?Mastering High Availability: The Art of 'Keep Calm and Carry On

magine you're on an airplane, cruising at 30,000 feet. Suddenly, the engines falter, and panic starts to set in. But hold on - here's where aviation and technology part ways. In the world of aviation, engines rarely fail, and when they do, it's usually just one. The pilot calmly assesses the situation, and if needed, lands the plane safely. It's only in the extraordinary "Miracle on the Hudson" scenarios that both engines give out. What happens next is a crucial lesson for network engineers.

Engine Failures and Networking Blunders

In the aviation world, when a plane lands due to engine trouble, a team of skilled engineers swoops in to replace the faulty component, rigorously tests it, and ensures it integrates seamlessly with the aircraft. Only then does the plane take to the skies again. You won't find them attempting a high-altitude engine swap-out at 10,000 feet. But in the realm of network engineering, it sometimes feels like the opposite is true.

Netware SFT III: My Introduction to High Availability

My first deep dive into high availability IT systems brought me face to face with Netware SFT III, a high availability file system from Novell. It was during this period that I also got acquainted with products from Madge Networks for the first time. The reason? They were the only adapters that consistently delivered reliable performance. My systems never experienced a single failure when using Madge products. #keepcalm

However, as I ventured into the domain of building large campus networks, I learned some valuable lessons the hard way. When a high availability system, like a campus network, encounters a glitch, the first rule is to #keepcalm. The instinct to rush in and fix it immediately can often do more harm than good. Instead, take a step back, breathe, and plan the replacement meticulously. After all, it's designed to be resilient; it's still functioning, so let it be. Far too often, the rush to restore service to the failed networking component results in unplanned outages.

High Availability in SDWAN: A Delicate Balancing Act

In the era of SDWAN (Software-Defined Wide Area Network), high availability takes on a different form. It involves stacking concentrators in the data center and implementing similar redundancy strategies with multiple Customer Premises Equipment (CPEs). This might involve proprietary protocols or standardized ones like VRRP (Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol). When a device within such a stack fails, the key is not to panic. Instead, replace it with careful planning. Here's a tip: when bringing the downstream and upstream connections back online, do it one by one. Don't simply plug them all in and hope for the best. It's a delicate balancing act that requires precision, not haste.

Conclusion: The Art of High Availability

In conclusion, high availability in IT is an art that demands composure and calculated action. The next time you encounter a system failure or network glitch, remember the mantra: #keepcalm. Resist the urge to rush in blindly; instead, plan your moves strategically. Just as aviation engineers ensure that planes are airworthy before takeoff, you should ensure your high availability systems are rock-solid before bringing them back into operation. In the world of IT, staying calm under pressure is the key to achieving true high availability.

Have any #keepcalm thoughts or experiences to share? Drop a comment below!