Koozali.org: home of the SME Server
Legacy Forums => Experienced User Forum => Topic started by: guestHH on February 10, 2002, 12:35:45 AM
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Hi all,
I'm busy with creating High Availablity for 2 SME servers bases upon Heartbeat (http://www.linux-ha.org) and DRBD (http://www.complang.tuwien.ac.at/reisner/drbd/)
. Let me explain;
- 2 SME servers represented to the user as only 1 server (with exact same data on both of them)
- Automatic Fail-over, Fail-back between the 2 of them (with current data)
- real- time mirroring (RAID-1) of user data (incl. open files e.g. databses) from server 1 to server 2.
I'm getting the point where it's going to be usefull in practice, so I'm would like to know if there are any of you really interested in a draft How-To.
Note this, I'm not the same caliber as other guys like e.g. Dan B., Darrell, Des, Charlie, Jamie or Filippo and MANY others, but since I had the need for this HA 'feature' I just gave it a try......
I would like to know if you would be interested in a How-To that will get you started so that I know if I have to translate my personal (unreadable) notes in a more clear paper AND i would also like to know how 'big' the demand for such a feature would be so maybe others are interested to improve the initial how-to for there are many issues to be resolved to get to a 'out of the box' solution. (and maybe Mitel likes the idea too 'cause of the 'high' demand...:-)...)
So, please reply with 'yes' or 'No' to this thread so we ca get a better picture of the 'need' for this. Maybe you would like to add the exact situation you would like to use it for or any other comment, It would be appreciated.
If you think 'what's this? what a crap..' that's ok by me, please ignore this posting.
Regards,
guestHH
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Hi HF,
YES ! YES ! YES !
Please post a How-To for us to try !
Cheers,
Kelvin
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Yes and when your ready we will put two Test servers together and test it for you
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RequestedDeletion:
I have one customer who is very interested in this concept. I am building them a *second* server, both servers identical with raid 1 controllers, and duplicate removeable data drives and duplicate boot drives (total of 4 removeable drives in all). Only server 1 or server 2 would be operational at a time, and if the online server failed, the admin would shut it down, transfer the removeable data drive carriers plus one of the boot drive carriers to the other server and boot it up. The extra boot drive would be an exact copy of the main boot drive for use in case of data corruption or rootkitting, etc., and would not normally be "live".
Your HA (assuming it is reliable) would be an improvement, in that the changeover would be more or less instant. It would
involve more hard drives than my solution, but its elegance and automatic operation should offset that.
Regards,
Tom
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I would like to give it a try. Do machines have to be same spec ?
I have 750 Duron 80 GB & a P75 1 GB. The duron is email and a few page web server for home + 3,200 MP3's. Whilst i cant mirror the MP3's i should have back email as i dont have any ISP service i host my own.
Steve.
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Hi,
FYI and further reference:
Server 1 is named Goliath (active, primary server ip 192.168.1.201) Server 2 is named David (Stand by, not actibe but powered on server, ip 192.168.1.202)
Both servers can NOT be seen on the network via network neighborhood (but pingable)
The 'cluster' of both servers is called 'The Rock' and is present on the network and is viseable to the users as 'The Rock' and has 'virtual' ip 192.168.1.210 (virueal ip provided by the HA system)
Kelvin: I heard you ;-)
Peter: Thanks in advance I would be interested in nay feedback
Tom:
Your solution is clever. Just to give you more info at this moment:
I use 1 small system (e-smith system(drive and lare data drive (both IDE) on each server (installed and mounted AFTER installation of e-smith.
Current status is that user data is real-time mirrored to server 2 (stand by) over a 2nd NIC on a 'private' net 10.0.0.0. Data saved to The Rock will be Real-Time mirrored to David (stand by) with a rate of 1.8-1.9 Mb/s, 100mb NIC)
And yes realiability is very important. That's why i posted the initial message and invitaion to paticipate and find out to what extend.
Regards,
guestHH
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Hi Steve,
No the servers don't have to be of the same specs. The ONLY restriction is that the amount of mirrored (LAN RAID-1) data fits on both user-data drives on both drives. (server A 10Gb server B 5 Gb won't work)
That's it. BUT it helps the performance that you use 7200 rpms drives, 100Mb nics, Processor speed as high as possible (but don't need to be the same on the 2 servers) and connect the servers to separate power outlets.
The 2 servers can be max. 80 meters apart (in case of fire etc.... whatever)
For you case, a friend of mine is now using a 2nd (give away from another friend) server that is mirroring his MP3's ... :-)
Regards,
guestHH
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HF,
Got your links on the older thread and will now catch up on this one. Thanks!
As you are aware, I'm very interested in a howto on this subject and I can dedicate some hardware and time to testing. I'd be happy to test your howto and help in any way that I can.
Cheers,
-jeff
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Hi Jeff,
Thanks in advance.
Since I live in th southern part of The Netherlands, we celebrate Carnaval over here very intense !!! The how-to will probebly will arrive somewhere next week.
(if i get over my headache.........) :-)
Regards and thanks,
guestHH
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Hoist one for me!
-jeff
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Hi RequestedDeletion
Yes, please post a how-to to setup the sme to a high availabilty server. That's realy what we need.
Thx
Kind regards
René
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I would also be VERY pleased to read such a thing.
Regards
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You're on the list Simon :-)
Regards,
guestHH
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I am very interested in this as well.
