Working with Neverfail and OneBox System Installation Guide
ii Working with Neverfail Edition Note This is the sixth edition of Working with Neverfail® Installation Guide. Information in this document applies to OneBox systems with version 5.0 SP3, and Neverfail Heartbeat and Replication version 6.5.2. P/N 1081-50414-00 Rev 06 © October 2011 Copyright Notice © 2011 Aastra ® Technologies Limited. All rights reserved. This document contains proprietary information, which is protected by copyright.
Working with Neverfail iii Contents Preface .........................................................................................................................................iv References ...............................................................................................................................iv Help..........................................................................................................................................v Online Books ............................
iv Working with Neverfail Preface This document is written for Aastra certified OneBox technicians and administrators who are experienced with OneBox and are familiar with its procedures and terminology. This book assumes you are familiar with OneBox and the Microsoft Windows® operating system, and have a working knowledge of TCP/IP protocols, as well as a working knowledge of domain administration in a Windows Server environment, including Active Directory.
Working with Neverfail v The following Aastra documents are available for your reference: Installing OneBox Administering OneBox Software Release Notice version 5.0 SP3 Help The primary source of information about OneBox is the online help available within any of its administrative utilities. You can consult Help by taking one of the following steps: Click the Help button in the dialog box or window in which you are working Press the F1 key at any time.
vi Working with Neverfail WARNING A warning paragraph advises you of circumstances that can result in the loss of data, harm to the telephony server platform, or personal harm. IMPORTANT An important paragraph gives decision-making information or informs you of the order in which tasks need to be completed. NOTE A note gives additional information, provides an explanation, or indicates an exception to the information in the preceding text.
Working with Neverfail 1 Overview The Neverfail Replicator and Heartbeat software runs on OneBox System Servers to provide a High Availability and Disaster Recovery solution. System Servers are configured as a pair or a trio of servers that communicate with each other through network connections, referred to as Neverfail Heartbeat channels. OneBox version 5.0 SP3 with Neverfail supports three types of Neverfail configurations.
2 Working with Neverfail IMPORTANT Switchover between the High Availability active and passive High Availability pair is automatic. Making the Disaster Recovery server the active server is a manual procedure. Neverfail Replicator The Neverfail Replicator Service provides real time replication of all OneBox application data, database changes, and registry changes from the active server to the passive servers in a daisy-chain fashion.
Working with Neverfail 3 OneBox with Neverfail Architecture OneBox system administration is performed on the System Server. The System Server contains the system database and distributes a replicated database to the Call Servers through the network. Call Servers work independently from each other and do not require the System Server to carry on with basic call processing.
4 Working with Neverfail When Neverfail is deployed in a Disaster Recovery configuration, the System Server is prepared for disaster recovery. When Neverfail is deployed in a High Availability and Disaster Recovery configuration, the System Server is redundant, providing high availability and disaster recovery to the System Servers. 1081-50414-00 Rev 06, v5.
Working with Neverfail 5 A set of redundant Call Servers connected to the tertiary System Server at the disaster recovery site provide total system redundancy in the event of a major disaster to the enterprise. These Call Servers may be actively taking calls or they may be idle until the tertiary server is made the active server. In either case, they are synchronized and replicating with the active System Server at all times.
6 Working with Neverfail Call Services or Line licenses are not required if Call Servers are installed at the disaster recovery site but not synchronized with the System Server. These Call Servers may be connected to a disaster ready telephone system but are not processing any calls or communicating with the System Server. In the event of a total site disaster, the Call Servers connect to the tertiary System Server using the available licenses of the active (tertiary) System Server.
Working with Neverfail 7 The following illustration provides an overview of a full OneBox system architecture with Neverfail High Availability and Disaster Recovery cluster deployed. 1081-50414-00 Rev 06, v5.
8 Working with Neverfail The Neverfail Telephony Server Plug-In The Neverfail Group created a Plug-in software module designed specifically for OneBox. The Plug-in enhances the ability of Neverfail to monitor the availability, file, replication, and performance of the active System Server. NOTE Please refer to the Neverfail knowledge base for complete information on the Telephony Server Plug-in at: http://extranet.neverfailgroup.com/aspnet/pages/kb/Kb.
Working with Neverfail 9 Neverfail SCOPE Neverfail SCOPE is a software tool that provides a comprehensive analysis of the existing servers prior to the Neverfail High Availability and Disaster Recovery installation and can monitor the server performance while the Neverfail Heartbeat is running. Neverfail SCOPE diagnoses the health and reliability of the server environment and measures the available network bandwidth between the servers.
10 Working with Neverfail Before You Begin The servers in the Neverfail cluster must be installed and the required network connections must be configured and active on each server in the cluster before you begin the Neverfail software installation. The server platforms must meet or exceed both the Aastra and Neverfail hardware requirements. OneBox version 5.0 SP3 supports Windows Server 2003 32-bit installations and Windows Server 2008 R2 64-bit installations.
