This document discusses using Skytap on Azure to provide high availability and disaster recovery for IBM Power Systems workloads in the cloud. Some key points:
- Skytap on Azure allows customers to run their IBM Power and x86 applications natively in Microsoft Azure without refactoring. This enables easy migration and modernization.
- It provides a familiar environment for IBM Power applications in Azure, requiring no training, changes, or refactoring. Workloads run securely with low-latency connectivity between on-premises and Azure networks using ExpressRoute.
- Skytap on Azure is available in several public Azure regions globally. Customers can use it for production workloads with high availability, as well as disaster
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Protecting Your Power Systems with Cloud-based HA/DR
1. Protecting Your IBM
Power Systems with
Cloud-based HA/DR
Bill Hammond | Director, Product Marketing
Dan Simms | Product Management Director
Jon Schrader | SVP, Business Development, Skytap
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3. Today’s Topics
• The move to the cloud
• Operating in the cloud
• Benefits of HA in the cloud
• New offering from Skytap
• Q & A
5. What’s driving the
move to the Cloud
• Lower costs
• Better collaboration
• More flexibility and agility
• Increased security
• Work from anywhere
• Minimal IT infrastructure
• Always up-to-date
• Backup and disaster recovery
• Document access and control
• Predictable, budgetary pricing
6. IBM i Migrations – Getting to the Cloud
Many reasons for migrating
• Leveraging the many Cloud and Managed
Hosting options now available for IBM i
• Upgrading you Power Systems Hardware
• Growing business demands and transaction
volumes hitting CPW constraints
• Aging Power7 and Power8 hardware limiting
overall modernization options
Getting there can be a challenge
• Justifying investment in this extremely uncertain
business environment
• Scale and complexity of integration requirements:
IBM i impacts everything else!
• Managing the burden of migration workloads
and risks
7. Typical migration
challenges can
incur penalties for
missed deadlines
and SLAs
Downtime
Tape not
an option
Operations cannot tolerate the
downtime required by traditional
migration methods
Tape is too slow and unreliable for
migration. Read errors can abort
the migration.
Limited or no tape availability in
Cloud environments
Problems after
cutover
Fallback
planning
Lack of infrastructure and
application testing before cutover
leads to late discovery of issues
Lack of viable and robust fallback
planning lead to extended
downtime and unresolved issues
8. Precisely
survey of IBM i
professionals
confirms the
risks are real
60% 46%
Delayed migrations because
of concerns about business
disruptions and downtime
Spent over 50 hours to plan
and execute their last migration.
Over one-quarter said their
migration took over 100 hours
to plan and execute
44% 31%
Said migration caused 6+ hours
of downtime, while 26% said
longer than 13 hours
Experienced a serious migration
failure. The most common failure
was being unable to restart
critical applications within the
required timeframe
10. Cloud Environment Basics
Cloud Environments are Virtual Environments
• IBM i is running on virtual LPARs (a.k.a. VMs) configured
via cloud software consoles provided by the Cloud provider
• It is all about the LPAR, not the hardware!
• The LPAR will run on different hardware within the cloud
• Serial number may change, or Virtual Server Serial
Numbers may be in use
• Limited access to physical tape devices
• Limited access to hardware
• IBM i performance fundamentals still matter!
• Cloud LPARS must have underlying processor, memory
and storage resources to support the application
processing requirements
SYS 1
LPAR A
SYS 2
LPAR B
Primary Backup
LPAR C
11. Cloud Environment Basics
Software Licensing needs to accommodate
cloud operating environments
• LPARs are Mobile
• Live Partition Mobility Events may occur
• Physical Serial numbers will change
• Hardware features will change
• Capacity is the new licensing metric Primary Backup
West
LPAR C
East
LPAR A
12. Logical Replication and
Virtual Server Serial Number Support
• A Virtual Server Serial Number (VSSN) enables a
globally unique serial number for a virtual LPAR.
• This LPAR can move across multiple physical serial
numbers.
• VSSN allows software licensing to be tied to a serial
number that is mobile, such as in a cloud or multi-
tenant computing environment
• Replicate to/from Virtual Servers with Virtual Serial
Number for HA and DR!
• Virtual Server with Virtual Serial number
HardwareSN=AAA111
V1-1111
HardwareSN=CCC111
HardwareSN=BBB222
HardwareSN=DDD222
V0-1111
V0-2222
Site 2
Site 1
Primary Backup
Logical Replication
V1-2222
13. Logical Replication and
Virtual Server Serial Number Support
• LPARs can move across multiple physical
serial numbers.
