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Press Release: Cayan Protects Business Critical Applications with SIOS SANLess Clusters

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Easy-to-Manage High Availability Protection for Business Critical SQL Server

SAN MATEO, CA – February 18, 2015 – SIOS Technology Corp. (www.us.sios.com), maker of SAN and #SANLess clustering software products, today announced that Cayan™ is using SIOS DataKeeper™ Cluster Edition software to protect its important Windows applications.

Cayan is the leader in the payment solutions industry. The company’s flagship Genius® Customer Engagement Platform® aggregates and integrates every conceivable transaction technology, payment type and customer program – both present and future – into a single platform. Customers include some of the world’s largest online retailers. “Our top priority is ensuring that our customers can complete transactions continuously 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” said Paul Vienneau, chief technology officer, Cayan.

When the company decided to move to a larger, state-of-the-art data center, they looked for an affordable, easy-to-deploy way to provide high availability and disaster protection for the SQL Server database that their Genius platform and other important applications run on. The company considered using a traditional shared storage cluster, but did not want the cost and complexity of purchasing and managing a SAN storage array. As shared storage, a SAN would also introduce the risk of a single point of failure. “We needed a solution that could handle the large volume of transactions we process without slowing application performance,” said Vienneau.

Cayan IT staff decided to use SANLess clusters. They built two-node clusters using standard Windows Server Failover Clustering (WSFC) and adding SIOS DataKeeper Cluster Edition software as an ingredient. “The SIOS software has very intuitive configuration wizards that enabled us to deploy our platform and applications in the SANLess clusters quickly and easily,” said Vienneau. “Since SIOS DataKeeper is completely integrated with WSFC, our IT staff did not have to change system administration or add complexity.”

Because the SANLess clusters use local storage, there is minimal performance overhead and fast application response times. “We were able to run our applications in the new SANLess cluster environment in our new data center in a full production mode before we put it into full production. We set up a performance lab and tested the replication latency under heavy load. It ran great. The SIOS software met or exceeded our expectations. Implementation and ongoing administration is easy and we have had zero downtime since we implemented our SIOS SANLess clusters,” said Vienneau.

 “Results achieved by Cayan are common across SIOS’ customer base,” said Jerry Melnick, COO, SIOS Technology.  “SIOS DataKeeper adds replication for disaster protection in SAN-based Windows clusters and enables SANLess clusters in Windows Server Failover Clustering environments where shared storage clusters are impossible or impractical.”

About SIOS Technology Corp.

SIOS Technology Corp. makes SAN and #SANLess software solutions that make clusters easy to use and easy to own.An essential part of any cluster solution, SIOS SAN and #SANLess software provides the flexibility to build Clusters Your Way™ to protect your choice of Windows or Linux environment in any configuration (or combination) of physical, virtual and cloud (public, private, and hybrid) without sacrificing performance or availability. The unique SIOS #SANLess clustering solution allows you to configure clusters with local storage, eliminating both the cost and the single-point-of-failure risk of traditional shared (SAN) storage.

Founded in 1999, SIOS Technology Corp. (www.us.sios.com) is headquartered in San Mateo, California, and has offices throughout the United States, United Kingdom and Japan.

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SIOS, SIOS Technology, SIOS DataKeeper, SIOS Protection Suite, Clusters Your Way, and associated logos are registered trademarks or trademarks of SIOS Technology Corp. and/or its affiliates in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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Contact:

Beth Winkowski
Winkowski Public Relations, LLC for SIOS
Phone: 978-649-7189
Email: bethwinkowski@US.SIOS.com

VI Briefing: Cayan Protects Business Critical Applications with SIOS SANLess Clusters

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Easy-to-Manage High Availability Protection for Business Critical SQL Server

SAN MATEO, CA – February 18, 2015 – SIOS Technology Corp. (www.us.sios.com), maker of SAN and #SANLess clustering software products, today announced that Cayan™ is using SIOS DataKeeper™ Cluster Edition software to protect its important Windows applications.

Cayan is the leader in the payment solutions industry. The company’s flagship Genius® Customer Engagement Platform® aggregates and integrates every conceivable transaction technology, payment type and customer program – both present and future – into a single platform. Customers include some of the world’s largest online retailers. “Our top priority is ensuring that our customers can complete transactions continuously 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” said Paul Vienneau, chief technology officer, Cayan.

SIOS_360 Logo

When the company decided to move to a larger, state-of-the-art data center, they looked for an affordable, easy-to-deploy way to provide high availability and disaster protection for the SQL Server database that their Genius platform and other important applications run on. The company considered using a traditional shared storage cluster, but did not want the cost and complexity of purchasing and managing a SAN storage array. As shared storage, a SAN would also introduce the risk of a single point of failure. “We needed a solution that could handle the large volume of transactions we process without slowing application performance,” said Vienneau.

Cayan IT staff decided to use SANLess clusters. They built two-node clusters using standard Windows Server Failover Clustering (WSFC) and adding SIOS DataKeeper Cluster Edition software as an ingredient. “The SIOS software has very intuitive configuration wizards that enabled us to deploy our platform and applications in the SANLess clusters quickly and easily,” said Vienneau. “Since SIOS DataKeeper is completely integrated with WSFC, our IT staff did not have to change system administration or add complexity.”

