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Evidian > Products > High Availability Software - Zero Extra Hardware > KVM: the simplest high availability cluster between two redundant servers without shared disk

KVM: the simplest high availability cluster between two redundant servers without shared disk

Evidian SafeKit - synchronous replication, automatic failover and load balancing of virtual machines

How to implement a Linux KVM cluster with the SafeKit software between two redundant servers without shared disk?

Replication and failover of virtual machines (VM)

A Linux KVM cluster with SafeKit

The solution for KVM

Evidian SafeKit brings high availability to KVM, the free hypervisor included in Linux, between two redundant servers.

This article explains how to implement quickly a KVM cluster without shared disk and without specific skills.

Several virtual machines can be replicated and can run on both Linux hypervisors with crossed replication and mutual takeover.

With this solution, there is no need to configure restart scripts and define virtual IP addresses for each application.

A generic product

Note that SafeKit is a generic product on Windows and Linux.

You can implement with the SafeKit product real-time replication and failover of any file directory and service, database, complete Hyper-V or KVM virtual machines, Docker, Podman, K3S, Cloud applications (see the module list).

Partners, the success with SafeKit

This platform agnostic solution is ideal for a partner reselling a critical application and who wants to provide a redundancy and high availability option easy to deploy to many customers.

With many references in many countries won by partners, SafeKit has proven to be the easiest solution to implement for redundancy and high availability of building management, video management, access control, SCADA software...

Building Management Software (BMS)

Video Management Software (VMS)

Electronic Access Control Software (EACS)

SCADA Software (Industry)

How the SafeKit mirror cluster works with KVM?

The following steps are described for one virtual machine (VM) inside one mirror module. Each replicated VM runs in an independent mirror module with a primary server that can be either the KVM server 1 or the KVM server 2.

Step 1. Real-time replication

Server 1 (PRIM) runs one VM. SafeKit replicates in real time the VM files (virtual hard disk, VM configuration). Only changes made in the files are replicated across the network.

File replication at byte level in a KVM mirror cluster

The replication is synchronous with no data loss on failure contrary to asynchronous replication.

You just have to configure the VM directory name in SafeKit. There are no pre-requisites on disk organization. The directory may be located in the system disk.

Step 2. Automatic failover

When Server 1 fails, Server 2 takes over. SafeKit restarts the VM on Server 2. KVM finds the files replicated by SafeKit uptodate on Server 2. 

The VM continues to run on Server 2 by locally modifying its files that are no longer replicated to Server 1.

Failover in a KVM mirror cluster

The failover time is equal to the fault-detection time (set to 30 seconds by default) plus the VM reboot time. 

Step 3. Automatic failback

Failback involves restarting Server 1 after fixing the problem that caused it to fail. SafeKit automatically resynchronizes the VM files.

Failback in a KVM mirror cluster

This reintegration takes place without disturbing the VM, which can continue running on Server 2.

Step 4. Back to normal

After reintegration, the VM files are once again in mirror mode, as in step 1. The system is back in high-availability mode, with the VM running on Server 2 and SafeKit replicating updates to Server 1.

Passive active KVM mirror cluster with data replication

If the administrator wishes the VM to run on Server 1, he/she can execute a "swap" command either manually at an appropriate time, or automatically through configuration.

Choose between redundancy at the application level or at the virtual machine level

Redundancy at the application level

In this type of solution, only application data are replicated. And only the application is restared in case of failure.

Application HA - redundancy at the application level

With this solution, restart scripts must be written to restart the application.

We deliver application modules to implement redundancy at the application level. They are preconfigured for well known applications and databases. You can customize them with your own services, data to replicate, application checkers. And you can combine application modules to build advanced multi-level architectures.

This solution is platform agnostic and works with applications inside physical machines, virtual machines, in the Cloud. Any hypervisor is supported (VMware, Hyper-V...).

  • Solution for a new application (restart scripts to write): Windows, Linux

Redundancy at the virtual machine level

In this type of solution, the full Virtual Machine (VM) is replicated (Application + OS). And the full VM is restarted in case of failure.

VM HA - redundancy at the virtual machine level

The advantage is that there is no restart scripts to write per application and no virtual IP address to define. If you do not know how the application works, this is the best solution.

This solution works with Windows/Hyper-V and Linux/KVM but not with VMware. This is an active/active solution with several virtual machines replicated and restarted between two nodes.

More comparison between VM HA vs Application HA

Typical usage with SafeKit

Why a replication of a few Tera-bytes?

Resynchronization time after a failure (step 3)

  • 1 Gb/s network ≈ 3 Hours for 1 Tera-bytes.
  • 10 Gb/s network ≈ 1 Hour for 1 Tera-bytes or less depending on disk write performances.