HardwareSN=AAA111
V1-1111
HardwareSN=CCC111
HardwareSN=BBB222
HardwareSN=DDD222
V0-2222
Site 2
Site 1
Primary Backup
Logical Replication
V1-2222
V0-1111
14. Sync-by-Wire
Tape devices scarce in the cloud
• LPARs are scratch loaded with an OS/TR/Cum level
• OS Maintenance is done by the user
• Full system restores may or may not be possible
• Shipping tape for restore operations is impractical
• Start up the scratch installed LPAR and bring everything
over though the network!
16. Complete Infrastructure Flexibility
Technology highlights
• Hardware-independent replication technology enables
infrastructure choice and flexibility
• Mix of IBM i server models
• Mix of supported IBM i OS versions
• Mix of storage types
• Mix of physical, virtual and cloud servers
• Mix of network types
• Supports Managed Services and Cloud
• Ground to Cloud
• Cloud to Cloud
• Cloud to Ground
How it adds value
• Assure MIMIX HA gives you the flexibility to replicate between
the IBM i environments that work best for you and your budget
Virtual
LPARs
Physical
Cloud
17. Migrate While Active to the Cloud!
Logical Replication enables a synchronized
Pre-Production migration target
• Migration Target LPAR in sync real-time with old production system
• Audits verify the integrity of the replicated objects
• Iterative cutover practice runs
Precisely Migration experts available to assist
• Migration approach planning
• Software installation and configuration
• Sync Point
• Verification testing on new system
• Final switch to your new system
• Coordination with your staff to ensure a successful migration
NEW
PROD
NEW
BACKUP
OLD
BACKUP
OLD
PROD
West East
18. Cloud based protection
for IBM i and AIX
After migration, use an Assure Availability solution from Precisely to
protect your new server from downtime and lost data
An Assure Availability product is already installed and configured
Makes implementation of an HA/DR strategy easy
NEW
PROD
NEW
BACKUP
West East
19. Production
DR
Possible Topologies
Production
Production on Premises, DR in the Cloud
Live Partition Mobility support for DR in Cloud Cloud to Cloud
Switchable Production on Premises, DR in the Cloud
Production
Local HA
or
query system
Production
DR
PROD
PROD PROD
PROD DR
DR DR
DR
HA
20. Advanced Topologies
Cloud to Cloud Active-Active Target Snapshots for Backup
Production
Production
Production
PROD PROD
PROD DR
23. Bare-metal, Power infrastructure,
powered by Skytap and ready to integrate
your workloads running natively in Azure
Native IBM Power in Azure
Migrate and Modernize
Familiarity and Ease
Easily migrate existing Power
environments as-is into Azure with a cloud
utility model and opt to modernize across
breadth of Azure services
Skytap on Azure delivers a familiar
experience requiring zero training,
refactoring or changes
Secure and Performant
Fully secure between
on-prem and Azure via ExpressRoute
compatibility and low latency between
resources within environment
24. Use ExpressRoute to securely connect
workloads running in Skytap on Azure
Vnets and your on-premises networks
ExpressRoute Connectivity Access Azure Native Services
Low latency connectivity to Azure Services
to extend and transform traditional
workloads
Single Sign-on
Integrated Single Sign-on (SSO) between
Azure Active Directory and Skytap on
Azure simplifies user management
Environments/Templates
Admin/Visibility/Control
Data Plane (Compute/Network/Storage)
Azure VNET Skytap on Azure
On-Premises Data Center
Dedicated Microsoft Enterprise Edge
Internet
ExpressRoute
VPN or ExpressRoute between Azure VNET and Skytap on Azure*
*Standard ExpressRoute to connect between Azure VNET and Skytap on Azure is offered free of charge;
Premium and, if applicable, Global Reach may be necessary whereby additional costs to customer may apply
25. Publicly Available Regions
Planned - TBA
East US 1, 2
(Virginia)
South Central US
(San Antonio)
West Europe
(Amsterdam)
Southeast Asia
(Singapore)
North Europe
(Dublin)
Region Schedule *
US East Live
Singapore Live
Amsterdam Live
Hong Kong Live
US S Central Live
UK South #1 Live
UK South #2 Live
Dublin Live
UK South
(London)
East Asia
(Hong Kong)
India
(Pune, Chennai)
Australia
(TBD)
26. • Integration with existing MS AZURE Cloud services
• Operating cost versus Capital / ongoing cost
• Data centre exit and office closure
• Business strategy – ‘Cloud First’
• Legacy platforms
So why would I put my systems in the Cloud?
Why SKYTAP on AZURE (SoA)
• Simple and quick deployment – web portal
• Billed through AZURE Marketplace
• AIX / IBMi OS / SWMA, maintenance and (most) licensed
programs are included
• Knowledge and Skills in migration, backup, networking
• Global presence