The State of Resilience & Optimization on IBM Power Systems - Research Findings

This copy is embargoed until Dec.8, 2009
The State of Resilience on
IBM Power Systems
Research Findings Based on Surveys of IBM i and
AIX Users
1Contents
Executive Summary __________________________________________________________________________ 1Foreword: Resilience Under Pressure ___________________________________________________________ 3Report Focus ________________________________________________________________________________ 4Research Environment and Methodology ________________________________________________________ 4The State of Disaster Recovery Expectations _____________________________________________________ 5 Recovery Time Objectives _____________________________________________________________ 5 Recovery Point Objectives _____________________________________________________________ 7 Disaster Recovery Confidence _________________________________________________________ 9 Disaster Recovery Concerns ___________________________________________________________ 9The State of Data Protection Technologies ______________________________________________________ 11 Data Recovery Methods ______________________________________________________________ 11 Partial Data Loss ____________________________________________________________________ 14 Unrecoverable Data _ ________________________________________________________________ 15The State of Migration to Power Systems _______________________________________________________ 17 Economic Impacts on IT ______________________________________________________________ 18 Migration to Power Systems _ _________________________________________________________ 19Summary: The State of Resilience _____________________________________________________________ 23
2Executive Summary
The idea that data is a key business asset is hardly disputable. Even so, how to affix a direct financial value on data remains a matter of debate. However, in a practical sense, the real value a business places on its data may be inferred by how seriously it protects it. Data protection is one of the core elements of any Disaster Recovery plan. Maintaining data availability is likewise essential to overall business continuity efforts. Difficult economic environments such as we have experienced in the past year put commitment to data protection under challenge, with revealing results.
Central Issues for Executives
. A trend toward increasingly aggressive recovery time objectives (RTOs) and recovery point objectives (RPOs) is evident across the platform. But there remains evidence that, for many firms, the appropriate technologies for achieving their RTOs and RPOs are not in place.
. Data protection and high availability are related but still distinctly different objectives. Current findings support increasing adoption of solutions to address both areas, but keeping data and applications continuously available has not been addressed as fully or consistently as protecting against catastrophic data loss.
. Traditionally, DR capabilities have been viewed as insurance against major natural or manmade disasters. But increasingly, businesses of all sizes are realizing the significant impact of the many "mini disasters" that occur quite frequently: power or network outages, maintenance and upgrade work, and even the corruption or loss of individual files. Technologies for recovering from and actively avoiding these events are maturing and gaining support.
. IBM's introduction of Power Systems servers has begun to blur the lines between their two previously distinct groups of midrange server customers. The advantages offered under this converged platform are attractive to businesses across the board. Despite the current state of the global economy, many firms are managing to find innovative and effective ways to reduce the cost and complexity of migrating to Power.
1Executive Summary
Next Steps
. Evaluate the costs associated with downtime of any duration from any cause.
. S et measurable goals for systems and data recovery speed and completeness (RTOs and RPOs) based upon the needs of the business, not the capabilities of current technologies and procedures. Then, identify and work toward implementing technologies and processes that will support your objectives effectively.
. Where appropriate technologies are in place, ensure that the company's actual ability to re... [download for more]