Failover clustering plays a critical role in serious disaster recovery strategies. Windows Server 2008 R2 failover clustering support introduced enterprise-class fault tolerance and recoverability to Microsoft's server platform. Windows Server 2012 R2 builds on this technology and offers important new and enhanced features that offer more expandability, non-stop storage availability for server applications, easier management, quicker automatic failover, and more options for designing failover clusters.
In addition to offering comprehensive Windows Server 2012 R2 consulting services, Progent's Microsoft-certified failover clustering experts can help optimize your Windows Server 2012 R2 clustering deployment to build a high-availability/disaster recovery solution or assist you to design and deploy a failover cluster environment powered by a modern version of Windows Server. Propgent can provide online or on-premises consulting services and technical support for clustered physical servers or virtual machines, and show you how to streamline the management of clustered servers.
New and Improved Features of Windows Server 2012 R2 Failover Clustering
With failover clustering, if any clustered servers (called nodes) stop working properly, other servers automatically and transparently take up (or failover) their workloads such as Exchange Server or SQL Server. Cluster Shared Volume (CSV) is a refinement of failover clustering that provides a consistent, shared namespace that clustered services and applications (called roles) can use to utilize shared storage regardless of the node that is currently running them. This ability to replace IT resources on the fly can dramatically enhance network availability and facilitate rapid recovery in case of a localized catastrophic event.
The failover clustering enhancements built into Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 include:
Cluster Expandability
Failover clusters in Windows Server 2012 R2 can scale to a greater number of nodes and virtual machines than clusters in Windows Server'2008'R2. Windows Server 2012 R2 scales to 64 nodes and 8,000 virtual machines per cluster. In contrast, Windows Server 2008 R2 supports 16 nodes and 1,000 virtual machines per cluster.
Server Manager and Failover Cluster Manager
Windows Server 2012 R2's Server Manager makes it easy to manage cluster nodes by enabling remote multi-server management as well as the remote installation of roles and features. Server Manager can also start Failover Cluster Manager, which provides a wealth of new features including new search, filtering, and custom views; the ability to select a defined set of VMs for performing desired operations such as live migration; one-click configuration of Cluster Shared Volumes (CSVs); and support for Hyper-V Replica for point-in-time replication of VMs.
Virtual Machine Mobility
Multiple live migrations including VM storage can be initiated at the same time to nodes with adequate resources and failed migrations are automatically retried. In addition, you can add or a virtual machine to a failover cluster while the VM is running.
Cluster Shared Volumes
Improvements to Cluster Shared Volumes (CSVs), which provide clustered VMs with common storage, include storage capabilities for additional clustered roles, the CSV proxy file system (CSVFS), support for BitLocker encryption, Direct I/O for faster access to file data, elimination of external authentication dependencies, integration with SMB Multichannel and SMB Direct for better performance and with Storage Spaces for lower-cost storage, and the ability to scan and fix volumes without service disruption.
Support for Scale-Out File Servers
The new clustered file server makes it possible to store server application data like Hyper-V virtual machine files on scale-out (known as active-active) file shares, offering performance and manageability similar to storage area network (SAN) solutions.
Cluster-Aware Updating (CAU)
This new feature allows the automation of software updates to the host operating system or other system components on clustered servers without downtime.
Monitoring and Managing VM Applications
This new capability enables high-level monitoring of applications hosted on clustered VMs running Windows Server 2012 R2.
Integration with Active Directory Domain Services
Enhanced integration with Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) improves flexibility and resilience by including easy alignment of failover cluster dependencies on AD DS, automated recovery of unintentionally removed cluster virtual computer objects (VCOs), support for cluster deployments in branch office with read-only domain controllers, and the ability for failover clusters to start without AD DS dependencies.
Cluster Quorum Management
Improvements to cluster quorum management that simplify quorum setup and increase the uptime of clusters during the failover process include a revamped quorum configuration wizard, the ability to assign which nodes have quorum votes, and the ability to automate quorum vote assignment depending on the current state of the node.
