Architecting and Deploying High-Availability Solutions
13
ECG064/1198
Study your needs
As we have discussed in this paper, architecting a high-availability environment requires a methodical
approach beginning with an understanding of your needs. The definition of your needs includes the cost of
downtime to your organization and your requirements in terms of Recovery Point and Recovery Time.
Consider also the ramifications of managing your high-availability environment in a multi-year time frame.
Identify the right compromise
What is the opportunity cost of downtime versus the price of the solution over the life of the system?
Should you spend less now for a short term fix or make the major investment that will carry you well into
the future?
Architect the right compromise
Once a balance has been struck among the issues described above, the next task is to turn that compromise
into a design with the appropriate weight given to the individual availability technologies.
Commit to a given result
With design in hand, an organization must commit itself to carrying through on the plan whose end result is
nothing less than the level of availability deemed necessary. This requires some degree of systems
engineering – solutions modeling, characterization, proof of concept.
Deliver to spec
At this point, the vendor or vendors supplying the components of the availability solution must be equally
committed to the end result. A vendor with strong internal technical project management and quality
control is essential in this endeavor.
Verify in the factory
Don’t wait until the solution is delivered to your site and installed to see if it works. A competent solutions
provider will have the capability to factory pre-stage, integrate, and test the complete solution.
Start up on site
If the solution has been factory integrated and tested in a tightly controlled technical environment the on-
site start-up should be a low-risk and non-disruptive exercise that accelerates the pace of implementation.
Manage for the long term
After implementation, the challenge is to maintain the level of availability originally architected. This is
accomplished through a program of consistent internal controls and long-term relationships with support
and service providers.
Study
Your
Needs
Identify the
Right
Compromise
Manage
for the
long term
Start up
on site
Architect the
Right
Compromise
Commit to
a Given
Result
Verify in the
Factory
Deliver
to Spec
