Failover Scenarios & Procedure
Promote Mirror to Primary
Use Patriot Configurator on Mirrored SQL Server. The play button will be enabled if the database is in the appropriate state to be promoted to the primary server (currently in mirrored role, and disconnected from the primary server). After pressing the play button it generally takes about 10 seconds to promote to primary. Press the state refresh button until it changes state to Primary, disconnected.
Mirror Option 1
SQL and Services on same machine. Simplest solution. Least number of servers. Most complicated during failover.
Primary SQL server hardware failure
[Action Required] Promote mirrored server to primary.
[Action Required] Startup data service and task service on backup.
[Action Required] Move serial cable(s) to backup server
[Action Required] Redirect IP receiver to backup server*.
[Action Required] Workstations redirected to backup Data Service.
Patriot database unavailable
[Action Required] Promote mirrored server to primary.
Data service automatically swaps over to backup sql server when its brought online.
Data Service crashes
Task Service will begin to buffer signals from receivers. If you swap to backup server, these signals will be lost.
[Action Required] If unable to restart data service, start data service only on backup communications server.
Data service automatically swaps over to backup sql server when its brought online.
Task service automatically swaps over to backup data service.
[Action Required] Workstations redirected to backup Data Service.
Task Service crashes
Receivers go offline.
[Action Required] If unable to restart, startup task service on backup.
Task service automatically swaps over to backup data service.
[Action Required] Move serial cable(s) to backup server
[Action Required] Redirect IP receiver to backup server*.
Mirror Option 2
Separate SQL and Communications server. Requires 2 additional servers. Offer reducing downtime during failover. Higher performance due to dedicated machines. Backup servers are generally wasted processing power.
Primary SQL server hardware failure or Patriot database unavailable
[Action Required] Promote mirrored server to primary.
Data service automatically swaps over to backup sql server when its brought online.
Primary Communications Server hardware failure
[Action Required] Startup data service and task service on backup communications server.
[Action Required] Move serial cable(s) to backup communications server
[Action Required] Redirect IP receiver to backup communications server*.
[Action Required] Workstations redirected to backup Data Service.
Data Service crashes
Task Service will begin to buffer signals from receivers. If you swap to backup communications server, these signals will be lost.
[Action Required] If unable to restart data service, start data service only on backup communications server.
Task service automatically swaps over to backup data service.
[Action Required] Workstations redirected to backup Data Service.
Task Service crashes
Receivers go offline.
[Action Required] If unable to restart, procedure is same as if primary communications hardware failure, with addition of shutting down data service on primary communications first.
Mirror Option 3
Virtual servers each contains one primary server and one backup server. Requires additional server licensing. Offers reduced downtime during failover. Higher performance due to use of unused backup server processing power. Adds additional complexities of running virtual servers.
Server 1 Hardware failure (primary SQL and backup communications servers)
[Action Required] Promote mirrored SQL server to primary.
Data service automatically swaps over to backup sql server when its brought online.
Server 2 hardware failure (backup SQL and primary communications)
[Action Required] Startup data service and task service on backup communications server.
[Action Required] Move serial cable(s) to backup communications server
[Action Required] Redirect IP receiver to backup communications server*.
[Action Required] Workstations redirected to backup Data Service.
Primary SQL unavailable
[Action Required] Promote mirrored SQL server to primary.
Data service automatically swaps over to backup sql server when its brought online.
Primary Data Service crashes
Task Service will begin to buffer signals from receivers. If you swap to backup communications server, these signals will be lost.
[Action Required] If unable to restart data service, start data service only on backup communications server.
Task service automatically swaps over to backup data service.
[Action Required] Workstations redirected to backup Data Service.
Task Service crashes
Receivers go offline.
[Action Required] If unable to restart, startup task service on backup communications server.
Task service automatically swaps over to backup data service.
[Action Required] Move serial cable(s) to backup communications server
[Action Required] Redirect IP receiver to backup communications server*.
Mirror Option 4
Virtual servers each contains one primary server and one backup server. Separate tasks server. Requires additional server licensing and hardware. Offers reduced downtime during failover. Higher performance due to use of unused backup server processing power. Adds additional complexities of running virtual servers. Reduces complexity of moves a large number of serial receivers.
Server 1 hardware failure (primary SQL and backup communications servers)
[Action Required] Promote mirrored SQL server to primary.
Data service automatically swaps over to backup sql server when its brought online.
Server 2 hardware failure (backup SQL and primary communications)
[Action Required] Startup data service on backup communications server.
Task service automatically swaps over to backup data service.
[Action Required] Workstations redirected to backup Data Service.
Primary Task Service hardware failure or Task Service crash
[Action Required] Startup task service on backup tasks server.
Task service automatically swaps over to backup data service.
[Action Required] Move serial cable(s) to backup communications server
[Action Required] Redirect IP receiver to backup communications server*.
Primary SQL unavailable
[Action Required] Promote mirrored SQL server to primary.
Data service automatically swaps over to backup sql server when its brought online.
Primary Data Service crashes
Task Service will begin to buffer signals from receivers.
[Action Required] If unable to restart data service, start data service only on backup communications server.
Task service automatically swaps over to backup data service.
[Action Required] Workstations redirected to backup Data Service.
*Redirect IP receiver. Some receivers may be able to be setup to automatically switch to backup. If not, they will need to be reconfigured using their own supplied configuration software.