Enhancements to the Cluster Migration Wizard
The enhanced Migrate a Cluster Wizard in Windows Server 2012 R2 simplifies the tasks of installing, updating, and migrating Windows 2008 failover clusters through improvements that include the ability to export and re-import Hyper-V VMs, migrate to Cluster Shared Volume (CSV) disks, map virtual networks and storage, and reuse current storage.
Task Scheduler Integration
Windows Server 2012 R2 failover clustering features a new integrated Task Scheduler that makes it possible to use Windows PowerShell cmdlets to configure cluster tasks, providing a versatile tool for utilizing cluster resources to run processes or applications at set times. Tasks can be scheduled to run on a single random node, all nodes, or nodes with specified resources.
Windows PowerShell support
An enhanced Failover Cluster module for Windows PowerShell provides a library of cmdlets for automating support for the Failover Clustering features in Windows Server 2012
R2. New cmdlets support a variety of features such as the ability to manage cluster registry checkpoints, create Scale-Out File Servers, monitor VM applications, change the properties of a Distributed Network Name resource, create and manage clustered tasks, and create a fault-tolerant iSCSI Target Server.
For details about Progent's consulting expertise for Windows Server 2012 R2 Hyper-V, which provides enhanced support for failover clustering, refer to Progent's Consulting Services for Windows Server 2012 R2 Hyper-V.
How Progent Can Help You Benefit from Microsoft's Failover Clustering
Progent's Microsoft-certified consultants can help you evaluate the business benefits of Windows Server 2012 R2 failover clustering, set up test systems to help you optimize performance and ensure compatibility for your critical workloads, design and carry out an efficient roll-out plan, train your administration staff to manage your failover clustering solution, and provide as-needed consulting and technical support either online or onsite to keep your system productive. Progent can also provide comprehensive Help Desk services.
Progent's service professionals can also help you migrate to Windows Server 2012 R2 Failover Clusters from Windows Server 2008 R2 or from Windows Server 2003 clustering technology.
Progent's CISM, CISA, GIAC, CRISC, and CISSP certified security engineers can assess the protection offered by your cluster environment and can recommend and implement affordable improvements. Progent's security experts can also help you design, document, and validate disaster recovery and business continuity and plans.
If you are considering the creation of a hybrid network model that integrates on-premises resources with public cloud services like those offered by Microsoft Azure, Progent can help you evaluate and deploy Windows Server 2019 or Windows Server 2016, which incorporate major elements of Azure technology and are designed to support hybrid networks. See Progent's Windows Server 2019 DR/BC consulting and Windows Server 2016 disaster recovery consulting.
High Availability Solutions Provided by Progent
Progent's Microsoft and Cisco consulting experts can assist your business to implement a cost-effective, fault-tolerant information network that resolves major challenges covering a broad range of networking technologies and processes such as:
Disaster Recovery Planning
Progent's business continuity engineers can show you how to create a workplace recovery plan that will allow you to resume network operations in the event of an IT system catastrophe. Progent can help you to develop a comprehensive disaster recovery plan that includes periodic disaster recovery evaluations and drills. Progent's Microsoft and Cisco-certified engineers can also help you build an affordable, non-stop network architecture that takes into account availability issues involving a wide range of network technologies and procedures. For details, go to Workplace Recovery Consulting.
CRISC-Certified Network Risk Mitigation
The Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC) program was established by ISACA to validate a consultant's ability to design, implement, and support IS control mechanisms to reduce network risk. Progent can provide the expertise of a CRISC-certified engineer to assist your company to develop and execute a workplace continuity strategy based on leading practices promoted by CRISC and geared to align with your organization's risk tolerance, business goals, and budgetary guidelines. For more information, go to CRISC-Premier IT risk mitigation experts.
