HP-UX contra Windows Cluster

[Christoph Ernst_2]

Hi all,

one of our customers wants to change from a Itanium based MC Service Guard Cluster to a Microsoft Windows Cluster.
The cluster runs an oracle database and our application. Our application can run on both platforms, but i prefer HP-UX.

I opened this thread to collect pros for the HP-UX based MC Service Guard Cluster.

Whats your pro?

Thx and best regards
Christoph

[Steven E. Protter]

Shalom Chris,

Windows will work. It has become a mature technology. However it lacks the years of experience and R&D of serviceguard. It also has the overhead of running the OS itself and the constant security problems of the Os.

Pro Serviceguard:

1) The OS itself is much more stable than Windows.
2) The number of times needed to reboot and disrupt service for security patches is generally much lower than windows.
3) The license is affordable.
4) SG has been doing this at least a decade longer than windows. It is a proven, more mature tool.

SEP

[Johnson Punniyalingam]

As explained beautifull abort MCSG by >>SEP

Please see link for disucssion on (pro -> MCSG)


http://forums11.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/questionanswer.do?admit=109447626+1268936320762+28353475&threadId=260290

[Olivier Masse]

I don't think a choice should be made on clustering alone as both are solid products. My first thought would be that ServiceGuard is more complex than a Microsoft cluster, and you need an experienced HP-UX admin to maintain it over time. On the upside, SG Manager has improved a lot recently and should be investigated if you're facing customers who aren't comfortable with it.

A computing platform sould be chosen based not only on clustering features but performance, reliability, availability of experienced support staff and of course TCO. If your application isn't mission critical and doesn't need a 99.995 uptime, I can't see any compelling reason to stick with HP-UX.

Don't get me wrong -- I'm a die hard HP-UX admin. But we're no longer in 1994, and there are scenarios where even guys like me must admit that Windows is the best choice.

Olivier.

[Viktor Balogh]

Johnson: that thread is from year 2003. The general thoughts were helpful, but since then a lot of things were changed.

Christoph, if you'd ask me, I'd choose SG over MSCS, but its a personal choice made because of lack of experience on the windows side. But I am feeling myself comfortable with MC/SG, much more than with e.g. VCS, which I know also.

[Michal Kapalka (mikap)]

hi,

in my opinion its depend on the application and how much money do you like to spend for HA solution, we have MS clusters / MC/SG / Legato clusters on unix / windows without any problem.

If you are good in Windows you will be able to make the uptime and HA, similiar as on Linux / Unix.

Lot of people are satisfied with HP MC/SG, and some of them not, i think the best cluster solution is and was on True64.

please don't be hesitate for my opinion.

mikap