Press release: Evidian SafeKit 6.1 for Linux

The first software solution to allow disaster protection on Linux, SafeKit 6.1 enables real-time replication of critical data plus failover, helping to build disaster-proof Linux applications at a tenth of the price of dedicated hardware solutions

Paris, February 4, 2003: Evidian, a subsidiary of Groupe Bull specialized in secure e-business management software, today announced release 6.1 of SafeKit for Linux. This software is the adaptation to Linux of its SafeKit software solution for real-time replication of critical data, automatic failover and load balancing. SafeKit 6.1 makes it possible to make Linux servers and applications highly available and responsive, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

A broad range of functionality: from load balancing to disaster protection

SafeKit incorporates file mirroring functions to ensure real-time file replication between servers (such as transactional services and databases) across any standard LAN or WAN network. As a result, replication can be set up between remote transactional servers ensuring failover with additional protection from disasters. In addition, a patented single virtual IP address mechanism automatically distributes and balances the application load on as many Linux servers as needed, with a purely software solution installed on the servers themselves. Should any of the servers fail or need to be stopped for any reason (e.g., software, human or hardware error), the remaining servers automatically assume the whole traffic and processing load in less than 3 seconds, avoiding any end-user disruption.

The first software solution for disaster protection on Linux, at a tenth of the price of dedicated hardware solutions

In contrast with competing solutions on Linux, SafeKit does not require the use of dedicated hardware such as shared disk systems for the availability of critical data, or load dispatching boxes for load balancing:

• Compared to SANs, SafeKit does not require the purchase and deployment of specific disks and networks. Data availability is ensured by a file replication mechanism implemented over the standard network. SafeKit does not replicate all the databases over the network, but only the modifications made by applications inside files, thus respecting the integrity of files for application recovery. This approach has proven effective for small and medium sized databases (up to 100 Gigabytes).
• Compared to network load-dispatching boxes, SafeKit does not make it necessary to place supplementary boxes at each level in the chain of applications, (typically 2 boxes among the firewalls, 2 boxes among the web farm,...). On the contrary, SafeKit runs directly on the server side, with no need for extra hardware. Additionally, SafeKit is able to detect not only hardware but also software failures (application and OS) which are the most common, and restarts the server automatically. SafeKit therefore offers a more complete 24x7 failover solution.

A proven technology

SafeKit technology is particularly well adapted to small-to-medium servers and applications. With its Unix (AIX, Solaris) and Windows 2000 releases, it is already successfully at work on important mission-critical environments, such as the management application of the French interbanking network (GSIT) or information management applications at Hanover airport.

Availability - free try and buy

SafeKit is available as a ready-to-use toolkit, bundled in plug-and-play mode for applications such as web servers (Apache, IIS, Sun One, BEA WebLogic, Citrix NFuse), firewall (NetWall), databases (Oracle, LDAP, SQL),… Thanks to fast customization tools, integrators, in-house developers, ISVs and VARS can adapt SafeKit for use with any kind of new application in less than five days.

SafeKit supports Linux Redhat 7.3, Windows 2000, Solaris 7, 8, 9, AIX 4.3, 5.1 and HP-UX 11. SafeKit is available immediately with a one month try and buy, and can be downloaded from this site.