Microsoft Server 2019 Fault-tolerant Failover Clustering
Microsoft Windows Server 2019 introduced important improvements in capacity, throughput, manageability, cybersecurity, application compatibility, Linux support, container technology, and hybrid combinations of local and cloud-hosted assets. Top enhancements of Windows Server 2019 include Windows Admin Center for centralizing the management of hybrid local/cloud-hosted deployments, System Insights for utilizing modern predictive analytics to manage local environments, Windows Defender ATP Exploit Guard for host-intrusion prevention, container networking using Kubernetes, Cluster Sets technology for creating and administering massive high-availability scale-out clusters, and Storage Migration Service for streamlining the migration from outdated versions of Windows Server. For more information, see Microsoft Windows Server 2019 Fault-tolerant Failover Clustering Help.
Windows Server 2016 Disaster Recovery
Progent's Windows Server 2016 disaster recovery/business continuity experts can help your organization to design a DR solution based on Microsoft's most advanced Failover Clustering tools such as Cluster OS Rolling Upgrade for non-intrusive migration to Windows Server 2016, Storage Replica for zero-data-loss Recovery Point Objective (RPO), Storage Spaces Direct for high-performance storage clusters using low-cost hardware, Virtual Machine Load Balancing for improving the speed and fault-tolerance of Failover Clusters while minimizing capital investment and management overhead, and Cloud Witness for easy, economical deployment of a failover cluster quorum arbitration point. To read more, go to Microsoft Windows Server 2016 Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity Consulting.
VMware Site Recovery Manager (SRM) Disaster Recovery Solutions
VMware's Site Recovery Manager (SRM) is a component of VMware vCenter that lets you orchestrate, automate and test a consistent workflow for restoring services rapidly after an outage. SRM supports centrally controlled and automated recovery, application mobility, plus non-disruptive site migration, failback and re-protect. Site Recovery Manager also enables non-intrusive testing for disaster recovery, upgrades and fixes and can produce reports to verify full service restoration, validate SLAs and prove compliance. Progent offers the support of a VCDX certified VMware Site Recovery Manager consulting expert to assist you to plan, configure, test and maintain a DR system based on VMware SRM.
NetApp MetroCluster Disaster Recovery Technology
NetApp MetroCluster is a high-availability and disaster recovery platform that combines failover storage clustering with continual replication to deliver rapid, zero RPO disaster recovery between datacenters located as far as 185 miles apart. Progent offers the skills of a certified NetApp MetroCluster expert who can help your business to plan, configure, administer, upgrade, test and repair a disaster recovery system based on NetApp MetroCluster. Progent can assist you to choose a topology for your MetroCluster environment that meets your technical requirements and IT budget. Progent can ensure you follow best practices for configuring your MetroCluster solution by delivering help with procedures like assigning shelf IDs, arranging aggregate layout, provisioning NetApp FlexVol volumes, setting up Data ONTAP configuration replication service, provisioning switches, implementing a tiebreaker mechanism, setting up a TCP/IP configuration replication network, and testing your DR solution to prove compliance with information assurance standards and government mandates.
High Availability Load Balancing
Progent offers fault tolerant load balancing consulting covering system load balancing, load balanced applications, network backbone routing, and content dispatching products including F5 Networks 3DNS. Fault tolerant load balancing technologies for which Progent can provide consulting services include Windows 2003 and 2008 Server Network Load Balancing Manager, Citrix Metaframe and Presentation Server, Cisco CSS, Cisco Distributed Director and ACNS, and F5 Networks BIG-IP. For details, see High Availability Load Balancing.
Zero Downtime Data Centers
Progent's Data Center consultants can help you find fault-tolerant data centers that meet the specific needs of your business. Fault tolerant off-site data centers are particularly appealing to small and mid-size businesses due to of their low cost and convenience in comparison to taking a do-it-yourself strategy. Trying to create an on-site data center with even a minimum degree of fault tolerance is too expensive for most small companies. Progent can help you reap all the benefits of high-availability colocation centers by offering a full range of consulting and support services. For details, visit Non-stop Data Centers Expertise.
