Enterprise Disaster Recovery/Business Continuity Consulting

NetApp MetroCluster Disaster Recovery Solutions
MetroCluster, included with NetApp's ONTAP storage operating system, is high-availability and disaster recovery software that combines array-based clustering with synchronous replication to provide rapid, zero data loss disaster recovery between datacenters separated by up to 185 miles (300km). By synchronously mirroring volumes between storage controllers, MetroCluster allows zero Recovery Point Objective (RPO) and under two-minute Recovery Time Objective (RTO) for mission-critical applications. MetroCluster supports SAN and NAS hosts, is available in 2-, 4- and 8-node configurations, and integrates with NetApp SnapMirror for asynchronous, near-zero data lass protection for datacenters separated by longer distances. Storage costs are kept at a minimum via inline data reduction technologies including deduplication, compression, and compaction.

Progent offers online or onsite access to a NetApp subject matter expert with NCIE, NCDA and NASAP certifications who can provide advanced support to help you design, deploy, manage, optimize, update or troubleshoot a disaster recovery solution based on NetApp MetroCluster technology. Progent also offers support for other NetApp SAN and NAS storage solutions including ONTAP, SnapMirror, SnapVault and Open Systems SnapVault (OSSV), FlexPod private cloud converged infrastructure, Virtual Storage Console, MultiStore, vFiler, OnCommand Unified Manager Core with OnCommand Reporting and OnCommand Insight, plus NetApp's hybrid Flash FAS, all Flash AFF, V-Series and N-Series hardware portfolio. (See NetApp SAN Integration Consulting.)

Key Features of NetApp MetroCluster
MetroCluster provides local high-availability (HA) and rapid, single-command remote disaster recovery (DR) for an organization's storage infrastructure by connecting two clusters, one each at two geographically separated datacenters, in a bi-directional peered storage network where you can quickly switchover either cluster to handle the storage and services of the other cluster in addition its own workloads. By running the Storage Virtual Machines (SVMs) from the offline cluster on the surviving cluster, MetroCluster allows continuous access to data during an outage of a storage cluster or datacenter.

In a four-node configuration, each datacenter has a two-node failover cluster configured as a high-availability (HA) pair with mirrored non-volatile RAM (NVRAM) and multipath storage between the two local nodes. If either node in an HA pair stops working, automatic failover allows the surviving local partner to take over the offline node's operation without incurring downtime. For DR clusters at separate sites, MetroCluster supports active-active and active-passive configurations. In an active-active configuration, both sites serve independent workloads during normal operation. In an active-passive (or active standby) deployment, the cluster at a selected primary site hosts all application workloads in a steady state and switchover only occurs from the protected primary site to the backup site. In this mode, no switchover is required if the secondary site fails but resource utilization is relatively low. You can also configure local HA pairs to operate in active-passive mode.

Switchover between clusters at different datacenters and failover between nodes in a datacenter's cluster can be planned (e.g. for non-intrusive maintenance, testing or upgrades) or unplanned, as in a site disaster. Switchback is the process by which the surviving cluster in one datacenter returns switched-over resources to the original cluster at the other datacenter. Giveback, or failback, is the process by which an offline node in local cluster is returned to a steady operational state.

To provide zero RPO disaster recovery, MetroCluster uses synchronous replication between storage clusters so that any change made at one datacenter is automatically propagated to the other datacenter. The replication process includes storage replication with NetApp SyncMirror, nonvolatile NVRAM replication, and replication of the cluster configuration. For MetroCluster to preserve the identity of the storage access paths during switchover, you must set up an L2 spanned Ethernet network and a single SAN fabric across the two datacenter sites.

MetroCluster requires both datacenters to have the same hardware and disk configurations. A variety of components from multiple vendors are supported. In a four-node deployment, each cluster uses NetApp's standard clustered Data ONTAP cluster interconnects, usually a switchless, back-to-back connection between the two HA nodes. Two Fibre Channel (FC) or FCIP switches at each datacenter connect to the HA nodes via FC initiators and FC-VI interfaces and connect to storage with SAS-to-FC bridges. (Direct-attached configurations do not require FC switches.) This allows all nodes in both clusters to see all the storage. Brocade FC switches supported by MetroCluster allow DR clusters to be up to 185 miles apart. The Clustered Data ONTAP storage OS supports both switchless configurations and a variety of cluster interconnect switches.

