DataCore Enhances Failover Clustering in Windows Server 2008 R2 With Hyper-V

At Microsoft Tech-Ed Europe 2010, DataCore Software demonstrated breakthroughs to enhance the availability, scalability and performance of Failover Clustering in Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 with Hyper-V. Several case studies and white papers will illustrate how IT organizations benefit operationally and financially from these joint solutions.
 
The two most common use cases for DataCore in Microsoft Failover Cluster scenarios involve virtualizing and mirroring storage resources across physically-separated storage devices for:

• Clustered Shared Volumes (CSVs)
• Clustered File Shares

The DataCore experts discussed the technical aspects behind these environments, as well as real-life implementations. Featured among them was the Swiss-based hospital, Regionalspital Emmental (RSE) AG, where DataCore software fully virtualizes the shared storage infrastructure for RSE’s Exchange, SQL and medical applications. RSE operates 15 physical servers and over 50 virtual machines running on top of Hyper-V.
 
"Server virtualization from Microsoft Hyper-V combined with storage virtualization software from DataCore form an integral part of our IT strategy, significantly lowering costs for hardware, energy and administration," states Falko Gieldanowski, Head of IT at RSE AG. "We are currently saving around 30% by better  optimizing the use of our time and resources and from the resulting increase in productivity – and we anticipate further savings over the lifetime of our infrastructure."
 
What’s New: Eliminating Storage-related Downtime
for Clustered File Shares
One of the topics that was spotlighted during Tech-Ed Europe 2010 concerns ways to keep storage from becoming a single-point-of-failure for clustered file shares. Attendees were introduced to new best practices necessary to meet their high-availability objectives using DataCore software.
 
Non-Stop Data Access:
Virtualizing and Speeding-up SANs for CSVs
US-based Stockbridge Capital Group, LLC deploys DataCore storage virtualization software with Microsoft Hyper-V to meet their business continuity needs. Two synchronously- mirrored DataCore nodes keep the storage infrastructure, especially the CSVs, highly available to ensure non-stop data access from a cluster of seven (7) Hyper-V servers hosting over 25 virtual machines. Prior to virtualization, Stockbridge had well over 30 physical servers.
 
"DataCore’s storage virtualization solution offers all of the high-end features, including enterprise-class high availability, but at an affordable price," comments Stephen Pilch, COO, Stockbridge. "DataCore software lets us easily leverage our investment in existing and new technologies and empower our virtual servers to meet non-stop business needs while fitting our budget. It is a perfect match for us."
 
The virtualized storage configuration services the needs of Stockbridge’s Microsoft Exchange server along with the file repositories used by all their employees. "We were pleasantly surprised that the iSCSI SAN, because of DataCore, actually performed better than the existing fibre SAN, in terms of its speed and accessibility," notes Cem Kursunoglu, president at BayNODE.

To read the full story on Stockbridge’ case
 
Large Scale Metro Clusters Rely on Microsoft and DataCore
Continuum Health Partners (Continuum) relies on DataCore SANsymphony software to virtualize and manage well over 200 Terabytes of storage for the various hospitals in the Continuum hospital network. The DataCore-powered infrastructure supports a community of 14,000 users on over five-hundred (500) servers with storage devices split between different locations in metropolitan New York.
 
"DataCore storage virtualization software is the key to the virtualization puzzle – offering the flexible storage virtualization dimension needed for any virtualization project – and serving as the perfect complement to server virtualization as well as the perfect enhancement to storage hardware," explains Jill Wojcik, IT Director at Continuum Health Partners.
 
Microsoft solutions running on the DataCore virtualized infrastructure at Continuum include: Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2, Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM), Microsoft SQL Server, and Microsoft Cluster Servers (MSCSs.

To read the full story on Continuum’ case
 
Visitors to DataCore’s booth at Microsoft Tech-Ed Europe 2010 received a white paper describing the techniques used to provide uninterrupted access to Cluster Shared Volumes (CSVs) by synchronously mirroring across storage devices split between hot-hot sites.

To download this white paper (you need to register)