Test HA Setup for SIP & RM with VM

[mumtazalam2k]

Hi,

I want to setup & test the configuration for SIP Server HA & RM HA using NLB method.

Is it feasible to do the HA configuration & test it with the following components in a single physical host on VMWare Server running multiple Windows 2003 VM images as listed below:-

1) 1 Physical Host Server with enough RAM & CPU, say 16 GB RAM and 16 core CPU and 4 NIC's

2) Run 6 VM on this host1 each with 2GB RAM and 2 core processors.

3) Use 2 VM image for SIP Server HA

NIC1  192.168.1.2
NIC2  192.168.1.3
NIC3  192.168.1.4
NIC4  192.168.1.5
VIP    192.168.1.30

4) Use 2 VM image for RM HA
NIC1  192.168.1.6
NIC2  192.168.1.7
NIC3  192.168.1.8
NIC4  192.168.1.9
VIP    192.168.1.40

5) Use 1 VM image for GVP components (MCP, CCP,RS,SSG)
NIC1 192.168.1.10
NIC2 192.168.1.11

6) Use 1 VM image for Oracle DB
NIC1 192.168.1.12
NIC2 192.168.1.13

The objective is to be able to test the configuration steps in a test environment like this and be sure about all the steps before moving to prodn setup.

Thanks.
M.

[Kubig]

And..what is the question or problem?

[mumtazalam2k]

Will this test setup fine and a workable confign with all the elements that i described?
Note:- I dont have access to the local switch, hence I presume no switch confign (ARP etc) is required on my local switches.

[Kubig]

Yes, it will.
I have tested similiar env (only on Linux (I hate WindowsNLB)) with worst HW and all what I need was OK.

[bublepaw]

One thing - NLB is no longer recommended for windows with release of 8.1.1 SIPS - I would recommend to use ip takeover. In general I don't think it is need it to have more than 2 network cards in each virtual server

[Kubig]

Or try to use active-active mode on RM with SIP server as a load-balancer. I know, that the documentation is not clear about it, but I have tested it and it works fine. I think better than IP takeover,at least on RM.

[bublepaw]

Yes it is good solution but than You have to use latest version of 8.1.1 because first release had some problems with active/active RM. And to fully remove NLB we can go into proxy for SIPS HA

[mumtazalam2k]

I am using GVP 8.1.6 and I would definitely want to use the same approach for both SIP and RM.
Hence I would like to use NLB with both SIP & RM HA. My preferred HA method is Active - Standby.
With IP Address takeover, the documentation comments does not favour it, even though it is simpler.

[Kubig]

I do not recommend to use IP takeover mechanism for RM, my experience is that it did not work properly.

[mumtazalam2k]

can you tell me what feature license is required in order to test SIP HA & RM HA?
i.e. i need to verify what feature license should be in my license file in order to test the HA features of SIP & RM.

Is it only HA-VOICE in addition to the SIP & GVP licenses?

[Kubig]

To tell the truth, I have to say "I do not know" ... licensing is not my field of interest. But I hope and believe that others from this forum know this information. I think that you are right with "only" HA voice license.

[smile]

in case of sip, ha-voice isn't required. for full Hotstandby HA you'll need:
cim, cim-ha
sip, sip-ha
gvp and gvp-ha

[Kubig]

Smile, thanks for additional info about licensing (is not my cup of tea) :-)

[mumtazalam2k]

Smile,
my setup is warm standby only for both sip & rm.
i have HA-Voice, HA-CIM and this feature "FEATURE ha_redundancy".
i hope this should allow both RM & SIP server to support HA in warm standby option.