As a non-technical supporter of the IBM i platform, when I heard about DB2 Mirror for i, I immediately thought this would be similar to, or replace the need for an High Availability solution.
Hearing IBM i Architect … Steve Will’s presentation at the MAGIC IBM i user conference in Virginia Beach last year, I understood this is not the case. “DB2 Mirror for i has its limitations!”
Db2 Mirror for i, brings many benefits, but does not provide the full benefits or replace the need for a High Availability solution. System data can be kept in sync at particularly high speed, can eliminate production outages due to planned IPLs and updates, can be run in active/passive or active/active mode. IBM’s new solution requires the participating systems are no more than 200 meters apart, each being fully licensed with RoCE adapter cards in each.
I think the detailed explanation by Timothy Prickett Morgan of IT Jungle goes through and explains the details of the offering and what the cost will be very well.
“IBM® Db2® Mirror for i is a continuous availability solution which offers the ability to keep database files synchronized between two nodes and can provide a recovery time objective close to zero”.
IBM Magazine explains how DB2 Mirror for i, came about : read article
A full High Availability solution, such as Shield Advanced Solutions’ HA4i, brings about a completely different scenario. For hardware you’ll need require one licensed production system, set up to replicate to another. The backup system would be ideally in a different building/location and can take many forms ie. The backup system, can be rented space via an IBM MSP (Managed Service Provider), at another branch within your own business, or through a cloud service.
Without getting too technical, dividing your system with LPARs can easily allow multi-tasking Power systems, running backups, plus other activity. There is always a benefit to purchase a second system.
For further reading and a slightly more technical in-depth outlook, Alex Woodie of IT Jungle explores this subject…. read more
Interested in high availability? Request a demo of HA4i.