How Progent Can Help You with MetroCluster and Other NetApp Storage Solutions
Progent's team of seasoned IT consultants can help you plan, deploy, manage, upgrade, test and troubleshoot a disaster recovery solution built around NetApp MetroCluster. Progent can help you design a two-node, four-node or eight-node topology for your MetroCluster environment that aligns with your functional requirements and IT budget. Progent can make sure you follow best practices for installing your MetroCluster environment by providing help with tasks such as assigning disk pools and shelf IDs, arranging aggregate and plexes layout, provisioning NetApp FlexVol volumes, configuring NetApp Snapshot, provisioning Cisco and Brocade switches, implementing a tiebreaker, and setting up a TCP/IP configuration replication network between your peered clusters. Progent can also help you streamline the management of your MetroCluster ecosystem and non-disruptively test your disaster recovery solution to prove compliance with industry standards and government regulations. In addition, Progent offers FlexPod integration consulting to help you incorporate MetroCluster into a resilient private cloud infrastructure that consolidates servers, network fabric and storage assets for hosting critical applications.

Progent can provide as-needed expertise to guide you through occasional technical roadblocks and also offers comprehensive project management outsourcing or co-sourcing. Progent offers remote and on-premises consulting services and gives you easy access to the breadth and depth of knowledge of more than 100 veteran subject matter experts. In addition to offering the support of a NetApp-certified network architect, Progent can provide the services of a Cisco-certified CCIE network infrastructure consultant, a VMware VCDX-certified virtual networking expert, a Microsoft-certified Exchange specialist, a Citrix-certified XenDesktop consultant, and other IT consulting experts.

Zero-Downtime Solutions Provided by Progent
Progent's certified support professionals can assist your company to create a cost-effective, zero-downtime system that addresses key issues covering a wide array of infrastructure technologies and processes including:

Business Continuity Planning
Progent's business continuity planning professionals can show you how to design a business continuity plan so you can resume IT functionality in case of an information system catastrophe. Progent can assist you to develop a complete disaster recovery plan that includes periodic disaster recovery evaluations and drills. Progent's Microsoft and Cisco-certified engineers can also help you create an affordable, non-stop system architecture that addresses availability issues involving a broad range of network technologies and processes. To find out more, see Workplace Recovery Consulting.

CRISC-Certified Network Risk Mitigation
The Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC) program was initiated by ISACA in 2010 to verify a consultant's skills to plan, deploy, and maintain information system control mechanisms to mitigate risk. Progent offers the services of a CRISC-certified engineer to assist you to create and carry out a business continuity plan that follows industry best practices identified by CRISC and crafted to match your organization's risk appetite, business objectives, and IT budget. To read more, see CRISC-Premier IT risk mitigation experts.

Windows Server 2019 Fault-tolerant Failover Clustering
Microsoft Windows Server 2019 incorporated important enhancements in capacity, throughput, manageability, cybersecurity, application compatibility, Linux support, container networking, and hybrid combinations of local and cloud assets. Top enhancements of Microsoft Windows Server 2019 include Windows Admin Center for unifying the management and monitoring of hybrid local/cloud-hosted deployments, System Insights for taking advantage of advance predictive intelligence to manage local environments, Windows Defender ATP (Advanced Threat Protection) Exploit Guard for host-intrusion prevention, container networking with Kubernetes, Cluster Sets technology for creating and administering massive non-stop scale-out clusters, and Storage Migration Service for streamlining the upgrade process from legacy editions of Windows Server. To learn more, see Microsoft Windows Server 2019 Fault-tolerant Failover Clustering Help.

Microsoft Windows Server 2016 Disaster Recovery
Progent's Windows Server 2016 disaster recovery experts can help your organization to design a DR solution built around Microsoft's cloud-tested Failover Clustering technologies including Cluster Operating System Rolling Upgrade for non-disruptive migration to Windows Server 2016, Storage Replica for zero-data-loss recovery, Storage Spaces Direct for enterprise-class network-attached storage using commodity equipment, VM Load Balancing for improving the performance and resilience of Failover Clusters while reducing capital investment and management overhead, and Cloud Witness for easy, economical deployment of a failover cluster quorum arbitration point. To read more, visit Microsoft Server 2016 Disaster Recovery Help.

VMware Site Recovery Manager (SRM) Disaster Recovery Solutions
VMware's Site Recovery Manager is an extension to VMware vCenter that lets you specify, automate and test a consistent runbook for recovering services rapidly following a breakdown. Site Recovery Manager provides centrally controlled and automated recovery, application mobility, plus transparent site relocation, failback and site re-protect. Site Recovery Manager also allows non-intrusive testing for site recovery, upgrades and patches and can generate audit reports to verify complete service recovery, validate Service Level Agreements and prove disaster recovery compliance. Progent can provide the skills of a VCDX certified VMware Site Recovery Manager consultant to assist you to plan, deploy, test and administer a DR system powered by VMware SRM.

