SIOS LifeKeeper
| Initial release | 1992 |
|---|---|
| Stable release | 7.5
/ November 23, 2011[1] |
| Operating system | Linux and Microsoft Windows |
| Type | Cluster messaging layer |
| License | Proprietary |
| Website | http://us.sios.com/products/steeleye-protection-suite-linux/ |
SteelEye LifeKeeper (part of the SteelEye Protection Suite, SPS) is a High-availability cluster software, for Linux and Microsoft Windows computer systems. It provides application cluster capabilities to systems running databases, file sharing on a network, electronic commerce websites, or other applications.
It was originally designed and developed by AT&T Bell Labs in 1992 to ensure high availability of their worldwide voice network system running on Unix-based Star Servers.[2] After AT&T divested the LifeKeeper division to NCR, SteelEye acquired the technology in 2000.[3] SteelEye was later acquired in 2006 by SIOS Technology Corp.
Description
High availability clusters (HAC) improve application availability by failing them over or switching them over in a group of systems—as opposed to High Performance Clusters, which improve application performance by running them on multiple systems simultaneously. The LifeKeeper product provides continuous monitoring of servers, storage, applications, databases and network connections to detect points of failure. The high-availability clustering solution aims to reduce planned and unplanned downtime, maintain client connectivity and provide uninterrupted data access.
Similar products include Fujitsu PRIMECLUSTER, IBM HACMP, HP ServiceGuard, IBM Tivoli System Automation for Multiplatforms (SA MP), Linux-HA, Microsoft Cluster Server (MSCS), NEC ExpressCluster, Red Hat Cluster Suite, Veritas Cluster Server and Sun Cluster.
SteelEye Application Recovery Kits (ARKs) can be installed to provide the application-specific scripted behaviors that are executed by LifeKeeper to transfer operations to a standby node. ARKs are available for Microsoft Exchange, Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, SAP and a variety of other common applications and services,[4] but the user or system integrator can also create custom recovery kits by coding the necessary scripts and configuration files.
In 2009, the company launched a program enabling users of HP ServiceGuard, which HP stopped selling that year, to migrate to the LifeKeeper for Linux product. LifeKeeper has won the Best Clustering Solution Award at LinuxWorld on several occasions.[5][6]
See also
References
- ^ "SteelEye Protection Suite for Linux v7.5 Now Available". SteelEye Blogs. November 23, 2011.
- ^ James E.J. Bottomley (November 5–10, 2001). "Managing Distributions from the Software Vendor's Perspective" (pdf). Proceedings of the 5th Annual Linux Showcase & Conference. Oakland, California, USA. Retrieved 2012-05-22.
{{cite conference}}: Unknown parameter|booktitle=ignored (|book-title=suggested) (help); Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ "SteelEye LifeKeeper product description". HA-CC. Retrieved 2012-05-22.
- ^ "ARKs for Linux SteelEye LifeKeeper". HA-CC. Retrieved 2012-05-22.
- ^ "The Envelope Please ..." SteelEye Blogs. October 13, 2005. Retrieved 2012-05-22.
In August (2005) at LinuxWorld-San Francisco, LifeKeeper was co-winner of Best Clustering Solution.
- ^ Kusnetzky, Dan (August 15, 2007). "SteelEye Awarded Best Clustering Solution at Linuxworld (2007)". ZD Net. Retrieved 2012-05-22.