[Info-vax] Wide area cluster, metro area network, seeking info

[Arne Vajhøj]

On 6/11/2021 2:20 PM, Rich Jordan wrote:
> On Thursday, June 10, 2021 at 10:22:58 AM UTC-5, Marc Van Dyck wrote:
>> Rich Jordan was thinking very hard :
>>> We are looking at the possibility of putting VMS boxes in two locations, with
>>> Integrity boxes running VSI VMS. This is the very beginning of the research
>>> on the possibility of clustering those two servers instead of just having
>>> them networked. Probably have to be master/slave since only two nodes and no
>>> shared storage.
>>>
>>> After reviewing the various cluster docs, they seem to be focused on older
>>> technologies like SoNET and DS3 using FDDI bridges (which would allow shared
>>> storage). The prospect has a metropolitan area network but I do not have any
>>> specs on that as yet.
>>>
>>> Are there available docs relevant to running a distributed VMS cluster over a
>>> metro area network or fast/big enough VPN tunnel? Or is that just the
>>> straight cluster over IP configuration in the docs (which we've never used)
>>> that we need to concentrate on?

>> Before going into the technical details, wouldn't it be interersting to
>> know what you want to achieve, and discuss whether clustering is the
>> best way to achieve it ? I, for one, would be interested to know why
>> you
>> believe that clustering without shared storage can be more beneficial
>> than simple networking.

> The point: the system at the second location will be a backup site
> and/or disaster recovery box.  There is no third location and I have
> no info on the likelihood of getting one.
If the business problem is to ensure that the second location always
have a copy of all data, then a VMS cluster may not be the optimal
solution.

There are other VMS features/products than clustering that could
be relevant.

And depending on what the system is used for then there may also
be application specific solutions.

Arne