EV 11 Active/Active

[Yassora]

Hi

I want to implementing Enterprise vault 11 active /active between Head office and DR site

what is the steps ??

[Rob_Wilcox1 · Accepted solution]

Check the compatibility guide, you can't have active/active.

[Yassora]

can you send me link telling that it cannot to implement EV active/active

[VirgilDobos]

Hi there,

If you are planning to cluster EV and have an active/active cluster, that is not supported as Rob said. This is stated in the compatibility document (page 22, it applies to both VCS and MSCS). 

Instead, if you are planning to use the built-in building blocks EV HA feature, then you can have an EV server archiving at HO and one archiving at DR and failover between them as required. Obviously, there may be caveats depending on your Exchange layout.

Hope this helps.

[Yassora]

I read now about Built in building block but whta about cash directory , indexing directory , etc ?

how the the failover server access this directory???

I want to rectify the below please:

If we create full installation for EV in my head office in hyperv virtual maching

My database hosted on sql 2012 always on for hight available between head office and DR

My EV server will replicated to DR throw Hyper v replication

Do you have any comment on this scenario ?

Thanks

[GertjanA]

SQL Always On is NOT SUPPORTED!

Use Hyper-V to run server AND virtual harddisk, replicate that. YOu should be able to failover using Hyper-V, not sure how that works though.

For SQL , do same, or have an DR sql srver and configure Transactionlog shipping or db mirroring.

[Yassora]

still not clear

please i need more explanation 

[Rob_Wilcox1]

What is that you need more explanation on?

[Yassora]

How can I implement EV with high availabilty?

I need step to follow it .

[GertjanA]

Hello Yassora,

No offense, but you should work with someone that really understands how it needs to be configured. We (the forum-members) can offer high level support, and help where we can, but we will not prepare your installation, setup and configuration.

There are many specialists available on the market, and also the several PDF's guide you in how to set it up. Example, Installing and configuring guide Section 5 or 6 (both for clustering)

If you say high available, do you mean in 1 DC? Then you need to run EV on a cluster server. If you mean 'quick fail-over', you need to use Building Block configuration.

I use building block, which (very highlevel) is as follows:

1 production EV server with storage for Indexes and Vault Stores

1 production SQL server for the EV databases

1 DR EV server with same storage for indexes and stores. Data from PROD needs to be replicated to this server on a daily bases (using Robocopy scritps as example), or you use SAN (have san-replication), or you use Quadrotech EV-NEarSync (3rd party tool, really cool).

1 DR SQL server, same storage. Use Transactionlogshipping from SQL, or DB mirroring, or SAN storage.

When Prod goes down, fail-over SQL, use Update Service Location to switch EV functionality to the DR server.

I have personally never installed EV on cluster, but others have, and that seems to be working fine.

Good luck.

[Yassora]

Thank you Gertjan

But from where can i find the steps for full high available scenario ?

[AndrewB]

my recommendation for true HA for EV is to use Symantec's Storage Foundation HA/DR. it's the only solution which is application aware for EV and gives you control of the entire stack (app, server, databases, storage, etc) as one object to monitor, failover, test for fire drills, etc. there's documentation and resources out there, especially for partners, but it's not a simple solution. at Trace3 we have certified engineers with experience implementing this in large environments. it's not a trivial task but once it's setup, it's rock solid.

[GabeV]

Hi Yassora,

You can start reading these HOWTOs:

Typical Enterprise Vault configuration in a Windows Server failover cluster
http://www.symantec.com/docs/HOWTO109327

Clustering Enterprise Vault in an active/passive failover configuration
http://www.symantec.com/docs/HOWTO109332

Setting up the Enterprise Vault cluster services for a Windows Server failover cluster
http://www.symantec.com/docs/HOWTO107996

Examples of Enterprise Vault installations in various Windows Server Failover Clustering modes
http://www.symantec.com/docs/HOWTO108013

In addtion, if you go to your Enterprise Vault documentation, the Installation and Configuration guide has all the steps for Enterprise Vault clustering (Windows or VCS). For instace, here is the documentation for EV 11.0.1:

Enterprise Vault 11.0.1 - Documentation
http://www.symantec.com/docs/DOC7414

Just in case, here is the DOC for all the EV documentation:

Enterprise Vault Product Documentation
http://www.symantec.com/docs/DOC2200

Finally, do not forget to check the compatibility guide, since SQL Always On and an active/active clusterring are not supported as mentioned before:

Enterprise Vault Compatibility List
http://www.symantec.com/docs/TECH38537

I hope this helps to clarify any questions you had about EV clustering.