Because the SANLess clusters use local storage, there is minimal performance overhead and fast application response times. “We were able to run our applications in the new SANLess cluster environment in our new data center in a full production mode before we put it into full production. We set up a performance lab and tested the replication latency under heavy load. It ran great. The SIOS software met or exceeded our expectations. Implementation and ongoing administration is easy and we have had zero downtime since we implemented our SIOS SANLess clusters,” said Vienneau.

“Results achieved by Cayan are common across SIOS’ customer base,” said Jerry Melnick, COO, SIOS Technology.  “SIOS DataKeeper adds replication for disaster protection in SAN-based Windows clusters and enables SANLess clusters in Windows Server Failover Clustering environments where shared storage clusters are impossible or impractical.”

About SIOS Technology Corp.

SIOS Technology Corp. makes SAN and #SANLess software solutions that make clusters easy to use and easy to own. An essential part of any cluster solution, SIOS SAN and #SANLess software provides the flexibility to build Clusters Your Way™ to protect your choice of Windows or Linux environment in any configuration (or combination) of physical, virtual and cloud (public, private, and hybrid) without sacrificing performance or availability. The unique SIOS #SANLess clustering solution allows you to configure clusters with local storage, eliminating both the cost and the single-point-of-failure risk of traditional shared (SAN) storage.

Founded in 1999, SIOS Technology Corp. (www.us.sios.com) is headquartered in San Mateo, California, and has offices throughout the United States, United Kingdom and Japan.

# # #

SIOS, SIOS Technology, SIOS DataKeeper, SIOS Protection Suite, Clusters Your Way, and associated logos are registered trademarks or trademarks of SIOS Technology Corp. and/or its affiliates in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Contact:

Beth Winkowski
Winkowski Public Relations, LLC for SIOS
Phone: 978-649-7189
Email: bethwinkowski@US.SIOS.com

DR Journal: Cayan Protects Business Critical Applications with SIOS SANLess Clusters.

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Easy-to-Manage High Availability Protection for Business Critical SQL Server

SAN MATEO, Calif. – SIOS Technology Corp. (www.us.sios.com), maker of SAN and #SANLess clustering software products, today announced that Cayan™ is using SIOS DataKeeper™ Cluster Edition software to protect its important Windows applications.

Cayan is the leader in the payment solutions industry. The company’s flagship Genius® Customer Engagement Platform® aggregates and integrates every conceivable transaction technology, payment type and customer program – both present and future – into a single platform. Customers include some of the world’s largest online retailers. “Our top priority is ensuring that our customers can complete transactions continuously 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” said Paul Vienneau, chief technology officer, Cayan.

When the company decided to move to a larger, state-of-the-art data center, they looked for an affordable, easy-to-deploy way to provide high availability and disaster protection for the SQL Server database that their Genius platform and other important applications run on. The company considered using a traditional shared storage cluster, but did not want the cost and complexity of purchasing and managing a SAN storage array. As shared storage, a SAN would also introduce the risk of a single point of failure. “We needed a solution that could handle the large volume of transactions we process without slowing application performance,” said Vienneau.

Cayan IT staff decided to use SANLess clusters. They built two-node clusters using standard Windows Server Failover Clustering (WSFC) and adding SIOS DataKeeper Cluster Edition software as an ingredient. “The SIOS software has very intuitive configuration wizards that enabled us to deploy our platform and applications in the SANLess clusters quickly and easily,” said Vienneau. “Since SIOS DataKeeper is completely integrated with WSFC, our IT staff did not have to change system administration or add complexity.”

Because the SANLess clusters use local storage, there is minimal performance overhead and fast application response times. “We were able to run our applications in the new SANLess cluster environment in our new data center in a full production mode before we put it into full production. We set up a performance lab and tested the replication latency under heavy load. It ran great. The SIOS software met or exceeded our expectations. Implementation and ongoing administration is easy and we have had zero downtime since we implemented our SIOS SANLess clusters,” said Vienneau.

“Results achieved by Cayan are common across SIOS’ customer base,” said Jerry Melnick, COO, SIOS Technology.  “SIOS DataKeeper adds replication for disaster protection in SAN-based Windows clusters and enables SANLess clusters in Windows Server Failover Clustering environments where shared storage clusters are impossible or impractical.”

About SIOS Technology Corp.

SIOS Technology Corp. makes SAN and #SANLess software solutions that make clusters easy to use and easy to own.An essential part of any cluster solution, SIOS SAN and #SANLess software provides the flexibility to build Clusters Your Way™to protect your choice of Windows or Linux environment in any configuration (or combination) of physical, virtual and cloud (public, private, and hybrid) without sacrificing performance or availability. The unique SIOS #SANLess clustering solution allows you to configure clusters with local storage, eliminating both the cost and the single-point-of-failure risk of traditional shared (SAN) storage.

