DB2 Clustering

LifeKeeper offers a way of recovering DB2 databases in minutes. LifeKeeper for DB2 enables continuous uptime of DB2 instances to enable failover on Linux or Windows.

The recovery kit provides protection for both classes of DB2 enterprise level database servers; the Enterprise Edition (EE) and the Enterprise-Extended Edition (EEE).

LifeKeeper, together with the DB2 Universal Database product family (EE and EEE) afford increased availability to DB2 operating environments by effectively recovering database server failures without significant down-time or human intervention

DB2 database failover

DB2 database files and resources are protected by monitoring key DB2 processes and file systems. When a DB2 database or dependent resources is detected not to respond, the LifeKeeper initiates a recovery scenario that attempts recovery on the local server. If this recovery fails, then the database is recovered on the remote server.

If no shared storage is available, then data availability must be ensured via LifeKeeper Data Replication.

Data Replication - eliminating the need for Shared Storage

LifeKeeper data replication replicates data from a local disk located on an active server to a disk located on a backup server. Data replication is only required when there is no shared storage available. Data is continually updated synchronously or asynchronously, to a backup disk on a second server. When recovery on the backup server takes place, data is up-to-date due to the replication that has already taken place. An additional benefit of replicating the data is that a backup of the data is always available online in case of disk or hardware failure.

Recovery or DB2 Databases to a remote site

DB2 disaster recovery provides automated replication of DB2 databases to a remote site and failover to a remote site. Remote recovery involoves:

• Asynchronously and reliably replicating data over a WAN
• Reliably monitoring DB2 databases
• Switching over to a remote site if a site disaster occurs
• Access to DB2 resources is recovered in minutes

When the original site need to be recovered to full operation, LifeKeeper will replicate the data to the primary site and restore the site to normal operation.

Running Multiple DB2 instances

It is possible to run multiple DB2 instances in an active/active environment, this eliminates the requirement for a redundancy. The backup server could be running a second instance of DB2 or another applicaiton altogether.

Original Source: www.openminds.co.uk