13
Fri, Dec
4 New Articles

Product Review: iTera's Echo2 HA Edition 4.2

Product Reviews
Typography
  • Smaller Small Medium Big Bigger
  • Default Helvetica Segoe Georgia Times

If you're feeling the pressure to take your System i (iSeries) data protection and recovery capabilities to another level, you're not alone. Many IT managers are looking for options, and high availability (HA) is showing up on the top of the list. This is for good reason: HA technology mirrors business-critical applications, data, spool files, IFS, configuration data, and more to a second system—all in real-time. It is by far the most effective way to achieve rapid and virtually complete recovery of an iSeries environment after a system failure or site disaster.

Like any technology, HA's features, functionality, and price differ among products. What matters is that you find a reliable, cost-effective solution to fit your needs.

Since its inception in 1997, iTera has endeavored to make HA easy to use, reliable, and affordable, particularly for small organizations. Today, iTera provides high availability technology in two products: Echo2 HA Edition and Echo2 HA Enterprise Edition. If your company uses or intends to use IBM's independent ASP (IASP) or cross-site mirroring (XSM) technologies, then Echo2 HA Enterprise is the right choice; otherwise, Echo2 HA Edition will fully handle your HA needs.

Release 4.2 is the latest version of Echo2 HA Edition (hereafter referred to simply as Echo2), and its new features that enhance HA ease of use and reliability are the subject of this product review.

Native Remote Journaling Architecture

Before outlining the new features in Echo2 4.2, it's worth mentioning remote journaling and the importance of natively incorporating the technology into an HA architecture.

Introduced with OS/400 V4R2 in 1999, remote journaling allows a carbon copy of each journal entry created on the production environment to be sent to a second iSeries environment—whether it is on the same machine or on a different one. Remote journaling dramatically improved the performance of the HA replication process, and iTera was one of the first HA vendors to utilize it. Prior to remote journaling, HA relied on standard journaling processes, which meant that the HA software had to manually "scrape" pertinent information from journal entries as they were created, queue the information for transport to the second environment, transport the information, and then queue the data on the second environment before it could be applied to database objects. Remote journaling eliminated these manual processes and pushed the whole process below the machine interface (MI) layer.

Eventually, remote journaling was embraced by and incorporated into nearly all HA products on the market. There is a difference, however, in how remote journaling technology is utilized. Echo2 incorporated remote journaling into the original design of the product rather than retrofitting it into a pre-existing architecture. This eliminated user/log spaces from the HA process on both machines. These data spaces are the queuing/holding stations needed for the data transport process prior to the advent of remote journaling. Retrofit remote journaling eliminates log spaces on the production machine, but not on the target, so data still has to be routed through these spaces on the target, causing extra CPU cycles and adding data loss vulnerability should a system suddenly fail. In addition, retrofit remote journaling typically requires a complex data-apply process.

Because remote journaling is natively incorporated into Echo², this vulnerability, extra overhead, and complexity are eliminated, which equates to a more reliable HA solution.

A "Cache" of a Different Type

Release 4.2 increases HA performance and reliability through a new technology called Concurrent Audit Concurrent Heal—Echo² (CACHe2), which monitors for database synchronization problems between replication environments and automatically heals problems at the record level.

Until CACHe2, resynchronization of database objects could occur only at the object level. In other words, when an out-of-synch object is discovered on the backup environment, it is completely replaced with the correctly updated object from the production environment. But iTera's patent-pending CACHe2 technology is able to discover and heal synchronization problems at the record level, which rectifies the situation more quickly, while reducing the amount of disk I/O and bandwidth utilized by HA processes.

Autonomic Capabilities = Ease of Use

When HA software automatically monitors for and corrects problems in the data replication environment, the product is easier to use and requires less operator time. And, most importantly, data integrity between environments is more likely be maintained.

In addition to automatically detecting and healing out-of-synch objects at the record level, Echo2 monitors for and repairs problems with journaling components in the OS.

Release 4.2 introduces the E2 Apply Accelerator, which automatically improves the performance of the apply process (the process of journaled record changes being applied to the mirrored data file) when large bursts of transactions occur. For instance, if the apply process falls behind due to a spike in transactions, the E2 Apply Accelerator automatically engages additional processes to quickly eliminate latency.

E2KG, another new autonomic process in Release 4.2, can be configured to run at regular intervals to keep the HA environment running optimally and to ensure that periodic data integrity audits are not skipped or forgotten. This reduces the time needed for system-monitoring by operators and adds another layer of data-integrity insurance. In addition, E2KG regularly and automatically runs the many necessary HA environment checks that are normally required prior to a switchover (the process of moving users/processes to a backup environment), which helps ensure this critical process occurs faster and more reliably.

The bottom line: Self-healing, self-managing processes dramatically improve HA reliability and reduce HA management time. Because of these, most Echo2 users manage their HA solution in 20 minutes or less per day.

Costs Less Than You Think

Echo2 can be purchased for as little as $50 per day, and this includes a new IBM System i5 (Model 520), Echo² HA licenses for two environments, implementation and training, and an Echo2 support contract. This cost is based on purchasing the package on a three-year IBM FMV lease (subject to credit approval by IBM Global Financing). Visit iTera's Web site to learn more.

