NetApp MetroCluster Disaster Recovery Solutions
NetApp-certified MetroCluster SolutionsMetroCluster, 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.

NetApp MetroCluster Consultants

NetApp's MetroCluster supports bi-directional active-active disaster recovery for optima resource utilization

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.

NetApp MetroCluster Disaster Recovery Consultants

Core components and connections for a 4-node MetroCluster configuration

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.

Additional Zero-Downtime Technologies Offered by Progent's Experts
Progent's Microsoft and Cisco consultants can help your company to implement an efficient, fault-tolerant information network that resolves major problems covering a wide array of networking solutions and operations including:

Disaster Recovery Planning
Progent's disaster recovery planning professionals can show you how to create a workplace recovery plan so you can resume network functionality in the event of an IT network catastrophe. Progent can assist you to create a complete disaster recovery strategy that incorporates periodic disaster recovery assessments and testing. Progent's Microsoft and Cisco-certified engineers can also help you create an affordable, zero-downtime network solution that takes into account availability issues involving a wide range of infrastructure technologies and procedures. For more information, visit Workplace Recovery Expertise.

Fully Managed Cloud Backup: ProSight Data Protection Services
ProSight Data Protection Services provide small and mid-sized businesses a low cost end-to-end service for secure backup/disaster recovery (BDR). For a low monthly price, ProSight DPS automates your backup processes and enables rapid recovery of vital files, applications and virtual machines that have become lost or damaged as a result of hardware breakdowns, software bugs, disasters, human error, or malware attacks like ransomware. ProSight Data Protection Services can help you protect, recover and restore files, folders, apps, system images, plus Hyper-V and VMware virtual machine images. Critical data can be protected on the cloud, to an on-promises storage device, or mirrored to both. Progent's cloud backup specialists can deliver world-class support to set up ProSight DPS to to comply with government and industry regulatory requirements such as HIPPA, FINRA, PCI and Safe Harbor and, when necessary, can help you to recover your business-critical information. Learn more about ProSight DPS Managed Backup and Recovery.

Microsoft Server 2016 Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity
Progent's Windows Server 2016 disaster recovery/business continuity experts can help your organization to plan and deploy a DR solution based on Microsoft's most advanced Failover Clustering technologies including Cluster Operating System Rolling Upgrade for non-disruptive migration to Windows Server 2016, Storage Replica for crash-consistent Recovery Point Objective (RPO), Storage Spaces Direct for enterprise-class storage clusters using industry-standard hardware, VM Load Balancing for enhancing the speed and resilience of Failover Clusters while reducing TCO and management overhead, and Cloud Witness for fast, affordable creation of a stretch cluster quorum witness. To read more, visit Windows Server 2016 Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity Expertise.

Microsoft Server 2012 Failover Clustering
Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 introduced enterprise-class fault tolerance and recoverability to Microsoft's failover clustering solution. Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 builds on this technology and provides important improvements that offer increased expandability, non-stop disk storage uptime for server applications, simpler administration, faster failover, and more options for architecting failover clusters. To find out more, visit Windows Server 2012 Clustering Migration and Support.

VMware Site Recovery Manager (SRM) Disaster Recovery Solutions
VMware's Site Recovery Manager is an extension to VMware vCenter that lets you define, automate and verify a consistent process for recovering services quickly following a breakdown. SRM supports centrally managed and automated recovery, application mobility, and transparent site relocation, failback and site re-protect. SRM also allows non-intrusive testing for site recovery, updates and fixes and can produce audit reports to verify full service restoration, validate SLAs and prove compliance. Progent can provide the support of a VCDX certified VMware SRM consulting expert to help your organization to plan, configure, test and maintain a disaster recovery system powered by VMware SRM.

Network Load Balancing
Progent offers fault tolerant load balancing support covering network load balancing, load balanced applications, LAN/WAN backbone routing, and content delivery products including Cisco Content Engine. Fault tolerant load balancing products for which Progent can provide consulting expertise include Windows 2003 and 2008 Server Network Load Balancing Manager, Citrix Metaframe and Access Gateway, Cisco Content Services Switch, Cisco Distributed Director and Cisco CDN Software, and F5 Networks 3-DNS. To learn more, see High Availability Load Balancing.

Fault Tolerant Internet Data Centers
Progent's Data Center professionals can help you select zero-downtime data centers that meet the specific needs of your company. High availability off-site data centers are particularly appealing to small and mid-size companies due to of their affordability and convenience compared to pursuing a do-it-yourself strategy. Attempting to create an on-site data center that offers even a basic degree of fault tolerance is too expensive for the majority of small businesses. Progent can show you how to get all the benefits of 24x7 Internet data centers by offering a full array of engineering and maintenance services. To learn more, see High-Availability Data Centers Expertise.

