Packaged Cluster vs App/Database setup

[Kuan Hau_1]

What are the advantages of a Packaged cluster over purchasing separate Apps and Database Servers?

We are looking at having 2xDL380G3's or we could go for DL380G4 packaged cluster.

Thanks,
Kuan

[Steven E. Protter]

Few issues at hand here.

Clustering increases availability.

It takes two servers to have a cluster. It takes two to have apps and database on different servers.

Lets say there simply isn't enough horsepower on either server to run the database and the application server. At least not unless there is an emergency.

So you install the database on host1 and you install the application server on host2. If either host goes down you are out of business, because if this is oracle, you need the backend database to do anything.

Now you set up a cluster with shared storage between the two nodes(hosts).

If host1 goes down, the database fails over to host2. Things may be slow, but at least you are not out of business while you are figuring out why the heck host1 went down.

So thats my take and it works vice versa. You do have to schedule some testing to make sure failover actually works.

Good Luck,

Steve

[Kuan Hau_1]

Thanks for the quick reply Steve.

That does clear a few things up. But will a packaged cluster have better performance?

I have seen DL380G3 packaged clusters on some of our other sites and when they work it is fine, but when it breaks there can be issues due to the setup. Most of this setup is included in the packaged cluster, correct?

Does anyone have a comparison on DL380G3 and DL380G4 packaged cluster?

Thanks,
Kuan