SIOS DataKeeper Cluster Edition
Release Notes
Version 8.10.1
Released July 10, 2024
Important!!
Read This Document Before Attempting To Install Or Use This Product!
This document contains last minute information that must be considered before, during and after installation.
Introduction
SIOS Datakeeper Cluster Edition is a highly optimized host-based replication solution which integrates seamlessly with Windows Server 2019, Windows Server 2016 and Windows Server 2022 Failover Clustering. Features of Windows Server Failover Clustering such as cross-subnet failover and tunable heartbeat parameters make it easy for administrators to deploy geographically dispersed clusters. SIOS DataKeeper provides the data replication mechanism which extends both versions of Windows Clustering, allowing administrators to take advantage of these advanced features to support non-shared disk high availability configurations.
Once SIOS DataKeeper Cluster Edition is installed, a new storage class resource type called DataKeeper Volume is available. This new SIOS DataKeeper Volume resource can be used in place of the traditional Physical Disk shared storage resource to enable geographically dispersed clusters, also known as multi-site clusters.
Quick Links
What’s New in this Release? Bug Fixes Discontinued Features DataKeeper Cluster Edition Requirements DataKeeper Requirements Local Security Policy Requirement Known Issues Quick Start Guide |
New Features of Supported Versions of SIOS DataKeeper Cluster Edition v8
Description | ||||||||
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DataKeeper Cluster Edition now supports Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) (Certified in October 2024). | ||||||||
Support for single-AZ configurations on AWS (Certified in September 2024). | ||||||||
Support for VMware vSphere 8.0 Update3 (Certified in Aug 2024). | ||||||||
Log4net package upgraded to v2.0.17. | ||||||||
DataKeeper uses existing job information to detect if an IP is missing on the local host and warns the user in the DK GUI, EMTray, and DKHealthCheck. | ||||||||
AlphaVSS package upgraded to v2.0.3. | ||||||||
Bug Fixes | ||||||||
New in Version 8.10.0 | ||||||||
WriteQueueHighWaterSynchronous was added as a new registry entry | ||||||||
VMware vSphere 8.0 Update1 and Update2 are supported (Certified in May 2024). | ||||||||
Amazon EBS encryption is supported. | ||||||||
Synchronous mirror performance improvement. | ||||||||
Bug Fixes | ||||||||
New in Version 8.9.2 | ||||||||
Support for VMware vSphere 8.0 See the Support Matrix for supported configuration details. |
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Bug Fixes | ||||||||
New in Version 8.9.1 | ||||||||
AWS Cross Region Support. | ||||||||
Display warning in DK GUI if a connected server has Automatically Manage Pagefiles enabled. | ||||||||
Added Total Bytes column for volumes on the Server Overview page. | ||||||||
Users will now see a warning in the DK GUI if any target volumes are too small after resizing. | ||||||||
Upgrade AlphaVSS and IronPython to latest versions, 2.0.0 and 2.7.12 respectively. | ||||||||
Show volume size in mirror creation dialogs. | ||||||||
User systems will receive a notification if there are any mirrored volumes on a system configured with “System Managed” page files. | ||||||||
Automatically update reported size when a volume is shrunk or expanded. | ||||||||
Stop supporting Windows operating systems older than Server 2012 and Client 10. | ||||||||
Bug Fixes | ||||||||
New in Version 8.9.0 | ||||||||
SIOS DataKeeper Cluster Edition Version 8.9.0 is the last version that will support Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise and DataCenter Editions. It is currently only supported in Azure. Any subsequent releases will not support an install or upgrade for Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2. | ||||||||
Bug Fixes | ||||||||
New in Version 8.8.2 | ||||||||
Windows Server 2022 Support | ||||||||
Windows 2011 Support | ||||||||
Fixed memory leak in ExtMirrSvc. See this IMPORTANT NOTICE for more information. | ||||||||
Bug Fixes | ||||||||
New in Version 8.8.1 | ||||||||
Bug Fixes | ||||||||
New in Version 8.8.0 | ||||||||
Bug Fixes | ||||||||
New in Version 8.7.2 | ||||||||
Support for VMware vSphere 7.0 See the Support Matrix for supported configuration details. |
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New in Version 8.7.1 | ||||||||
DataKeeper Cluster Edition now supports Azure Stack on Windows 2019 | ||||||||
Bug Fixes |
Bug Fixes
The following is a list of the latest bug fixes and enhancements.
PW-9021 | Fixed an issue that disabled AWS PAYG AMI subscription functionality during Windows OS upgrade. |
PW-9191 | Fixed an issue that could lead to the DataKeeper service crashing when running in AWS. |
PW-9417 | Improved handling of BlockWritesOnLimitsReached setting. |
PW-10550 | Prevent system crash when unexpected connection data is sent to a DataKeeper server. |
Discontinued Features of DataKeeper Cluster Edition v8
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Microsoft Windows Server 2012/2012 R2 are no longer supported on any version of LifeKeeper as of October 10, 2024. | |
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Hyper-V 2012 R2 is no longer supported. | |
Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2 Standard and DataCenter Editions are no longer supported with this version of LifeKeeper. | |
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None | |
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Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise and DataCenter Editions are no longer supported | |
Hyper-V Server 2008 R2 is no longer supported | |
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Windows 7 is no longer supported | |
Windows 8 is no longer supported |
DataKeeper Cluster Edition Requirements
Server Components | See the DKCE Support Matrix All servers should run the same version of Windows and the same version of DataKeeper software. Make sure you verify the following settings prior to installing and configuring SIOS DataKeeper Cluster Edition.