Non-stop Branch Office Networking
Progent's multi-site connectivity professionals can help businesses achieve non-stop inter-site connectivity solutions by means of fully redundant networks with transparent failover. Progent's Cisco-certified CCIE network engineers can plan and implement fault-tolerant Inter-office networks based on fault tolerant EIGRP network routers or non-stop OSPF configurations of Cisco routers. Progent can demonstrate how redundant connections and automatic fail-over can provide economical non-stop interoffice connectivity. To find out more, visit Fault Tolerant Inter-office Networking.
Fault Tolerant Internet Access
Progent's Cisco-certified network engineers can show you how to create an affordable, high availability Internet connection architecture that can achieve non-stop Internet connectivity via a wide range of high availability Internet access technologies including non-stop BGP, automatic fail-over, and redundant ISPs. Progent can provide CCIE engineers to help you utilize the most up-to-date technology for 24x7 Internet connections to build an affordable, fully redundant Internet network with automatic failover and other capabilities to deliver zero-downtime Internet connections. To find out more, see High Availability Internet Access Architecture.
Backup and Recovery Technology Consulting
Progent can provide economical remote support from IT engineers with expertise in a broad range of utilities and services that provide solutions for protecting Microsoft Windows, Mac, and Linux physical and virtual servers and desktops as well as notebooks and smartphones. Progent can provide help for all major backup products such as Acronis Backup and Recovery, Backup Exec, BackupAssist Software, CrashPlan PRO, Double-Take, MozyPro, Retrospect for Macintosh, Apple Time Machine, VMware vSphere Data Protection (VDP), and Oracle Solaris FLARs. Progent can help your company to design, upgrade, or troubleshoot backup solutions for a variety of architectures including local, edge to datacenter, cloud-based, or a mix. For details, visit Backup and Restore Technology Consulting and Support Services.
Microsoft System Center Data Protection Manager (SCDPM) Data Recovery Consulting Services
Progent's expert System Center Data Protection Manager consultants can help you to create a practical workplace recovery strategy, implement a cost-effective fault-tolerante IT infrastructure, deploy a System Center Data Protection Manager-powered backup and recovery solution, thoroughly validate your DPM system, train your IT staff or regular consultants how to manage System Center Data Protection Manager, or provide extensive IT outsourcing such as off-site housing of Microsoft SCDPM machines in Progent's data center facility. To read more, visit System Center Data Protection Manager Consulting and Support Services.
Barracuda Backup Cloud and Offsite Data Backup and Disaster Recovery
Barracuda Backup is an affordable, subscription backup and disaster recovery platform for small and medium-size businesses. A Barracuda Backup deployment can include a purpose-built physical storage device built by Barracuda or a virtual appliance with comparable features but which utilizes your existing storage infrastructure. Barracuda Backup safeguards vital business data generated on-premises, at one or more remote locations, or in the cloud. For disaster preparedness, you can replicate data to the Barracuda Cloud, to Amazon Web Services (AWS), or to any location with a Barracuda Backup appliance. Progent is a certified Barracuda partner and Progent's Barracuda Backup consultants offer a wide range of consulting support services to assist your business to design, configure, operate and repair a backup and disaster recovery system built on Barracuda Backup. For additional information, go to Barracuda Backup and disaster recovery consulting.
ProSight Data Protection Services Altaro VM Backup Software for Data Protection and Disaster Recovery
Hornetsecurity's Altaro VM Backup software provides small and mid-size businesses a reliable and budget-friendly solution for backing up and restoring Hyper-V and VMware-based virtual machines. Altaro VM Backup can be deployed in local, offsite, multi-site, and cloud-hosted architectures and also supports low-cost cloud backup to Azure storage. Altaro VM Backup supports advanced features such as Immutable Cloud Storage for enhanced recoverability from ransomware. Progent is a certified Altaro partner and can provide a wide array of remote or on-premises services to assist you to design, deploy, manage and debug a comprehensive backup and disaster recovery solution powered by Altaro VM Backup. With ProSight DPS Altaro VM Backup, Progent offers a managed backup/recovery service based on Altaro VM Backup technology. To read more, go to Altaro VM Backup consulting.