Working with Neverfail 11 The secondary and tertiary server hardware must be equal to or greater than the primary server. The Windows operating system and related software updates must be the same on all of the platforms in the Neverfail cluster prior to the Neverfail installation. IMPORTANT It is practical to not authenticate and register the Windows Server 2008 R2 software until you have installed the Neverfail software.
12 Working with Neverfail Critical Application Considerations Known limitations or conditions that affect the Neverfail installation or upgrade are listed here. General recommendations are provided when ways to avoid these limitations exist. During the Neverfail Heartbeat software installation, Neverfail Setup changes the registry key HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Netlogon\Parameters\ DisablePasswordChange to a value of 1.
Working with Neverfail 13 Planning the LAN Connections for Neverfail Each server in the Neverfail cluster must have a minimum of two Ethernet network interface cards (NIC) in a High Availability pair configuration and three NIC interfaces in a tertiary disaster recovery configuration. A NIC that supports multiple virtual interfaces is permissible, provided the card is supported by the operating system.
14 Working with Neverfail The following sample reference for LAN connections and IP addresses provides an example of a Neverfail High Availability and Disaster Recovery trio LAN assignment. If the Neverfail installation is configured as a High Availability pair only, the tertiary server and IP address assignments are not required.
Working with Neverfail 15 The following illustration provides a network example of a Neverfail cluster configured as a pair for High Availability or as a Disaster Recovery trio. 1081-50414-00 Rev 06, v5.
16 Working with Neverfail Preparing for the Neverfail Installation This section lists the requirements and tasks necessary prior to installing Neverfail Heartbeat and Replication software on a pair or trio of Neverfail servers. Review the Neverfail SCOPE Installation Guide Review the Neverfail Installation Guide Review the Neverfail Administrators Guide Review the installation requirements from both Aastra and Neverfail Group. The platforms must meet or exceed the hardware requirements.
Working with Neverfail 17 Collect and send the SCOPE .cab file results to Aastra Technical Support. (The configuration of your SCOPE software determines the location of the .cab files.) Technical Support contacts Neverfail with the information, and Neverfail generates the license key for the installation, which is e-mailed to you for the site installation.
18 Working with Neverfail Installing Neverfail Software on Windows Server 2003 Follow the procedures in Chapter 3 (Clone Installation on Windows Server 2003) of the Installation Guide for Neverfail Heartbeat and the Neverfail Replicator v6.5.2 to install the Neverfail software and the Telephony Server Plug-in on all of the Windows Server 2003 servers in the Neverfail cluster. The software must be installed using the steps provided in the installation guide.
Working with Neverfail 19 To install the Neverfail software on the tertiary server… Section 3-4 Step 3 (Figure 3-43): Select Secondary or Tertiary in this step. Section 3-4 Step 4 (Figure 3-44): This is the step in which you select the NTBackup that you created during the Neverfail installation on the primary server. Type the UNC path or click Browse to navigate to the location of the backup. Section 3-4 Step 5 (Figure 3-45) Select Tertiary as the Duplicate Machine Role.
20 Working with Neverfail Installing Neverfail Software on Windows Server 2008 Follow the procedures in Chapter 5 (Clone Installation on Windows Server 2008) of the Installation Guide for Neverfail Heartbeat and the Neverfail Replicator v6.5.2 to install the Neverfail software and the Telephony Server Plug-in on all of the Windows Server 2008 R2 servers in the Neverfail cluster. The software must be installed using the steps provided in the installation guide.
Working with Neverfail 21 Section 5-3 Step 3 (Figure 5-28): Select Secondary or Tertiary in this step. Section 5-3 Step 4 (Figure 5-29): This is the step in which you select the backup that you created during the Neverfail installation on the primary server. Type the UNC path to the drive and folder of the backup. Section 5-3 Step 5 (Figure 5-30) Select Secondary as the Duplicate Machine Role. Section 5-3 Step 16 (Figure 5-38): Do not start the Heartbeat in this step.
22 Working with Neverfail Customizing and Testing the Neverfail Installation Once you have completed the software installation start the Neverfail Heartbeat on the primary server. Refer to the Administrator’s Guide for Neverfail Heartbeat and Neverfail Replicator v6.5.2 for configuring, testing, maintaining, and troubleshooting of the Neverfail cluster.
Working with Neverfail 23 Maintaining the Neverfail Cluster OneBox runs in a protected environment once Neverfail is running on the System Server. You cannot stop any protected Service or application, including OneBox, while the Neverfail Heartbeat is running. You must stop the Neverfail Heartbeat before you can proceed with shutting down OneBox. The Startup and Shutdown buttons on the Main tab of the OneBox System Configuration utility are grayed out while the Neverfail Heartbeat is running.
24 Working with Neverfail Maintaining Passive Neverfail Servers The Neverfail packet filter prevents TCP/IP packets through the Public IP LAN connection of the passive servers. You can administer the passive servers through the Management IP LAN connection using a terminal Service such as Remote Desktop. However, you cannot stop or restart any Service or application protected by the Neverfail Heartbeat without first stopping the Heartbeat. 1081-50414-00 Rev 06, v5.
