Synchronous mirroring over 2 locations in one IBM Cloud site for block data as a foundation for availability

Background

Currently we running + 100 customers with one or several LPARS each (Power Server with IBMi). We would like to migrate to IBM Cloud. These customers run mainly their ERP system in IBMi. The ERP system acts like a business hub, with a lot of integrations/communications to other business systems. These ERP systems cannot be seen as "stand alone/silo systems". It is more like the "heart" for the Companies business transactions.

Customers pain (in falling order for our customers)

• Hard stops (example storage failure) (Restarting the Business hub after a hard stop is complex, starting the server is not the real problem it is to get in sync with other servers and explain for the end users what to do)

• Loosing transactions in case of failure

• Data in only one location (Typical customers do not calculate with Metropolitan failures especially in Europe)

• Many customers will as example:

  • not allow to move Data outside EU (GDPR)

  • outside Canada (Canadian personal data law contra US law)

Today's solution is a storage solution spanning over 2 locations (around 10 KM apart). Hypersswop (IBM Storewize/SVC) functionality is used. The LPAR see only one 'Virtual disk' that under the cover is synchronously mirrored between two different storage situated in two differnt locations. In case of one storrage failure the LPAR dont understand that one storage have failed it just keep on runing and are served from the working storage. (This gives check in most of customer pains)

Today around 50% of our customers demand and pay for the service

New IBM Cloud Solutions:

Implement IBM Technology (Hyperswop or strech cluster) over 2 locations as the foundation for availability.

Let IBMi standard availability/recovery options work on top of the storage:

• Live partitioning (LPM/ Remote restart)

• Full system mirroring

• Let Power/HA use the storrage mirroring instead of in the OS

• If possible introduce a one bottom switch for the avalibillity options