"We have several identical DECserver 732's that we would like to configure in a fail over scenario. We would like to configure one server via memory card and transfer the card and the connections in case of a failure. Can the memory cards be used to failover to another identical DECserver regardless of mac address? Simply pull the card out, transfer the connections and power up. If so is this a recommended strategy, is there documentation covering the best way to set this up in DNAS? If not is there another strategy to consider?"
The DECserver is not designed to support failover. The DECserver supports a single configuration and operation. That said, you can configure a second DECserver to have the same configuration and enable the second DECserver should the installed DECserver fail. There are two methods that are available to you to copy one DECserver's configuration to one or many other DECservers:
1. Use ASM's (Access Server Manager) Save & Restore Feature
The ASM utility program runs on any Windows box and lets you quickly save & restore each of your DECserver's configuration data. If the first DECserver fails, then the backed up configuration, saved in ASM, can be restored onto a new replacement DECserver. Selecting the option to use the complete backup, including the IP address of the original DECserver, restores a complete replacement of the operation of the original DECserver. (Note: the replacement DECserver will not restore the original MAC address). For detailed instructions on how save and restore your DECserver configuration, click here.
2. Backup DECserver Configuration to PCMCIA Flash Card
This option is only available if your DECservers are running V3.6. The complete DECserver configuration can be backed up onto a removable Flash Card, making it convenient to simply move the flash card to one or more DECservers to restore the original DECserver configuration. Note: The original IP address will not be restored and must be updated to complete the restore operation.
To save a known good configuration to a PCMCIA flash card, insert flash card and at the Local> prompt type HELP save. The DECserver will provide help details when connected as a console:
Local> HELP save
The help screen will show:
SAVE SERVER CONFIGURATION
Saves the server's configuration to a removable PCMCIA flash card.
SAVE {SERVER} CONFIGURATION
This command is valid on those servers which support the removable PCMCIA Flash Card. This command may be used to store the Server's configuration on to the Flash Card.
To copy the configuration to a backup DECserver, insert the flash card containing the known good configuration into an operational V3.6 DECserver and at the Local> prompt type HELP restore. Review the help file output before issuing the restore command:
Local> HELP restore
The help screen will show:
RESTORE SERVER CONFIGURATION
Restores the Server's configuration from a removable PCMCIA Flash Card.
RESTORE {SERVER} CONFIGURATION
This command is valid on those servers which support the removable PCMCIA Flash Card. This command may be used to restore the Server's configuration from a Flash Card.
Please note:
- This command will fail if the configuration stored on the PCMCIA Flash Card was not stored by an identical platform type to the server that is being restored.
- This command will fail if the configuration stored on the PCMCIA Flash Card was not stored using an identical version of DNAS Software as the version running on the server being restored.
- A restore will not change the IP address and subnet mask.
- After being restored the server will need to be initialized before some of the configuration settings will be used.
Other DECserver and DNAS documentation can be found here.