Failsafe Interoffice Networking
Progent’s interoffice connection professionals can help organizations create fault tolerant multi-site connectivity through fully redundant system architectures featuring transparent failover. Progent’s Cisco-premier CCIE engineers can plan and deploy high-availability Inter-office connections supported by fault tolerant EIGRP routers or fault tolerant OSPF configurations of Cisco routers. Progent can show you how multi-path connections and automatic fail-over offers economical 24x7 interoffice networking. To learn more, visit High-Availability Interoffice Connectivity.

Non-stop Internet Access
Progent's Cisco-authorized network consultants can show you how to design an affordable, fault tolerant Internet configuration architecture that can achieve non-stop Internet access via a wide range of high availability Internet network solutions including non-stop BGP, automatic fail-over, and redundant Internet Service Providers. Progent offers CCIE consultants to help you apply the latest techniques for high availability Internet access to build a cost-effective, completely redundant Internet network with automatic failover and other features to deliver non-stop Internet access. For more information, see Non-stop Internet Access Architecture.

Backup and Restore Solutions Consultants
Progent can provide economical remote access to consultants skilled in a wide range of products and technologies that deliver solutions for protecting Windows, Apple Mac, and Linux/UNIX physical and virtual servers and desktops as well as laptops and handhelds. Progent offers consulting support for leading data protection platforms such as Acronis Backup and Recovery, Symantec Backup Exec, BackupAssist Software, HP Data Protector, Double-Take Backup, Mozy, Retrospect, Apple Time Machine, VMware Data Recovery (VDR), and Oracle Solaris FLARs. Progent can assist your company to implement, upgrade, or troubleshoot data backup systems for a range of architectures including on-premises, remote, cloud-based, or a mix. For more information, go to Backup and Restore Technology Consulting and Support Services.

System Center Data Protection Manager Backup and Restore Consulting
Progent's expert System Center Data Protection Manager engineers can help your company to develop an effective business continuity plan, design an affordable fault-tolerante network infrastructure, configure a SCDPM-powered backup and recovery system, thoroughly validate your DPM system, train your IT personnel or local consultants how to manage System Center Data Protection Manager, or provide complete information technology support outsourcing such as off-site housing of System Center Data Protection Manager servers in Progent's world-class data center facility. For details, go to System Center Data Protection Manager Consulting.

Barracuda Backup Cloud and Offsite Backup and Disaster Recovery
Barracuda Backup is a low-cost, subscription-based backup and disaster recovery platform for small and medium-size businesses. A Barracuda Backup deployment can include a purpose-built physical appliance built by Barracuda or a software-based appliance with comparable functionality but which utilizes your own storage infrastructure. Barracuda Backup safeguards critical company data produced locally, at one or multiple remote sites, 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 certified Barracuda partner and Progent's Barracuda Backup consultants offer a wide range of consulting support services to assist your business to design, integrate, operate and repair a backup and disaster recovery system based on Barracuda technology. For additional information, see Barracuda Backup and disaster recovery consultants.

Altaro VM Backup Solutions for Backup and Disaster Recovery
Altaro VM Backup software provides small and mid-size organizations a reliable and budget-friendly solution for backing up and restoring Hyper-V and VMware-powered virtual machines (VMs). Altaro VM Backup can be deployed in on-premises, offsite, multi-site, and cloud architectures and also enables cost-effective cloud backup to Azure Block Blob storage. Top features include state-of-the-art Augmented Inline Deduplication to reduce backup storage requirements, Continuous Data Protection with backup spacing as short as five minutes for minimizing your Recovery Point Objective (RPO), military-grade encryption, item-level recovery options for specific files and emails, extensive support for Windows Server Cluster Shared Volumes (CSV) and VMware vCenter for managing larger environments, and the ability to leverage Microsoft Volume Shadow Copy Service to back up online VMs with zero downtime. Progent is an Altaro partner and can provide a wide array of services to help you to plan, deploy, optimize and troubleshoot a backup/restore solution powered by Altaro VM Backup. To read more, go to Altaro VM Backup Consulting.

Consulting Services Double-Take Solutions for Backup
Double-Take offers a family of tools intended to provide small and midsize businesses a variety of cost-effective solutions for replicating and restoring vital workloads such as Exchange, Microsoft SQL, RIM Blackberry, and SharePoint. Progent’s business continuity planning experts have in-depth experience incorporating Double-Take Software technology into small business IT systems to achieve an advanced state of fault tolerance and disaster recovery readiness at an affordable price. For more information, go to Consulting Services Double-Take Solutions for Backup.

CRISC-Certified IT 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 IS control mechanisms to mitigate network risk. Progent can provide the expertise of a CRISC-certified consultant to assist you to develop and execute a workplace continuity strategy that follows leading practices promoted by CRISC and crafted to align with your company's risk tolerance, business goals, and budgetary guidelines. To learn more, visit CRISC-Certified IT risk control experts.

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.

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