Learn how to minimize downtime and maximize availability on your AIX® server.
Before you begin your planning tasks, complete this checklist:
| Before you begin | |
|---|---|
| __ | Go to IBM® System p® and AIX Information Center Web site at http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/pseries to
review information about System p and AIX. |
| __ | Read the AIX Release Notes®. |
| __ | Identify your disaster recovery plan. |
| __ | Identify your backup and recovery strategy. |
| __ | Identify the cost per hour of a system outage to both your business and your users. |
| AIX availability planning tasks | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| __ | Establish a backup policy Determine a strategy for backing up the systems and files that are needed for your organization. For more information about backing up your systems, see Backup files and storage media and Establishing a backup policy. |
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| __ | Establish a logical volume
policy Determine a strategy for logical volume use that is oriented toward availability and performance. This policy may include write-verify and mirroring, which can enhance availability, but degrade performance. Establish a policy that is best suited to your needs. For more information about creating a logical volume policy, see Developing a Logical Volume Strategy. |
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| __ | Establish a volume group policy Determine a strategy for volume groups to protect against disk failure. This should include mirroring, which can also aid performance. For more information about creating a volume group policy or using commands to mirror your volume group, such as the alt_disk_install command, seeDeveloping a Volume Group Strategy. |
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| __ | Understand the different file
system types Know the difference between CIFS, GPFS, JFS, JFS2, NFS, UDFS, and other file system types and how they can increase your AIX availability. For more information about clusters in AIX, see File Systems. |
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| __ | Plan for High Availability Cluster
Multi-Processor (HACMP™)
technology Depending on the size and scope of your enterprise, consider
using an HACMP solution
to ensure continuous data and application availability. Current HACMP solutions
enable long-distance site mirroring, which is why they are called HACMP/XD
(eXtreme distance). HACMP/XD High Availability Geographic Cluster (HAGEO)
for AIX 5L™ is a high-end solution for business-critical applications and data.
HACMP/XD Remote Copy for IBM Enterprise Storage Server® is appropriate
for less critical operational applications and data. To determine which solution
is right for your business and to plan accordingly, see the Planning considerations for geographically dispersed clusters
using HACMP/XD HAGEO technology |
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| __ | Plan for High Performance Switch
(HPS) clusters You should install High Performance Switches
(HPSes) for your high availability clusters to function at their peak performance.
To plan for HPSes on pSeries® servers, see eServer™ Cluster
1600: pSeries High
Performance Switch Planning, Installation, and Service |
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white paper. Once you
have decided on an HACMP solution, see the When you have completed these tasks, you should have a plan for AIX availability that identifies these elements:
| After you finish | |
|---|---|
| __ | Implement your established backup policy. |
| __ | Record a complete availability strategy for a single server or multiple server environment. |
| __ | Record a complete strategy for backing up your server. |
| __ | Record a complete strategy for server recovery. |
| __ | Record a complete strategy for data protection that includes mirroring, concurrent maintenance, and Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID). Include detailed configuration and placement information for disk subsystem components. |
| __ | Record a complete and validated plan for HACMP cluster configurations, if applicable. |
| __ | Ensure that the hardware requirements for your cluster configuration have been met, if applicable. |