dave Froble Enterprises, Inc.      E-Mail: davef at tsoft-inc.com
DFE Ultralights, Inc.
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