Russ Roberts is Senior Developer, HA, at iTera, Inc., a premier provider of high availability software for the IBM iSeries (System i5). For more information, call 800.957.4511 (in the U.S. and Canada) or 801.799.0300. Or email Russ at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

BLOG COMMENTS POWERED BY DISQUS

LATEST COMMENTS

Support MC Press Online

$

Book Reviews

Resource Center

  • SB Profound WC 5536 Have you been wondering about Node.js? Our free Node.js Webinar Series takes you from total beginner to creating a fully-functional IBM i Node.js business application. You can find Part 1 here. In Part 2 of our free Node.js Webinar Series, Brian May teaches you the different tooling options available for writing code, debugging, and using Git for version control. Brian will briefly discuss the different tools available, and demonstrate his preferred setup for Node development on IBM i or any platform. Attend this webinar to learn:

  • SB Profound WP 5539More than ever, there is a demand for IT to deliver innovation. Your IBM i has been an essential part of your business operations for years. However, your organization may struggle to maintain the current system and implement new projects. The thousands of customers we've worked with and surveyed state that expectations regarding the digital footprint and vision of the company are not aligned with the current IT environment.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT Generic IBM announced the E1080 servers using the latest Power10 processor in September 2021. The most powerful processor from IBM to date, Power10 is designed to handle the demands of doing business in today’s high-tech atmosphere, including running cloud applications, supporting big data, and managing AI workloads. But what does Power10 mean for your data center? In this recorded webinar, IBMers Dan Sundt and Dylan Boday join IBM Power Champion Tom Huntington for a discussion on why Power10 technology is the right strategic investment if you run IBM i, AIX, or Linux. In this action-packed hour, Tom will share trends from the IBM i and AIX user communities while Dan and Dylan dive into the tech specs for key hardware, including:

  • Magic MarkTRY the one package that solves all your document design and printing challenges on all your platforms. Produce bar code labels, electronic forms, ad hoc reports, and RFID tags – without programming! MarkMagic is the only document design and print solution that combines report writing, WYSIWYG label and forms design, and conditional printing in one integrated product. Make sure your data survives when catastrophe hits. Request your trial now!  Request Now.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericForms of ransomware has been around for over 30 years, and with more and more organizations suffering attacks each year, it continues to endure. What has made ransomware such a durable threat and what is the best way to combat it? In order to prevent ransomware, organizations must first understand how it works.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericIT security is a top priority for businesses around the world, but most IBM i pros don’t know where to begin—and most cybersecurity experts don’t know IBM i. In this session, Robin Tatam explores the business impact of lax IBM i security, the top vulnerabilities putting IBM i at risk, and the steps you can take to protect your organization. If you’re looking to avoid unexpected downtime or corrupted data, you don’t want to miss this session.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericCan you trust all of your users all of the time? A typical end user receives 16 malicious emails each month, but only 17 percent of these phishing campaigns are reported to IT. Once an attack is underway, most organizations won’t discover the breach until six months later. A staggering amount of damage can occur in that time. Despite these risks, 93 percent of organizations are leaving their IBM i systems vulnerable to cybercrime. In this on-demand webinar, IBM i security experts Robin Tatam and Sandi Moore will reveal:

  • FORTRA Disaster protection is vital to every business. Yet, it often consists of patched together procedures that are prone to error. From automatic backups to data encryption to media management, Robot automates the routine (yet often complex) tasks of iSeries backup and recovery, saving you time and money and making the process safer and more reliable. Automate your backups with the Robot Backup and Recovery Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAManaging messages on your IBM i can be more than a full-time job if you have to do it manually. Messages need a response and resources must be monitored—often over multiple systems and across platforms. How can you be sure you won’t miss important system events? Automate your message center with the Robot Message Management Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAThe thought of printing, distributing, and storing iSeries reports manually may reduce you to tears. Paper and labor costs associated with report generation can spiral out of control. Mountains of paper threaten to swamp your files. Robot automates report bursting, distribution, bundling, and archiving, and offers secure, selective online report viewing. Manage your reports with the Robot Report Management Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAFor over 30 years, Robot has been a leader in systems management for IBM i. With batch job creation and scheduling at its core, the Robot Job Scheduling Solution reduces the opportunity for human error and helps you maintain service levels, automating even the biggest, most complex runbooks. Manage your job schedule with the Robot Job Scheduling Solution. Key features include:

  • LANSA Business users want new applications now. Market and regulatory pressures require faster application updates and delivery into production. Your IBM i developers may be approaching retirement, and you see no sure way to fill their positions with experienced developers. In addition, you may be caught between maintaining your existing applications and the uncertainty of moving to something new.

  • LANSAWhen it comes to creating your business applications, there are hundreds of coding platforms and programming languages to choose from. These options range from very complex traditional programming languages to Low-Code platforms where sometimes no traditional coding experience is needed. Download our whitepaper, The Power of Writing Code in a Low-Code Solution, and:

  • LANSASupply Chain is becoming increasingly complex and unpredictable. From raw materials for manufacturing to food supply chains, the journey from source to production to delivery to consumers is marred with inefficiencies, manual processes, shortages, recalls, counterfeits, and scandals. In this webinar, we discuss how:

  • The MC Resource Centers bring you the widest selection of white papers, trial software, and on-demand webcasts for you to choose from. >> Review the list of White Papers, Trial Software or On-Demand Webcast at the MC Press Resource Center. >> Add the items to yru Cart and complet he checkout process and submit

  • Profound Logic Have you been wondering about Node.js? Our free Node.js Webinar Series takes you from total beginner to creating a fully-functional IBM i Node.js business application.

  • SB Profound WC 5536Join us for this hour-long webcast that will explore:

  • Fortra IT managers hoping to find new IBM i talent are discovering that the pool of experienced RPG programmers and operators or administrators with intimate knowledge of the operating system and the applications that run on it is small. This begs the question: How will you manage the platform that supports such a big part of your business? This guide offers strategies and software suggestions to help you plan IT staffing and resources and smooth the transition after your AS/400 talent retires. Read on to learn: