Storage Foundation and High Availability Solutions 7.4 HA and DR Solutions Guide for Microsoft Exchange 2010 - Windows

Last Published:
Product(s): InfoScale & Storage Foundation (7.4)
Platform: Windows
  1. Section I. Introduction and Concepts
    1. Introducing Storage Foundation and High Availability Solutions for Microsoft Exchange Server
      1.  
        About clustering solutions with InfoScale products
      2.  
        About high availability
      3.  
        How a high availability solution works
      4. How VCS monitors storage components
        1.  
          Shared storage - if you use NetApp filers
        2.  
          Shared storage - if you use SFW to manage cluster dynamic disk groups
        3.  
          Shared storage - if you use Windows LDM to manage shared disks
        4.  
          Non-shared storage - if you use SFW to manage dynamic disk groups
        5.  
          Non-shared storage - if you use Windows LDM to manage local disks
        6.  
          Non-shared storage - if you use VMware storage
      5.  
        About SFW HA support for Exchange Server 2010
      6.  
        About campus clusters
      7.  
        Differences between campus clusters and local clusters
      8.  
        Sample campus cluster configuration
      9.  
        What you can do with a campus cluster
      10.  
        About replication
      11.  
        About a replicated data cluster
      12.  
        How VCS replicated data clusters work
      13.  
        About disaster recovery
      14.  
        What you can do with a disaster recovery solution
      15.  
        Typical disaster recovery configuration
    2. Introducing the VCS agent for Exchange 2010
      1.  
        About the VCS database agent for Microsoft Exchange 2010
      2.  
        Exchange 2010 database agent functions
      3.  
        Exchange 2010 database agent state definitions
      4.  
        Exchange 2010 database agent resource type definition
      5.  
        Exchange 2010 database agent attribute definitions
      6.  
        Exchange 2010 service group resource dependency graph
      7.  
        Exchange 2010 service group sample configuration
  2. Section II. Configuration Workflows
    1. Configuring high availability for Exchange Server with InfoScale Enterprise
      1. Reviewing the HA configuration
        1. Sample Exchange server HA configuration
          1.  
            IP addresses required
      2. Reviewing a standalone Exchange Server configuration
        1.  
          Sample standalone Exchange server configuration
      3.  
        Reviewing the campus cluster configuration
      4. Reviewing the Replicated Data Cluster configuration
        1.  
          Sample Exchange Server Replicated Data Cluster configuration
        2. About setting up a Replicated Data Cluster configuration
          1.  
            About setting up replication
          2.  
            About configuring and migrating the service group
      5. Reviewing the disaster recovery configuration
        1.  
          Active-passive DR configuration
      6.  
        Following the HA workflow in the Solutions Configuration Center
      7.  
        VCS campus cluster configuration
      8.  
        VCS Replicated Data Cluster configuration
      9. Disaster recovery configuration
        1.  
          DR configuration tasks: Primary site
        2.  
          DR configuration tasks: Secondary site
      10.  
        About installing the Veritas InfoScale products
      11. Notes and recommendations for cluster and application configuration
        1.  
          IPv6 support
      12.  
        Campus cluster failover using the ForceImport attribute
      13.  
        Configuring the storage hardware and network
      14. Configuring disk groups and volumes for Exchange Server
        1.  
          About cluster disk groups and volumes
        2.  
          Prerequisites for configuring cluster disk groups and volumes
        3.  
          Considerations for a fast failover configuration
        4.  
          Considerations for converting existing shared storage to cluster disk groups and volumes
        5.  
          Considerations when creating disks and volumes for campus clusters
        6.  
          Considerations for volumes for a Volume Replicator configuration
        7.  
          Sample disk group and volume configuration for Exchange 2010
        8.  
          Viewing the available disk storage
        9.  
          Creating a dynamic disk group
        10.  
          Adding disks to campus cluster sites
        11.  
          Creating volumes for high availability clusters
        12.  
          Creating volumes for campus clusters
      15. About managing disk groups and volumes
        1.  
          Importing a disk group and mounting a volume
        2.  
          Unmounting a volume and deporting a disk group
        3.  
          Adding drive letters to mount the volumes
        4.  
          Deporting the cluster disk group
      16. Configuring the cluster using the Cluster Configuration Wizard
        1.  
          Configuring notification
        2.  
          Adding nodes to a cluster
    2. Using the Solutions Configuration Center
      1.  
        About the Solutions Configuration Center
      2.  
        Starting the Solutions Configuration Center
      3.  
        Options in the Solutions Configuration Center
      4.  
        About launching wizards from the Solutions Configuration Center
      5.  
        Remote and local access to Solutions wizards
      6.  
        Solutions wizards and logs
      7.  
        Workflows in the Solutions Configuration Center
  3. Section III. Deployment
    1. Installing Exchange Server 2010
      1. About installing Exchange Server 2010
        1.  
          Before you install Exchange Server 2010
        2.  
          Privileges required for installing Exchange 2010
        3.  
          Installing Exchange Server 2010
      2.  
        Creating mailbox databases on shared storage
      3.  
        Moving mailbox databases to shared storage
      4.  
        Adding new Exchange servers to an existing cluster
    2. Configuring Exchange Server for failover
      1.  
        Tasks for configuring a new server for high availability
      2.  
        Tasks for configuring an existing server for high availability
      3.  
        About configuring the Exchange 2010 service group
      4.  
        Prerequisites for configuring the Exchange Server service group
      5.  
        Creating the Exchange Server 2010 service group
      6. Configuring the service group in a non-shared storage environment
        1.  
          Enabling fast failover for disk groups (optional)
      7.  
        Verifying the Exchange Server cluster configuration
      8.  
        Determining additional steps needed
    3. Configuring campus clusters for Exchange Server
      1.  
        Tasks for configuring campus clusters
      2.  
        Verifying the campus cluster: Switching the service group
      3.  
        Setting the ForceImport attribute to 1 after a site failure
    4. Configuring Replicated Data Clusters for Exchange Server
      1.  
        Tasks for configuring Replicated Data Clusters for Exchange Server
      2.  
        Creating the primary system zone for the application service group
      3.  
        Creating a parallel environment in the secondary zone
      4.  
        Setting up security for Volume Replicator
      5. Setting up the Replicated Data Sets (RDS)
        1.  
          Prerequisites for setting up the RDS for the primary and secondary zones
        2.  
          Creating the Replicated Data Sets with the wizard
      6. Configuring a RVG service group for replication
        1.  
          Creating the RVG service group
        2. Configuring the resources in the RVG service group for RDC replication
          1.  
            Configuring the IP and NIC resources
          2.  
            Configuring the VMDg or VMNSDg resources for the disk groups
          3.  
            Modifying the DGGuid attribute for the new disk group resource in the RVG service group
          4.  
            Adding the Volume Replicator RVG resources for the disk groups
          5.  
            Linking the Volume Replicator RVG resources to establish dependencies
          6.  
            Deleting the VMDg or VMNSDg resource from the Exchange Server service group
        3. Configuring the RVG Primary resources
          1.  
            Creating the RVG Primary resources
          2.  
            Linking the RVG Primary resources to establish dependencies
          3.  
            Bringing the RVG Primary resources online
        4.  
          Configuring the primary system zone for the RVG service group
      7.  
        Setting a dependency between the service groups
      8. Adding the nodes from the secondary zone to the RDC
        1.  
          Adding the nodes from the secondary zone to the RVG service group
        2.  
          Configuring secondary zone nodes in the RVG service group
        3.  
          Configuring the RVG service group NIC resource for fail over (VMNSDg only)
        4.  
          Configuring the RVG service group IP resource for failover
        5.  
          Configuring the RVG service group VMNSDg resources for fail over
        6.  
          Adding the nodes from the secondary zone to the Exchange Server service group
        7.  
          Configuring the zones in the Exchange Server service group
        8.  
          Configuring the application service group IP resource for fail over (VMNSDg only)
        9.  
          Configuring the application service group NIC resource for fail over (VMNSDg only)
      9. Verifying the RDC configuration
        1.  
          Bringing the service group online
        2.  
          Switching online nodes
      10.  
        Additional instructions for GCO disaster recovery
    5. Deploying disaster recovery for Exchange Server
      1.  
        Tasks for deploying a disaster recovery configuration of Microsoft Exchange
      2.  
        Tasks for setting up DR in a non-shared storage environment
      3. Reviewing the disaster recovery configuration
        1.  
          Supported disaster recovery configurations for service group dependencies
      4.  
        Setting up the secondary site: Installing InfoScale Enterprise and configuring a cluster
      5.  
        Verifying your primary site configuration
      6. Setting up your replication environment
        1. Requirements for EMC SRDF array-based hardware replication
          1.  
            Software requirements for configuring EMC SRDF
          2.  
            Replication requirements for EMC SRDF
        2. Requirements for Hitachi TrueCopy array-based hardware replication
          1.  
