User guide

6. How does the VSR system communicate with a customer's
servers?
There are two communications channels between a customer's sites and IBM's VSR
infrastructure. The first is the replication connection, which is an OSI Layer 3
connection maintained by the replication software. The second is the OSI Layer 2
LAN extension used during failovers to enable customers' users to connect with
IBM's recovery servers. Both channels may be encrypted at the customer's option.
7. Does VSR support encryption?
VSR supports encryption as data in flight. IBM does support standard
communication encryption methods, such as through a VPN, VSR does not
support encryption as data at rest: or encrypt your content after it reaches the VSR
recovery site through your communications link.
8. Is there a limit to the size of server that IBM provisions during
recovery?
For IBM System x servers, the maximum specs of the virtual machine IBM
provides to VSR customers is the lower of:
1. the specs of the largest recovery server deployed in your country's IBM VSR
instance, and
2. the maximum specs permitted by VMware's ESX hypervisor v.5.0.
It varies, but most countries have 512GB RAM and 40 CPU cores in their largest
System x recovery server. ESX 5.0 can assign a maximum of 32 vCPUs and 1TB of
RAM. So, the maximum CPUs available are 32, and the maximum RAM is 512GB.
Be aware that IBM charges a premium for vCPUs and vRAM over the default
maximum which, in most countries, is 8 vCPUs and 32GB of vRAM. Contact your
local IBM VSR representative for information on the default and maximum specs
available in your country.
For IBM System p
®
machines, the specs of the largest LPAR offered to VSR
customers are wholly a function of the specs of the largest IBM System p machine
installed in the VSR instance. The specs of the largest System p vary more widely
than those for IBM System x. Please contact your local IBM VSR administrator for
information about the largest System p LPAR in your country.
If your server's specs exceed those of the largest endpoint that IBM has deployed,
talk to your IBM VSR representative to see about the possibility of IBM upgrading
its endpoints to accommodate your server.
9. How does the DR Test clone work?
During an exercise, VSR copies, or clones the most recent real-time replica and
connects that clone to a virtual machine. This clone is cordoned off from both the
replica (at IBM) and the production system (at the customer site). In addition, it is
designed to consume less resource than a full recovery VM by loading into
memory only those pieces of code required by the user of the clone. The user of
the clone can make changes to the environment and, using special software
available for download from the portal, enable other users to access the system for
stress testing. When testing concludes, VSR shuts the VM down and erases the
clone.
42 IBM SmartCloud Virtualized Server Recovery: Customer User Guide