Installation guide

VMware, Inc. 17
Chapter 1 Getting Started with vCenter Server Heartbeat
VMware does not recommend attempting to test a failover in a production environment on a operating server
pair using methods such as unplugging a power cord. When power is lost, any data not written to the passive
server can be lost. VMware recommends performing a switchover rather than a failover to test the operation
of the passive server.
Table 1-2. Acceptance Verification
Exercise Machine Activity Result
Failover Simulation
Exercise
This exercise demonstrates that the Secondary server can function as the Primary Server
without the test data being immediately replicated back to the original server. During the
exercise, you will stop the Primary server from providing service and hide it from the
network, then introduce the Secondary server to the network and allow it to provide service.
Using the System Tray icon, verify that the Primary server displays P/A indicating that it is
the active server. On the Secondary server, repeat the process and verify that the Secondary
server displays S/— indicating that it is passive.
Using the vCenter Server Heartbeat Console, navigate to the Data: Replication tab. Verify
that both the File System and the Registry Status display as Synchronized.
Notify any local users that the service will be unavailable for the duration of the exercise.
Primary Right-click on the System Tray icon and select
Shutdown VMware vCenter Server
Heartbeat. Select the option to Stop all
protected applications.
vCenter Server Heartbeat stops all
monitored services and exits. This can be
verified by navigating to the Service
Control Manager and viewing the status of
the protected services.
Primary Right-click on the System Tray icon and select
Shutdown VMware vCenter Server
Heartbeat. Select the option to Stop all
protected applications.
Primary server becomes passive.
Primary Right-click on the System Tray icon and select
Start VMware vCenter Server Heartbeat. Once
vCenter Server Heartbeat has started,
right-click on the System Tray icon and select
Shutdown VMware vCenter Server
Heartbeat. Select the option to Stop all
protected applications.
This activates the network packet filter
hiding the Primary server from the
network. This can be verified by
navigating to the Service Control Manager
and viewing the status of the protected
services.
Secondary Navigate to Start > All Programs > VMware >
VMware vCenter Server Heartbeat >
Configure Server to launch the Configure
Server wizard. Select the Machine tab and in
the Active Server pane, select Secondary server
to make the Secondary server’s role active.
Right-click on the System Tray icon and select
Start VMware vCenter Server Heartbeat.
The Secondary server starts as the active
server. The System Tray icon displays as
S/A.
Client Compare the application functional status to
the predefined criteria for availability and
performance.
Secondary server behaves as the Primary
server.
Data Replication
Exercise
The Data Replication exercise follows the Failover Simulation exercise performed previously.
The objective is to take a working active server (the Secondary server) and synchronize it with
the passive (Primary server). This exercise also demonstrates that all the correct services
stopped when the Primary server became passive.
vCenter Server Heartbeat is running on the Secondary active server. Using the System Tray
icon, verify that the server status displays S/A. vCenter Server Heartbeat is not running on
the Primary server which is set to passive. Using the System Tray icon, verify that the server
status displays —/
— to indicate that vCenter Server Heartbeat is not running.
Notify any local users that the service will be unavailable for the duration of the exercise.
Primary Right-click on the System Tray icon and select
Start VMware vCenter Server Heartbeat.
vCenter Server Heartbeat starts. Launch
the vCenter Server Heartbeat Console.
Select the Server: Summary tab to show
the connection from the Secondary (active)
to Primary (passive).