The News: SIOS releases LifeKeeper for Linux Version 9.8.1. Additional detail is available in the SIOS’ press release.
SIOS LifeKeeper: Streamlining HA for Mission-Critical Apps
Analyst Take: Mission-critical application availability is intrinsically complex – and it is only becoming more so, as cloud delivery models add another layer of abstraction that limits control and visibility for IT administrators. At the same time, companies are more dependent on applications than ever before, with access to and reliance on complex applications such as SAP permeating from the world’s largest organizations to smaller companies. Simply put, more organizations are requiring higher levels of availability for mission-critical applications than ever before.
Compounding this issue is the fact that, although high availability (HA) for mission-critical applications and databases is still being implemented by specialist architects, day-to-day management falls to IT generalists that might not be up to date on all of the specific nuances of each application and database. The reality is that the IT generalist does not have the time to learn and manage a complicated web of availability and disaster recovery (DR) solutions.
Another challenge is that insights and management functions are fragmented across the dashboards of various solutions, which not only makes day-to-day tasks cumbersome, but also results in inefficient troubleshooting when issues occur. At the same time, as multi-hybrid cloud environments become the norm for most organizations, executing DR functions becomes highly manual, and as a result intrinsically unreliable, process across multiple cloud availability zones and regions.
SIOS is evolving its LifeKeeper for Linux offering, which facilitates HA for business crucial applications running on Linux systems, to address these challenges by empowering the IT generalist.
LifeKeeper for Linux creates server clusters and, if a server goes down, automatically switches the application to run on the alternate cluster. It also offers disaster recovery features to protect against wider outages. To LifeKeeper, SIOS has added a web-based management console that streamlines day-to-day operations for system administrators. In particular, the UI streamlines the creation and operation of HA implementations in the cloud. For example, it includes progress tracking for cluster setup, and “information cues” designed to help IT generalists navigate these functions. The LifeKeeper for Linux user interface (UI) can now be accessed via mobile devices including smart phones and tablets, so that administrators can check alerts no matter where they are.
SIOS’ ultimate vision is to evolve LifeKeeper into a universal portal for HA for mission-critical applications, with centralized and automated HA processes for all critical applications across multi- and hybrid cloud environments. For example, allowing administrators to view the availability status of all nodes under SIOS management, execute HA/DR functions across cloud availability zones, regions, and platforms, and to automatically resolve errors with remediation guidance. The idea is that managed service providers (MSPs) and large enterprises can be trained on and use one full stack solution as opposed to piece meal approach, with LifeKeeper offering a consistent interface and single pane of glass. This strategy offers the additional benefit of simplifying troubleshooting if something goes wrong.
Disclosure: The Futurum Group is a research and advisory firm that engages or has engaged in research, analysis, and advisory services with many technology companies, including those mentioned in this article. The author does not hold any equity positions with any company mentioned in this article.
Analysis and opinions expressed herein are specific to the analyst individually and data and other information that might have been provided for validation, not those of The Futurum Group as a whole.
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Author Information
With a focus on data security, protection, and management, Krista has a particular focus on how these strategies play out in multi-cloud environments. She brings approximately 15 years of experience providing research and advisory services and creating thought leadership content. Her vantage point spans technology and vendor portfolio developments; customer buying behavior trends; and vendor ecosystems, go-to-market positioning, and business models. Her work has appeared in major publications including eWeek, TechTarget and The Register.
Prior to joining The Futurum Group, Krista led the data protection practice for Evaluator Group and the data center practice of analyst firm Technology Business Research. She also created articles, product analyses, and blogs on all things storage and data protection and management for analyst firm Storage Switzerland and led market intelligence initiatives for media company TechTarget.
