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Active Upgrade is a software package that allows the mirror between the modules to be split. Once the mirror is disrupted a user can access the non-production side of the module remotely and make system changes. When the user has completed changes, which could include software upgrades, software changes, system patches, etc., they are able to test the modules and then synchronize them back into production with absolutely no downtime.
The Active Upgrade technology addresses major sources of planned server downtime necessary to install upgrades and enhancements to operating systems, service packs, applications, and system software. IT departments today are particularly concerned about how to deal with the frequent hot-fix patches issued by Microsoft to protect users and ensure the security of its Windows operating system. Active Upgrade technology will make the updating process much less disruptive to business continuity.
Active Upgrade technology enables online upgrading by splitting the fully redundant system into two independently running servers. While one server continues to run the application without interruption, software updates are applied to the other server. The two sides are then synchronized and returned to fault tolerant operation as one logical server.
"We don't want to have to be available 7 X 24 to support the cluster. With the NEC FT server, we documented easy recovery procedures for our technical operations group." - Ron Murphy, IT manager, Xcel Energy
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