Founded in 1999, SIOS Technology Corp. (www.us.sios.com) is headquartered in San Mateo, California, and has offices throughout the United States, United Kingdom and Japan.

Tech Target – Search Disaster Recovery: Cayan DR goes ‘from zero to 60’ with DataKeeper SANless mirror

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Using DataKeeper software, Online transaction processing firm Cayan sets up mirror sites for ‘quasi active-active’ servers that facilitate rapid failover.

Online credit card transaction company Cayan set up effective disaster recovery/high availability using only its Windows Server and DataKeeper software or for asynchronous replication between two sites.

Boston-based Cayan, which changed its name from Merchant Warehouse in January, helps companies complete customer transactions through options such as online purchases, mobile payments and ApplePay.

Cayan’s business requires that it stay online without exception, so high availability is as important as recovery from a large disaster. The firm uses Microsoft Windows Server as storage for the SQL database that its customer engagement system runs on. After experimenting with Microsoft’s native replication but finding it to be too much work, Cayan avoided buying a SAN by installing SIOS Technologies DataKeeper Cluster Edition software. DataKeeper works with Windows Server Failover Clustering (WSFC) to protect data through real-time block-level replication.

Cayan began testing DataKeeper in late 2013 and put it in production in 2014. At the time, it added a co-location site provided by CenturyLink as part of a data center upgrade. The company uses DataKeeper to asynchronously replicate between databases at its Waltham, Massachusetts, facility and a mirror colocation site in Oak Grove, Illinois.

The secondary site is passive, but Cayan is testing what CTO Paul Vienneau calls a “quasi active-active” setup for load balancing, enabling live traffic at both sites. The database node will be active at one site, and all traffic will go to that site. If the active site goes down, its SQL Server node will fail over to the other site in less than a minute, Vienneau said.

“If the primary database node is in Waltham, the traffic that goes into Oak Grove will be re-directed from the application servers that sit in Oak Grove across the WAN to the database server in Waltham,” Vienneau said. “That gives us minimal [recovery time] there as far as getting back up. If there’s a disaster scenario in Waltham, the SQL server failover will take in 30 seconds and we’ll be live in the Oak Grove site. Because both sites are quasi-active, there’s not a lot of heavy lifting other than the database failing over, and away we go.”

Vienneau said Cayan is in the final stages of testing that setup and will soon go live.

Even without the active-active setup, DataKeeper’s replication makes for quicker recovery than Cayan had before. Vienneau said it could take hours to restore his database the old way when Cayan relied on a Rackspace managed service.

“There wasn’t any of what I call a plausible DR strategy,” he said. “We built this from the ground up when we moved out of Rackspace to CenturyLink. We went from zero to 60 with our HA and DR strategy.”

Vienneau said Cayan hasn’t had any disasters since using DataKeeper but “we’ve tested considerably.”

Vienneau calls his set up high availability instead of only DR “because we can set up fairly quickly in the Oak Grove site, so you can think of it has geo-diverse HA. We have redundancy throughout the entire stack. Because DataKeeper keeps both sites in sync at any point in time and because we can minimize failover, we have two data centers acting as HA.”

“It’s not a traditional DR where your recover time is two hours. It’s taking us less than a minute. We can make it seamless for the end user. They might see a little lag where the cut over is taking place, but they’re not seeing any loss of transactions.”

Those end users consist mostly of small businesses that rely on Cayan to process their credit card transactions.

“We’re a 24/7/365 shop,” he said. “We’re not afforded a lot of downtime. We process over $100 billion in credit card transactions a year. If we’re down a couple of hours, it’s not good for us our merchants.”

Feb 25, 2015: Live Webinar – Clustering 101: Configuring a Windows Cluster Quorum – What You Need to Know

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Are you wondering how your Microsoft cluster quorum should be configured? Microsoft MVP Dave Bermingham will simplify your quorum configuration options and give you the building blocks to better define or improve your cluster and quorum configuration. Dave will also break down quorum configurations based on your current server version, upgrade advantages and he’ll showcase some new options to achieve a majority and tackle interesting cases such as: What happens if you have no shared storage or want to use the cloud as a file share witness…

You can participate before the event by tweeting your questions to @SIOSTech using #Clustering101 and of course bring your own questions and comments.

Register Now

Date: February 25, 2014
Time: 10:00a PST — 1:00pm EST

About Clustering 101 Series

Clustering 101 is a webinar series hosted by Microsoft MVP, Dave Bermingham focused on addressing the numerous facets of clustering for high availability, data replication and any combination there of. This series will air monthly, the fourth Wednesday of the month at 10:00a PST / 1:00p EST.

About Dave Bermingham

David Bermingham is recognized within the technology community as a high availability expert and has been honored by his peers by being elected to be a Microsoft MVP in clustering since 2010. David’s work as director, technical evangelist at SIOS Technology Corp., has him focused on Microsoft high availability and disaster recovery solutions as well as providing hands on support, training and professional services for cluster implementations. David holds numerous technical certifications and draws from more than twenty years of experience in IT, including work in the finance, healthcare and education fields, to help organizations design solutions to meet their high availability and disaster recovery needs. Learn more at www.us.sios.com