Working with Neverfail 25 Updating and Patching OneBox Software in a Neverfail Cluster Aastra releases software patches and updates to support and maintain current releases of OneBox software. Installing software patches and updates to maintain current software versions is a common administrative task that you must perform on each System Server in the Neverfail cluster, as well as all of the Call Servers in the system.
26 Working with Neverfail 2. Click Shutdown Group. The following pop-up displays. IMPORTANT To shut down the group, use the Shutdown Group feature of the Neverfail Server Status and Management Tool to stop the Heartbeat on all of the servers in the cluster. If you use the Shutdown Group feature, you do not have to stop the Heartbeat on each individual server. If you select Shutdown Neverfail Heartbeat, you must shutdown the Heartbeat on each individual passive server. 3.
Working with Neverfail 27 7. On the Active and each Passive server, open Services in Windows Computer Management. Change the Neverfail Server R2 Service from Automatic to Manual start on each server. 8. Install the OneBox software patch or update. The Neverfail Server Role Confirmation dialog box displays. 9. Click Yes to continue updating on the active server. 10. Repeat steps 7 through 10 on each passive server in the Neverfail cluster. 11. Click Yes to continue updating on the passive server.
28 Working with Neverfail 13. Once the upgrades have completed successfully on all Neverfail servers, change the Neverfail Server R2 Service back to Automatic start on each server in the Neverfail cluster. 14. On the active server, right-click the Neverfail Tool icon Neverfail Server Status and Management Tool displays. on the task bar tray. The 15. Click Start Neverfail Group. The Heartbeat starts on all of the System Servers in the Neverfail cluster.
Working with Neverfail 29 Installing OneBox Service Packs and Upgrading OneBox from a Previous Version Aastra releases Service Packs to maintain current releases of OneBox software and to provide new features. In addition, Aastra releases new versions of OneBox software to enhance the OneBox product, provide new features, and maintain its presence in the marketplace.
30 Working with Neverfail 2. Click Shutdown Group. The following pop-up displays. IMPORTANT Use the Shutdown Group feature of the Neverfail Server Status and Management Tool to stop the Heartbeat on all of the servers in the cluster. If you use the Shutdown Group feature you do not have to stop the Heartbeat on each individual server. If you select Shutdown Neverfail Heartbeat, you must shutdown the Heartbeat on each individual passive server. 3. Select Leave protected applications running.
Working with Neverfail 31 8. Install the Service Pack or perform software upgrade on each passive System Server in the Neverfail cluster. Allow each server to restart and complete the installation process before you continue. 9. On the active server, right-click the Neverfail Tool icon Neverfail Server Status and Management Tool displays on the task bar tray. The 10. Click Start Neverfail Group. The Heartbeat starts on all Neverfail servers.
32 Working with Neverfail Upgrading Neverfail Heartbeat from V6.3.1 to V6.5.2 This section provides systematic procedures to upgrade OneBox 8.11 to OneBox 5.0 SP3 as well as the Neverfail Heartbeat version 6.3.1 to Neverfail Heartbeat version 6.5.2. Upgrading from a Neverfail Pair (two servers) to a Neverfail Trio (three servers) is not a supported procedure. However, instructions are provided for adding a Tertiary server after the upgrade is complete.
Working with Neverfail 33 Upgrading to Neverfail Heartbeat version 6.5.2 Follow the steps in this section to preserve your current Neverfail configuration settings while upgrading from previous version of Neverfail Heartbeat to Neverfail Heartbeat version 6.5.2. NOTE You are required to obtain a new license key during the upgrade process. To prepare the Neverfail cluster for the Neverfail version 6.5.2 installation… 1. Upload the Neverfail SCOPE .
34 Working with Neverfail 5. A Hardware Installation window displays for each Network interface card. Click Continue Anyway. This action re-installs the Neverfail TCP/IP Packet Filter on the Primary (Public) Network interface card. To install Neverfail version 6.5.2 software on the secondary server… 1. Double-click the Neverfail version 6.5.2 Setup.exe file, and then select Install Service Pack from the Setup Type area. 2. Follow the Neverfail InstallShield instructions to install the ServicePack.
Working with Neverfail 35 Installing the Telephony Server Plug-in for OneBox version 5.0 SP3 OneBox version 5.0 SP3 ships with the Telephony Server Plug-In version 201.5.4.2. The following procedures guide you through the process of uninstalling previous versions of the Plug-in for OneBox and the installation of the Telephony Server Plug-in version 201.5.4.2 for OneBox.
36 Working with Neverfail Adding a Tertiary Server Currently, upgrading from a Neverfail Cluster Pair environment to a Neverfail Cluster Tertiary environment requires that the Neverfail software be uninstalled, and then reinstalled in a Tertiary configuration. Unfortunately, there is no simpler method in which to perform this task at this time. In addition, Neverfail currently does not provide any documentation or KB articles defining this procedure.
Working with Neverfail 37 Split-Brain Avoidance Split-Brain is a condition in which more than one server in a Neverfail cluster is operating in the active mode and attempting to service OneBox clients. A split-brain condition occurs when the Heartbeat channel between the active and passive servers fails and the passive server fails to receive a Heartbeat reply from the active server.
