Server sizing

[javedk]

Could someone tell me the common practices on the following.

1)Does Disaster Recovery server need to be the same specification as production server.

2)DR servers are just kept idle or is it used as TEST/DEV and as DR only when required or what is the normal practise?

3)We need to upgrade one of our existing applications running on RP8420 on two node cluster(8CPU / 24GB on each machine). The old env needs to kept as standby (no updates) for few months. The vendor recommends buying the same number of CPU and Memory on two new partitions for the new env. Is there a better way to do this? Bcoz buying 16CPU / 48GB Mem on RP8420 just for migration doesn't look cost effective.

[IT_2007]

It is very difficult to judge about DR site specifications since it involves money.

1. Logically "yes" but DR is meant for to keep business up and running in the event of primary site failure. You need to figure out which process/apps should be up and running at DR site?

2. You can use DR site for testing purpose also. Don't have to keep it idle.

3. You have to chose based on your budget.

[Steven E. Protter]

Shalom,

In practice it is not affordable to duplicate infrastructure in production in the DR center.

What most organizations must do is determine what subset of services is critical after a disaster and plan server sides to meet that.

For example email is considered a core need and must be up first. If you have a core application that generates or processes a large proportion of revenue, get a DR server that can handle this application.

If you limit users and applications you can probably have your DR server as a rp70xx or even a set of rp3440 servers in the PA-RISC range. It depends on whether you can split your functions whether you can go to the smaller, less expensive servers.

If everything is crtical an expensive but possible option is an rp8420 server in a commercial DR center. Its cheaper than owning. Getting live there can be as simple as an Ignite Restore followed by a data restore.

SEP

[javedk]

Hi Steve,
Commercial DR centers are not avialable in our region. I also wanted to look at RP4440 series servers for DR and not RP8420, but the HP partner does not agree. How about having VPAR and using those system for Test or development and use it as DR server when required.