For IT groups that manage more than just a few physical servers, deploying, provisioning and recovering servers is time consuming and resource intensive. Bringing a new server online or restoring a server can take several hours. Administrators have to install and test the operating system, any patches and the appropriate applications—all while the server is offline. Plus, storing a full boot image for each server can consume significant disk capacity.
Dell Compellent Server Instant Replay leverages snapshot technology to create space-efficient boot volumes that share a common base image for multiple servers. Only characteristics unique to each server consume disk space beyond that of the base image, expediting server deployment and offloading boot processes from the host to the array. If a server fails, users can simply mount the boot volume to a hot spare and quickly bring the application back online.
Server Instant Replay is particularly useful for virtualized server environments, where one gold image can be used to deploy hundreds of virtual machines simultaneously in a matter of minutes. Organizations can also leverage Server Instant Replay for non-production software testing environments. Using pristine snapshot-based clones, users can test upgrades and patches on real datasets without disruption or risk.
Key Benefits
- Rapidly deploy multiple servers using snapshot-based boot volumes stored on the SAN
- Boot servers directly from the SAN, consolidating hardware, saving power and reducing the data center footprint
- Recover from server failure in minutes by mounting the boot volume to a hot spare or any physical host
- Roll out hundreds of virtual machines simultaneously in minutes using a gold image complete with operating system and applications
- Create a risk-free software testing environment using space-efficient, snapshot-based clones
