Install and Configure SIOS Protection Suite/LifeKeeper and Recovery Kits

The next step is to install the SIOS Protection Suite Core, which includes the IP Recovery Kit and Microsoft IIS Recovery Kit, on all servers. See the SIOS Protection Suite Installation topics for details on installing SIOS Protection Suite. You must have the same version of SIOS Protection Suite on all servers.

After you have installed LifeKeeper, you will need to reboot all the servers. After rebooting, make sure LifeKeeper is up and running on all servers.

You can now configure LifeKeeper. The LifeKeeper setup tasks are given in the proper sequence below. For detailed instructions on the LifeKeeper configuration tasks, use the Help button or refer to LifeKeeper Configuration.

*Switchover on Shutdown with DataKeeper is not supported. See Set Server Shutdown Strategy for more information.

1. Set up your LifeKeeper communication paths. For the most reliable communication path configuration, we recommend creating two separate TCP/IP comm paths, and if possible, a third comm path. For TCP/IP comm paths, the best results are obtained when you use a private network between the two servers.

2. Create switchable IP addresses for each web server/site pair as required. On the Edit menu, select Server, then Create Resource Hierarchy. From the drop down list, select IP Address, and then fill in the information required by the Protected Application Wizard. Repeat for each switchable IP address needed.

When creating LifeKeeper switchable IP addresses, consider the following:

a. The primary server is the one that normally runs the active Webserver/site. It should be set to priority 1 so that the IP resource matches the IIS resource to be

b. If desired, change the Switchback Strategy from Intelligent (the default) to Automatic*.

c. If you have two NICs on the same subnet, you can set the IP Local Recovery* option to have LifeKeeper transfer service of the switchable IP address between the two cards for increased availability.

*See related topics for additional information on Switchback Strategy and IP Local Recovery.

4. Test your switchable IP addresses for switchover and response.

   1. To test switchover, open the LifeKeeper GUI. Your switchable IP resources should display as green (Active) on the primary server and blue(Standby) on the backup. Right click on the IP instance in the hierarchy tree.From the pop-up menu, select In Service, and select the backup server from the list box. This switchable IP resource will turn from blue to green on the backup server. Repeat this test on any remaining switchable IP addresses. When you are finished testing all the switchable IP addresses, bring them back In Service on their primary servers.

   2. To test response, open an MS-DOS window and use the ping command on each switchable IP address. Your switchable IP addresses should return a response time and packet loss value for each ping.

   3. Do not proceed until your switchable IP addresses pass both the switchover and ping tests successfully.

5. Create your Volume resource(s) which will contain the home directories for your Web/FTP/SMTP services. Perform Volume resource switchovers to ensure that that your volume(s) can be placed in service on primary and backup servers. Also make sure that the priorities you assign to protected IP and Volume resources match on each server.