Fault Tolerant Load Balancing
Progent provides high availability load balancing support that addresses system load balancing, load balanced programs, network infrastructure routing, and content dispatching technology such as F5 Networks 3DNS. High availability load balancing products for which Progent can provide consulting expertise include Microsoft Windows 2003 and 2008 Server Network Load Balancing Manager, Citrix Access Suite and Presentation Server, Cisco Content Services Switch, Cisco Distributed Director and LocalDirector 400 series, and F5 Networks BIG-IP. To learn more, see Fault Tolerant Load Balancing.

Non-stop Internet Data Centers
Progent's Data Center professionals can help you identify zero-downtime data centers that match the specific requirements of your business. High availability colocation sites are especially appealing to small and mid-size organizations because of their low cost and simplified logistics compared to pursuing a do-it-yourself strategy. Trying to design an on-site data center with even a minimum level of fault tolerance is too costly for most small organizations. Progent can help you get all the benefits of 24x7 colo centers by offering a complete array of consulting and maintenance services. To find out more, see High-Availability Colocation Expertise.

Non-stop Interoffice Connectivity
Progent's inter-site connectivity professionals can help businesses create fault tolerant inter-site connections via fully redundant system architectures featuring transparent failover. Progent's Cisco-certified CCIE network engineers can design and deploy ultra-reliable Inter-office connections supported by zero-downtime EIGRP network routers or fault tolerant OSPF configurations of Cisco routers. Progent can show you how multi-path connectivity and automatic fail-over offers economical 24x7 interoffice connectivity. To learn more, see Failsafe Inter-office Networking.

Fault Tolerant Internet Access
Progent's Cisco-certified IT consultants can show you how to design an economical, fault tolerant Internet connection solution that can achieve 24x7 Internet connectivity via a broad range of high availability Internet network technologies including non-stop BGP, transparent fail-over, and multiple ISPs. Progent offers Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert professionals to help you utilize the latest techniques for 24x7 Internet connections to create an affordable, completely redundant Internet network with automatic failover and other features to deliver non-stop Internet connections. For more information, see Fault Tolerant Internet Connectivity Solutions.

Backup and Restore Solutions Consulting Experts
Progent can provide affordable remote support from IT engineers skilled in a wide array of utilities and technologies that deliver solutions for backing up Microsoft Windows, Apple Mac, and Linux physical and virtual servers and desktops plus notebooks and handhelds. Progent offers expertise for leading data protection platforms including Acronis Backup and Recovery, Symantec Backup Exec, BackupAssist, CrashPlan, Double-Take Backup, Mozy, Retrospect for Macintosh, Apple Time Machine, VMware Data Recovery (VDR), and Solaris FLARs. Progent's consultants can help you to implement, upgrade, or maintain backup/restore solutions for a variety of architectures including local, edge to datacenter, cloud-based, or hybrid. To learn more, visit Backup and Restore Technology Consulting.

System Center Data Protection Manager (SCDPM) Data Recovery Consulting Experts
Progent's certified System Center Data Protection Manager engineers can help you to develop a practical business continuity strategy, implement a cost-effective fault-tolerante network infrastructure, deploy a System Center Data Protection Manager-powered recovery system, comprehensively validate your system, train your administrative staff or local service providers how to maintain Microsoft System Center Data Protection Manager, or provide complete IT outsourcing including remote hosting of virtual or physical SCDPM servers in Progent's data center facility. To learn more, visit System Center Data Protection Manager Consulting Services.

Barracuda Backup Cloud and Offsite Data Backup and Disaster Recovery
Barracuda Backup is an affordable, subscription backup and disaster recovery platform for small and medium-size organizations. A Barracuda Backup deployment can incorporate a purpose-built hardware storage device manufactured by Barracuda or a software-based appliance with similar features but which uses your existing storage infrastructure. Barracuda Backup protects critical company data generated on-premises, at one or multiple remote locations, or in the cloud. For disaster recovery, you can replicate data to the Barracuda Cloud, to Amazon AWS, or to any location with a physical or virtual Barracuda appliance. Progent is a Barracuda partner and Progent's Barracuda Backup consultants can provide a broad range of consulting support services to help your business to design, integrate, operate and repair a BDR system based on Barracuda Backup. For additional information, visit Barracuda Backup and disaster recovery consultants.