Hotfix – KB 951308 https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/951308 If protecting Hyper-V resources, Hotfix KB 958065 Note: These hotfixes are not required for Windows Server 2008 R2/2008 R2 SP1. Contact Microsoft for a fix that will allow NICs to be added to a Virtual Machine after the VM has been placed into a Failover Cluster. (For more information, see Hyper-V Host Cluster Error.) |
User Interface | See the DKCE Support Matrix MMC 3.0 – download from: |
DataKeeper System Requirements
Minimum Requirements | |
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Memory | 1 GB RAM |
Processor | Refer to Windows Server Processor Requirements |
Disk size | 53 MB required for install |
Local Security Policy Requirement
If your Windows servers are not in a domain and you are going to run the DataKeeper Service as the local system account, the Local Security policy setting “Network Access: Let Everyone permissions apply to anonymous users” must be enabled.
Known Issues
Missing Job Information warning displayed during mirror creation or deletion
During job creation, the warning “This computer is missing SIOS DataKeeper Job information for the following target volume(s): <vol>” might be displayed in the GUI briefly. The warning will go away after a few seconds. This is a transient condition that can occur during mirror creation and deletion, and does not indicate an error.
Windows 2016
SCVMM 2012
If using DataKeeper with SCVMM 2012, you must use SCVMM 2012 SP1.
Windows Server 2012
For issues and enhancements related to Windows Server 2012, see the following topics:
WSFC 2012 Failover Cluster Manager UI Defect
Manual Creation of a Mirror in WSFC
WSFC 2012 Cluster Creation Default Setting Issue
WSFC 2012 File Shares Cannot be Created for File Server Resource
WSFC 2012 Server Manager — Incorrect Volume Display
WSFC 2012 Server Manager — DataKeeper “Disk” Not Shown as Clustered
Windows Server 2012 Default Information Missing During Mirror Creation
Windows Server 2012 DataKeeper MMC Snap-in Crash
Windows Server 2012 — Simultaneous Move of Multiple Clustered File Server Roles Can Result in DataKeeper Switchover Failures
Windows Server 2012 iSCSI Target Role Does Not Support Dynamic Disks
Using iSCSI Target with DataKeeper
Windows 2008 R2
SIOS DataKeeper includes a kernel-mode driver (ExtMirr.sys) which is signed with a SHA-256 signature. If you are installing on a Windows 2008 R2 system that has not been updated with Microsoft hotfixes, it might not be able to boot with such a driver. Please refer to this bulletin from Microsoft for more information, in particular the first event listed which applies to Windows 2008 R2 SP1.
If you are updating SIOS DataKeeper, and your previous version was version 8.6.2 or later, then your system does have SHA-256 driver support (the 8.6.2 driver is signed with SHA-256). In that case you can safely install this version of DataKeeper.
Also see the Known Issues and Workarounds and Restrictions sections of DataKeeper Cluster Edition Technical Documentation.
DataKeeper Cluster Edition Quick Start Guide
To get started using SIOS DataKeeper Cluster Edition, refer to the DataKeeper Cluster Edition Quick Start Guide.
Technical Support
As a SIOS Technology Corp. customer with a valid Support contract, you are entitled to access the SIOS Technology Corp. Support Self-Service Portal.
The SIOS Technology Corp. Support Self-Service Portal offers you the following capabilities:
- Search our Solution Knowledge Base to find solutions to problems and answers to questions
- Always on 24/7 service with the SIOS Technology Corp. Support team to:
- Log a Case to report new incidents.
- View Cases to see all of your open and closed incidents.
- Review Top Solutions providing information on the most popular problem resolutions being viewed by our customers.
Contact SIOS Technology Corp. Support at support@us.sios.com to set up and activate your Self-Service Portal account.
Contacting Support during Business Hours:
Please call if you have a critical issue involving a down production system or application where your data cannot be accessed using the SIOS Technology products.
1-877-457-5113 (Toll Free)
1-803-808-4270 (International)
For any other issues or questions, please open a case by logging into the Self Service Portal or sending an email to support@us.sios.com.
For After Hours Support For Critical Issues:
Outside of business hours and on the weekends, emergency support with guaranteed two-hour response time 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year is included under Product Support. After hours Support is only available for critical issues involving a down production system or application where your data cannot be accessed using the SIOS Technology products. These issues are handled by contacting the numbers below. Please note that emails to support@us.sios.com are not monitored outside of business hours and on the weekends. Non-critical issues are handled during business hours.
1-877-457-5113 (Toll Free)
1-803-808-4270 (International)
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