Productive Corporation

Q: What do the terms primary server and replica server mean in regards to replication?

A: Primary server refers to the physcial or virtual server running the business application at your site.  Replica server refers to the "standby server" at CA's data center to where the client's applications and data are replicated.

Q: What is CA Instant Recovery On Demand comprised of?

A: CA Instant Recovery On Demand combines real-time replication and automated failover using CA XOsoft High Availability software with our top-tier DR data center, facilities, staff, web-based provisioning, management and reporting tool. 

Q: How are users affected after a system failure?

A: Typically all your users have to do is restart the application they were using.  A broadcast message can be sent to your users alerting them to restart their application after a system failure.  Other users that were in the middle of modifying a file, database or email will recover from the point at which their application was configured to protect their work in progess.

Q: How does CA Instant Recovery On Demand work?

A: CA Instant Recovery On Demand uses CA XOsoft High Availability software agent on each primary server at your location for replication to our third party DR data center.  We maintain replica servers with CA XOsoft software and the applicable operating systems and applications, using large VMware server farm and onsite IT staff.  CA Instant Recovery On Demand provides a web-based provisioning, management and reporting for quick and easy implementation.  You have the choice of configuring failover as automated or manual, based on your company's individual needs and processes.  If you select manual failover, you can use the web tool to initiate failover.  You also have the option to enable secure remote user access if a complete site outage occurs.  Once your primary server is repaired or replaced, CA Instant Recovery On Demand can replicate back (failback) to the primary site to continue normal operations. 

Q: Does CA Instant Recovery On Demand offer tape backup as an additional service?

A: CA Instant Recovery On Demand does not currently offer tape backup.  If you require backup, you must perform it at your primary site.  Backup cannot be performed remotely using the replica environment. 

Q: How are other customers prevented from accessing my replica data at the DR data center?

A: Each replication environment is set up inside an isolated network and virtual environment so that no two replication environments may talk directly to each other. 

Q: Can CA Instant Recovery on Demand help to support any specific industry regulations for regulatory compliance?

A: Certain regulatory requirements have a section pertaining to disaster recovery and emergency operations. For example:

Q: How is CA Instant Recovery On Demand different from CA XOsoft software products like CA XOsoft Replication and CA XOsoft High Availability?

A: CA Instant Recovery On Demand is a turn-key hosted disaster recovery service offering while CA XOsoft Replication and High Availability are software products.  CA Instant Recovery On Demand includes all the software, hardware and professional services required for you to quickly and easily implement a complete disaster recovery solution without the need for a remote facility.  CA XOsoft software provides replication and high availability that requires you to install, manage and maintain the CA XOsoft software on all primary servers that require protection in addition to purchasing, installing managing and maintaining hardware and software at a remote disaster recovery data center or other remote location. 
Note: you may use CA XOsoft Replication and CA XOsoft High Availability with the replica server located at the same physical location as your primary server.  This is typically referred to as "local business continuity" solution.  This implementation only supports a server failure and is not recommended for disaster recovery as both your primary and replica servers are located together and are both vulnerable to the same risks. 

Q: When do I buy CA Instant Recovery On Demand instead of a CA XOsoft software solution?

A: CA Instant Recovery On Demand is positioned for small and medium organizations which may have limited IT resources and budget for a disaster recovery solution, or prefer a managed service solution to eliminate upfront capital expense, speedy implementation and reduce ongoing IT support.  Your organization with an appropriate budget, knowledgeable IT staff and existing multiple locations may prefer a software solution that you can manage and support yourselves, hence avoiding recurring services fees.  Additionally, CA XOsoft Replication and CA XOsoft High Availability software offers additional protection technology including CDP for continuous application and data protection with granular, "rewind" capability for any-point-in-time recovery as well as snapshots for periodic data protection between backups, in case of application of data corruption, not currently offered as part of CA Instant Recovery On Demand.