Alternative

Why a replication < 1,000,000 files?

  • Resynchronization time performance after a failure (step 3).
  • Time to check each file between both nodes.

Alternative

  • Put the many files to replicate in a virtual hard disk / virtual machine.
  • Only the files representing the virtual hard disk / virtual machine will be replicated and resynchronized in this case.

Why a failover < 25 replicated VMs?

  • Each VM runs in an independent mirror module.
  • Maximum of 25 mirror modules running on the same cluster.

Alternative

  • Use an external shared storage and another VM clustering solution.
  • More expensive, more complex.

Why a LAN/VLAN network between remote sites?

Alternative

  • Use a load balancer for the virtual IP address if the 2 nodes are in 2 subnets (supported by SafeKit, especially in the cloud).
  • Use backup solutions with asynchronous replication for high latency network.

SafeKit free trial + mirror module for KVM + quick installation guide

SafeKit Modules for Plug&Play Redundancy and High Availability Solutions

Advanced clustering architectures

Several modules can be deployed on the same cluster. Thus, advanced clustering architectures can be implemented:

Demonstrations of Redundancy and High Availability Solutions

SafeKit Overview

Examples of redundancy and high availability solutions with SafeKit.

Full training here

Microsoft SQL Server Cluster

This video shows a mirror module configuration with synchronous real-time replication and failover.

The file replication and the failover are configured for Microsoft SQL Server but it works in the same manner for other databases.

Free trial here

Apache Cluster

This video shows a farm module configuration with load balancing and failover.

The load balancing and the failover are configured for Apache but it works in the same manner for other web services.

Free trial here

Hyper-V Cluster

This video shows a Hyper-V cluster with full replications of virtual machines.

Virtual machines can run on both Hyper-V servers and they are restarted in case of failure.

Free trial here

SafeKit Customers in all Business Activities

  • Best high availability use cases with SafeKit

    Best use cases [+]

  • High availability of video management, access control, building management with SafeKit

    Video management, access control, building management [+]

  • Harmonic has deployed more than 80 SafeKit clusters for TV broadcasting

    TV broadcasting [+]

  • Natixis uses SafeKit as a high availability solution for banking applications

    Finance [+]

  • Fives Syleps implements high availability with SafeKit for automated logistics

    Industry [+]

  • Air traffic control systems supplier, Copperchase, deploys SafeKit high availability in airports.

    Air traffic control [+]

  • Software vendor Wellington IT deploys SafeKit in banks

    Bank [+]

  • Paris transport company (RATP) chose the SafeKit high availability for metro lines

    Transport [+]

  • Systel deploys SafeKit in emergency call centers

    Healthcare [+]

  • ERP high availability and load balancing of the French army (DGA) are made with SafeKit.

    Government [+]

Redundancy and High Availability Differentiators against Competition

SafeKit Technical Documentation

SafeKit Training

Introduction

  1. Overview / pptx

    • Demonstration
    • Examples of redundancy and high availability solution
    • Evidian SafeKit sold in many different countries with Milestone
    • 2 solutions: virtual machine or application cluster
    • Distinctive advantages
    • More information on the web site
    • SafeKit training
  2. Competition / pptx

    • Cluster of virtual machines
    • Mirror cluster
    • Farm cluster

Installation, Console, CLI

  1. Install and setup / pptx
    • Package installation
    • Nodes setup
    • Upgrade
  2. Web console / pptx
    • Cluster configuration
    • Configuration tab
    • Control tab
    • Monitor tab
    • Advanced Configuration tab
  3. Command line / pptx
    • Configure the SafeKit cluster
    • Configure a SafeKit module
    • Control commands

Advanced configuration

  1. Mirror module / pptx
    • start_prim / stop_prim scripts
    • userconfig.xml
    • Heartbeat (<hearbeat>)
    • Virtual IP address (<vip>)
    • Real-time file replication (<rfs>)
    • How real-time file replication works?
    • Mirror's states in action
  2. Farm  module / pptx
    • start_both / stop_both scripts
    • userconfig.xml
    • Farm heartbeats (<farm>)
    • Virtual IP address (<vip>)
    • Farm's states in action
  1. Checkers / pptx
    • userconfig.xml
    • errd checker
    • intf and ip checkers
    • custom checker
    • splitbrain checker for a mirror module
    • tcp, ping, module checkers
    • Checkers in action

Troubleshooting

  1. Troubleshooting / pptx
    • Analyze yourself the logs
    • Running an application without SafeKit
    • Take snapshots for support
    • Boot / shutdown
    • Web console / Command lines
    • Mirror / Farm / Checkers

Support

  1. Evidian support / pptx
    • Get permanent license key
    • Register on support.evidian.com
    • Call desk