            Software requirements for Hitachi TrueCopy
          2.  
            Replication requirements for Hitachi TrueCopy
      7.  
        Assigning user privileges (secure clusters only)
      8.  
        About configuring disaster recovery with the DR wizard
      9.  
        Configuring disaster recovery with the DR wizard
      10.  
        Cloning the storage on the secondary site using the DR wizard (Volume Replicator replication option)
      11.  
        Creating temporary storage on the secondary site using the DR wizard (array-based replication)
      12.  
        Installing Exchange 2010
      13.  
        Cloning the service group configuration from the primary site to the secondary site
      14.  
        Configuring the Exchange service group in a non-shared storage environment
      15. Configuring replication and global clustering
        1.  
          Configuring Volume Replicator replication and global clustering
        2. Configuring EMC SRDF replication and global clustering
          1.  
            Optional settings for EMC SRDF
        3. Configuring Hitachi TrueCopy replication and global clustering
          1.  
            Optional settings for HTC
        4.  
          Configuring global clustering only
      16.  
        Creating the replicated data sets (RDS) for Volume Replicator replication
      17.  
        Creating the Volume Replicator RVG service group for replication
      18. Configuring the global cluster option for wide-area failover
        1.  
          Linking clusters: Adding a remote cluster to a local cluster
        2.  
          Converting a local service group to a global service group
        3.  
          Bringing a global service group online
      19.  
        Verifying the disaster recovery configuration
      20.  
        Establishing secure communication within the global cluster (optional)
      21.  
        Adding multiple DR sites (optional)
      22.  
        Recovery procedures for service group dependencies
      23. Possible task after creating the DR environment: Adding a new failover node to a Volume Replicator environment
        1.  
          Preparing the new node
        2.  
          Preparing the existing DR environment
        3.  
          Installing Exchange on the new node
        4.  
          Modifying the replication and Exchange service groups
        5.  
          Reversing replication direction
    6. Testing fault readiness by running a fire drill
      1.  
        About disaster recovery fire drills
      2. About the Fire Drill Wizard
        1.  
          About Fire Drill Wizard general operations
        2. About Fire Drill Wizard operations in a Volume Replicator environment
          1.  
            Preparing the fire drill configuration
          2.  
            About running the fire drill
          3.  
            About restoring the fire drill configuration
          4.  
            About deleting the fire drill configuration
        3.  
          About Fire Drill Wizard operations in a Hitachi TrueCopy or EMC SRDF environment
      3. About post-fire drill scripts
        1.  
          Exchange 2010 scripts or cmdlets
      4.  
        Tasks for configuring and running fire drills
      5. Prerequisites for a fire drill
        1.  
          Prerequisites for a fire drill in a Volume Replicator environment
        2.  
          Prerequisites for a fire drill in a Hitachi TrueCopy environment
        3.  
          Prerequisites for a fire drill in an EMC SRDF environment
      6. Preparing the fire drill configuration
        1.  
          System Selection panel details
        2.  
          Service Group Selection panel details
        3.  
          Secondary System Selection panel details
        4.  
          Disk Selection panel details
        5.  
          Hitachi TrueCopy Path Information panel details
        6.  
          HTCSnap Resource Configuration panel details
        7.  
          SRDFSnap Resource Configuration panel details
        8.  
          Fire Drill Preparation panel details
      7. Running a fire drill
        1.  
          Post fire drill operations panel details
      8.  
        Re-creating a fire drill configuration that has changed
      9.  
        Restoring the fire drill system to a prepared state
      10. Deleting the fire drill configuration
        1.  
          Fire Drill Deletion panel details
      11.  
        Considerations for switching over fire drill service groups
  4. Section IV. Reference
    1. Appendix A. Using Veritas AppProtect for vSphere
      1.  
        About Just In Time Availability
      2.  
        Prerequisites
      3.  
        Setting up a plan
      4.  
        Deleting a plan
      5.  
        Managing a plan
      6.  
        Viewing the history tab
      7.  
        Limitations of Just In Time Availability
      8.  
        Getting started with Just In Time Availability
      9.  
        Supported operating systems and configurations
      10.  
        Viewing the properties
      11.  
        Log files
      12.  
        Plan states
      13.  
        Troubleshooting Just In Time Availability
    2. Appendix B. Troubleshooting
      1.  
        VCS logging
      2.  
        Exchange Service agent error messages
      3.  
        Troubleshooting Microsoft Exchange uninstallation
      4.  
        Troubleshooting Exchange Setup Wizard issues