ProSight Altaro VM Backup Solutions for Data Protection and Disaster Recovery
Altaro VM Backup offers small businesses a reliable and budget-friendly platform for backing up and restoring Hyper-V and VMware-based VMs. Altaro VM Backup can be used for on-premises, offsite, distributed, and cloud-hosted environments and also enables low-cost backup to Azure storage. Altaro VM Backup includes high-end features like Immutable Cloud Storage for an extra layer of protection from ransomware. Progent is an Altaro partner and can provide a wide range of remote or onsite consulting services to assist you to plan, deploy, manage and troubleshoot a comprehensive backup and disaster recovery system based on Altaro VM Backup. With ProSight DPS Altaro VM Backup, Progent offers a managed backup/recovery service based on Altaro VM Backup technology. To find out more, go to Altaro VM Backup certified consultants.

ProSight DPS 365 Total Backup Solutions for Microsoft 365
Microsoft 365 offers simple archiving but does not have native support for crucial data protection capabilities such as Exchange backups or greater than 30-day point-in-time recovery for OneDrive for Business or SharePoint. Hornetsecurity's 365 Total Backup provides a feature-rich BDR solution for programmable backup and quick recovery of all your company's M365 mailboxes, Microsoft Teams Chats, SharePoint sites, OneDrive files, and content on Windows endpoints. Progent is a certified Hornetsecurity/Altaro partner and has designed ProSight Data Protection Services (DPS) 365 Total Backup to provide end-to-end management services for Hornetsecurity's 365 Total Backup product. ProSight Data Protection Services 365 Total Backup provides an affordable backup-as-a-service solution that defends M365 components against data loss or corruption caused by user or software error, malicious corruption, and cyber attacks such as ransomware. For more information, see ProSight Data Protection Services 365 Total Backup solutions for Microsoft 365.

Managed Cloud Backup: ProSight Data Protection Services ECHO
ProSight Data Protection Services ECHO provide small and mid-sized businesses an affordable end-to-end service for reliable backup/disaster recovery (BDR). For a fixed monthly cost, ProSight Data Protection Services ECHO automates and monitors your backup processes and allow rapid recovery of vital data, apps and VMs that have become unavailable or corrupted due to component failures, software bugs, natural disasters, human error, or malicious attacks such as ransomware. ProSight DPS ECHO can help you protect, recover and restore files, folders, apps, system images, plus Microsoft Hyper-V and VMware images. Important data can be protected on the cloud, to a local storage device, or to both. Progent's cloud backup specialists can provide advanced support to set up ProSight Data Protection Services ECHO to to comply with government and industry regulatory requirements like HIPAA, FINRA, PCI and Safe Harbor and, when necessary, can help you to restore your business-critical data. Find out more about ProSight Data Protection Services ECHO managed cloud backup.

ProSight MSP360 Backup Services
Progent's data protection experts can assist you to design, deploy and debug a backup/restore solution built around MSP360 software. MSP360 offers file/folder or image backup/recovery for virtual machines and physical machines, works with all popular public clouds, and permits businesses to build a backup solution with a low Recovery Time Objective and a defined RPO. With ProSight MSP360 Backup, Progent offers end-to-end monitoring and remote management of your backup environment to prevent data loss resulting from user miscues, system glitches, ill-intentioned insiders, and external attacks such as ransomware. For more information, visit ProSight MSP360 Backup services.

Consulting for Double-Take Software for Backup and Recovery
Double-Take Software offers a selection of tools intended to provide small companies a range of affordable alternatives for replicating and restoring vital applications including Microsoft Exchange Server, Microsoft SQL, Blackberry, and SharePoint. Progent's business continuity planning consultants have extensive backgrounds integrating Double-Take Software technology into small business IT systems to create a high state of fault tolerance and disaster recovery capability at an affordable price. For more information, see Consulting Services Double-Take Solutions for Backup.

Why Pick Progent for Disaster Recovery/Business Continuity Planning?
Since Progent is a Microsoft Certified AI Cloud Partner and offers professional application consulting for a broad range of business software programs, Progent is able to assist customers to arrive at complete IT solutions that substantially enhance the business value of your information system. As a Registered Partner with Cisco, Progent can provide the support of premier engineers and specialists with experience in designing, implementing and managing infrastructure environments based on Cisco products. The breadth of Progent's technical know-how and Progent's sensitivity to the requirements of small and midsize businesses make Progent the perfect partner for building and maintaining an affordable, fault-tolerant network.

Contact Progent for NetApp SAN Storage Solutions
If you are looking for expertise to help you design, deploy or troubleshoot a SAN storage solution based on NetApp technology, call Progent at 800-993-9400 or visit Contact Progent.