ProSight Data Protection Services 365 Total Backup Services for Microsoft 365
Microsoft 365 offers rudimentary archiving but does not have native support for crucial data protection services such as Exchange Online backups or long-term point-in-time data recovery for OneDrive for Business or SharePoint Online. Hornetsecurity's 365 Total Backup delivers a full-featured platform for programmable backup and quick restoration of all your organization's M365 mail, Teams Chats, SharePoint sites, OneDrive for Business files, and content on Windows endpoints. Progent is an authorized Hornetsecurity/Altaro partner and offers ProSight Data Protection Services (DPS) 365 Total Backup to provide comprehensive managed services for Hornetsecurity's 365 Total Backup suite. ProSight DPS 365 Total Backup provides a budget-friendly backup-as-a-service (BaaS) alternative that defends M365 apps against data loss resulting from user or software error, malicious corruption, and cyber attacks like ransomware. For details, visit ProSight DPS 365 Total Backup services for Microsoft 365.
Managed Cloud Backup: ProSight Data Protection Services ECHO
ProSight Data Protection Services ECHO provide small and medium-sized organizations an affordable and fully managed service for reliable backup/disaster recovery. Available at a fixed monthly rate, ProSight DPS ECHO automates and monitors your backup activities and allow fast recovery of critical data, applications and virtual machines that have become lost or corrupted due to component breakdowns, software glitches, natural disasters, human error, or malware attacks like ransomware. ProSight Data Protection Services ECHO can help you back up, retrieve and restore files, folders, apps, system images, as well as Hyper-V and VMware virtual machine images. Important data can be backed up on the cloud, to an on-promises storage device, or mirrored to both. Progent's BDR consultants can provide advanced expertise to set up ProSight Data Protection Services ECHO to to comply with government and industry regulatory standards such as HIPAA, FINRA, and PCI and, whenever needed, can assist you to recover your business-critical data. Find out more about ProSight DPS ECHO managed backup.
ProSight DPS 360 Backup Services
Progent can help you to design, deploy and troubleshoot a backup/restore solution built around MSP360 technology. MSP360 offers file or image backup/restore for virtual machines and physical computers, works with all popular public clouds, and permits you to create a data protection ecosystem with a low Recovery Time Objective (RTO) and a defined Recovery Point Objective (RPO). With ProSight Data Protection Services 360 Backup, Progent offers end-to-end monitoring and management of your backup system to prevent data loss resulting from user mistakes, system errors, malicious users, and malware assaults like ransomware. For more information, see ProSight DPS 360 Backup solutions.
Consulting for Double-Take Software for Backup/Restore
Double-Take offers a family of products designed to provide small businesses a variety of cost-effective alternatives for backing up and recovering vital workloads including Exchange Server, Microsoft SQL, Blackberry, and SharePoint. Progent's disaster recovery planning consultants have extensive experience integrating Double-Take products into small company IT systems to achieve an advanced state of fault tolerance and disaster recovery capability at a budget-friendly cost. To learn more, go to Consulting Services Double-Take Solutions for Data Backup.
Why Pick Progent for Disaster Recovery/Business Continuity Planning?
Because Progent is a Microsoft Partner and provides professional application expertise for a broad variety of small business applications, Progent is able to help customers to arrive at complete IT solutions that optimize the productivity of your IT network. As a Registered Partner for Cisco, Progent can provide the expertise of certified consultants and specialists with expertise in designing, implementing and supporting networking solutions built on Cisco technology. The extent of Progent's IT know-how and Progent's sensitivity to the requirements of small businesses make Progent a great partner for creating and maintaining a cost-effective, fault-tolerant information system.
How You Can Get in Touch with Progent's Consultants for Support for High Availability Computing
If you wish to get in touch with Progent about engineering support for fault tolerant architecture, call