Managing a plan

Planned Maintenance

After the maintenance plan is created, you can fail over the applications to the clone virtual machine and fail back the applications from the clone to the virtual machine. When the scheduled maintenance is complete, you can delete the cloned virtual machine or retain it for future use.

To perform failover, failback, revert, or delete clone operations, go to Plans, and select a plan. Based on the enabled operation, perform the following tasks:

To fail over the applications to the cloned virtual machine

  • Click the Failover icon.

    Just In Time Availability (JIT) performs the sequence of failover tasks, which includes taking the application offline, detaching the disks, cloning the virtual machine, attaching the disks, and so on.

To fail back the applications from the clone to the primary virtual machine

  • Click the Failback icon.

    Just In Time Availability (JIT) performs the sequence of failback tasks, which includes taking the application offline, detaching the disks, attaching the disks, and so on.

To revert a failover or a failback operation

  • Click the Revert icon.

    If the failover or a failback operation fails, the revert operation restores the applications on the virtual machine, and deletes the clone if created.

To delete a clone

  • Click the Delete Clone icon.

    After the failback operation is complete, you can delete the clone. By default, the revert operation deletes the clone.

Note:

Alternatively, right-click Plan in the Plans table on the Plans wizard to perform failover, failback, revert, delete plan, and delete clone operations.

Unplanned Recovery

Once you have set up a plan for unplanned recovery during Configure Plan operation, based on the recovery policies selected for the plan, the application is recovered accordingly.

You can manage unplanned recovery policies settings by performing the following operations on the plan and its associated virtual machines.

Managing unplanned recovery settings

On the Plans tab, in the plans table which lists all the existing plans, navigate to the required plan and use the right-click option on the selected plan.

  • Edit: Use this option to modify the configured plans settings such as adding or removing a virtual machine from the plan, and so on.

    The same Configuration Plan wizard using which you had set up or configured a plan is displayed with pre-populated details.

    See Setting up a plan.

  • Disable Unplanned Recovery: Use this option to disable the Unplanned Recovery settings.

  • Enable Unplanned Recovery: Use this option to enable the Unplanned Recovery settings.

  • Disable Scheduler: Use this option to disable the scheduler settings.

  • Enable Scheduler: Use this option to enable the scheduler settings.

  • Delete Plan: Use this option to delete the created plan.

  • Properties: Use this option to view the properties for unplanned recovery. It displays details such as the selected unplanned recovery policies and the associated operations for the selected policies. It also provides information about the selected scheduler mode for performing boot disk back up operation for the selected virtual machines.

Managing virtual machines settings

On the Plans tab, in the plans table which lists all the existing plans and its associated virtual machines, navigate to the required virtual machine. Select the required virtual machine and use the right-click option on the selected virtual machine.

  • Remove VM From Plan: Use this option to delete the virtual machine from the selected plan.

  • Create Clone Backup: Use this option to create a boot disk backup copy of the virtual machine.

  • Unplanned Failback: Use this option to fail back the application from the boot disk backup copy of the virtual machine on target ESX to the original virtual machine on primary ESX.

    Note:

    This option is available only if you have set unplanned recovery policies as Restart VM on target ESX or Restore VM on target ESX.

  • Properties: Use this option to view properties such as the last run time for backup operation, last successful backup attempt time and the target ESX details.

See Plan states.