High availability is a very popular topic these days, and having worked in datacenters, I see it in use all the time. Making it available for the SME server would greatly enhance its ability to get into businesses
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Hi John,
Added your address to the list... ;-)
I'm finishing the How-To, it will arrive to the end of this week so all of you can have a go at this during the weekend :-) so get your hardware ready:
- 2 servers with 2 harddisks with 2 NICS, 1 null-modem cable
- 1 small 'system' harddisk (10 Gb?) and 1 large data disk (40+Gb)
- Make sure you have internet access to download RPM's
*** DRAFT HOW-TO, FOR TESTING PURPOSES ONLY ***
Regards,
guestHH
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Hi RequestedDeletion,
Please add me to your list as well.
Thanks and regards,
Shaukat
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Hehe I suppose I better jump on the wagon here. I got a couple spare boxes I can play with :-)
Throw me on the list. I will bring some beer.
steve
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I got couple of systems and I am ready when you are ready, count me in.
Let's roll !!!
Cheers
JC
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Add me also
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What's the null-modem cable for ??? I thought the idea was a failover across a LAN ?
Cheers
Simon
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Hi Simon,
High Availability involves redundance communication between the 2 servers. So normal network via eth0, mirror via eth1and heartbeat link via eth1 AND serial link.
Regards,
guestHH
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count me in too!!
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Steve,
Make sure you bring some headahce pills for carnaval gave one to me :-)
Regards,
guestHH
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hehe, sounds like you need a beer!
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HF
Man, you got the goods!
Count me in too - I'm just -itchin- to give this a whirl...
Cheers!
Ari
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My god guys, (Hi, Shauka, Steve, JC, Lazo)
just finished carnaval...... with a WHOLE LOT of beers. It's 00.51 AM local time (Europe, Amsterdam time) here and i go 'rest my case' for now. I will work on the How-To tomorrow and will release it as soon as possible. Remember though it's a draft ment for developers (test servers) only.
You neeed to knwo how to cusrtomise e-smith but you don't need to compile.
Have a good day and see you tomorrow.
Regards (hik, blurp)
guestHH
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Please add me to your list.
Serge.
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And it's done Serge.
Now listen up guys,
There's no real list, i'm gathering your e-mail adresses so I can inform you aboutn the initial post personally.
This doesn't mean that there can be a list IF there are a number of interested in contributing, commenting and profiting....
We'll see.....
Regards,
RequestedDeletion
p.s. A How-To is a HELL of a job !!!!
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Count me in as well,
regards
kevin
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Peter,
Can you post your e-mail address pls.
Regards,
guestHH
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Simon,
Please post your e-mail address.
Regards,
guestHH
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Hi all,
Thanks for you interest. I did my best to create a paper that will get you started, and it will not be without errors.
The How-To is not completely fnished yet, but since I told you 'end of the week' here it is.
Please let me know your experiences and what kind of problems you did encounter.
I would love to hear from you. Your feedback is highly appreciated and will be incorporated in the updated How-To.
(if you want 'keep me informed' status, please drop me an e-mail)
Oke here we go... There's the beer, chips are over there, I'll arange for some hot snacks later...........
Good luck! http://www.star-support.com/sme/Linux-HA/SME%20High%20Availability%20How-To.html
Regards,
RequestedDeletion
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Hi all,
Just to clarify things, IT WORKS.
In the How-To i speak of errors. This is errors in the How-To itself (spelling, writing, left out small details etc.)
Please 'think' with me on this one.
Thanks and regards,
guestHH
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Hi HF
Sorry I'v been away from the office My e-mail address
peter@northwestlinux.co.uk
Peter
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I'm very interested in a howto on this subject and I can dedicate some hardware and time for testing. I'd be happy to test your howto and help in any way that I can (I can translate to spanish too, If anybody cares :-) ).
Cheers,
Gabriel
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Any chance of reviving this thread? Anybody ever do testing on this project? Hsing, do you still have this how-to somewhere (the link is dead) that you could re-post or otherwise make available?
Very interested in knowing if this could work for two remote servers over a WAN in conjunction with carefully crafted DNS entries for keeping web/email services alive.
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HF's how-to is still available, here:
http://no.longer.valid/phpwiki/index.php/Linux%20High%20Availability%20How-To%20for%20Mitel%20SME%20v5.1.2
this thing is long! must've been a lot of work :)
RonM
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RequestedDeletion,
can I get a copy of your latest version of the howto
frank-at-djfamily.net
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can I get a copy of your latest version of the howto
Frank, sorry but the above mentioned how-to IS the latest one. I didn't touch it in a loooooong time.
Although all used software has been updated, the basics still work. You' re most welcome to give it a whirl as I would be interested in your results.
guest
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Hello all!
I can't find the how to!
I'd like to test and improve the HA solution!
Can someone send the how to to my mailbox or give me the link to download it? I can't find it in the above links!
Thanks a lot, Mat
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You can find the how to here:
http://mirror.contribs.org/smeserver/contribs/star/mitel/contrib/Linux-HA/
there is a newer thread here:
http://forums.contribs.org/index.php?topic=30994.0
Please post your if you get it working :D
frederikbay
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Yes Yes Yes Yes
Go for it :-)
/ Steffen
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I would love to pick this up again, but I do not have the hardware.
Since the original how-to, all software is still available and have improved a lot. Many interesting concepts are additionally available like Xen.
Xen -> SME Server -> HA ---> User
THAT would be interesting ;-)
Cheers,
guest
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Hi HF,
What would you need?
I would be interrested in helping you with this, I could setup 2 1u servers in our hosting center for you to use, would that be something you could use or would you have to have hands-on?
Let me know and maybe we could get this going
Regards Frederik Bay