The Datacenter High Availability Program
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On This Page
 | Introduction |
| Qualified Datacenter Configurations |
| Assessments |
| Change Management |
| Configuration Audits |
| Summary |
Introduction
The Datacenter High Availability Program complements the Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2 Datacenter Edition operating system. The Datacenter High Availability Program has a unique support and services model built for customers with mission-critical server requirements, where reliability and uptime are an absolute requirement.
The Windows Datacenter High Availability Program consists of the following four components:
1. | The Windows Server 2003 Datacenter Edition or Windows 2000 Datacenter Server |
2. | Qualified Datacenter configurations that meet stringent requirements and have been tested by the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) with the operating system and shown to be highly reliable |
3. | Certified Datacenter Support Providers (DSPs) |
4. | The High Availability Support Program to ensure maximum uptime for applications |
By implementing solutions built from these key components, Microsoft and its partners are helping customers achieve predictable and manageable systems running their mission critical business applications. The key customer scenarios for the Datacenter High Availability Program include:
| • | Large databases |
| • | High volume real-time transaction processing |
| • | Server consolidation and large-scale virtualization |
| • | ERP, line of business, and custom applications |
| • | Massive file and print servers |
Windows Server 2003 R2 Datacenter Edition
Windows Server 2003 R2 Datacenter Edition is optimized for enterprises requiring the highest levels of scalability, reliability, and virtualization. Key features include:
| • | x86 (32-bit), x64 (64-bit), IA64 (64-bit) versions |
| • | Support for 2 TB of RAM (64-bit versions, SP2) |
| • | Support for 1 TB of RAM (64-bit versions, SP1) |
| • | Support for 128 GB of RAM (32-bit version) |
| • | Multiprocessor support: scalable to up to 64 processors (64-bit versions) |
| • | Intel Hyper-Threading support |
| • | Symmetric multi-processing (SMP) support: 64-way (64-bit versions) and 32-way (32-bit version) |
Non-Uniform Memory Access (NUMA) support
Cluster service for up to 8-node clusters
| • | Windows Sockets: Direct access for SANs |
| • | Terminal Services Session Directory |
| • | Windows System Resource Manager (WSRM) |
Note: There is a SKU for 128 processors, but the largest single partition is 64 processors.
License Model
The Datacenter High Availability Program is only available to customers through qualified OEMS.
The x86/32-bit and x64/64-bit versions are available through Volume Licensing agreements from Microsoft resellers and account managers, however, only servers purchased from OEMs are eligible for the Windows Datacenter High Availability Program due to the integrated testing and support.
Similar to Standard Edition and Enterprise Edition, the licensing model for Windows Server 2003 R2 Datacenter Edition consists of two components: a server license and client access licenses (CALs).
As in the other editions, Datacenter Edition requires Windows CALs for users or devices to access or use the server software.
Unlike the other editions, Windows Server 2003 R2 Datacenter Edition server licenses are based on and depend upon the number of processors that exist within the hardware platform. The minimum hardware requirement is one processor, requiring a two-processor capable machine when purchased through an OEM. After the first two processors, the licenses are issued in increments of one processor up to a maximum of 128 processors.
Because partitioning of a Datacenter Edition system is supported logically at both a licensing level and physical level, you are not required to obtain more Datacenter Edition server licenses than the total number of processors on that server. You are also entitled to have multiple copies of Datacenter Edition on a single machine.
In addition to the software license, Windows Server 2003 R2 Datacenter Edition has two maintenance subscriptions available from the OEMs to provide software updates tested and certified by the OEMs.
| • | The Update Subscription Service provides you with access to version releases, supplements, and service packs. The update subscription is available on a monthly or yearly basis, and you must continue to renew the subscription with your OEM to obtain the benefits it provides. |
| • | The Maintenance Subscription option allows you to get service packs, but not new version releases. |
You may choose not to purchase either maintenance service; however, without either service you will not have access to version releases, supplements, or service packs, which are tested and provided by the OEM. You have the opportunity to pay previous subscription dues if you do not purchase the update subscription initially, but choose to subscribe at a later time.
Qualified Datacenter Configurations
The Enterprise Qualification Program (EQP) has been developed to provide customers with a list of qualified servers that have been thoroughly tested and proven to be highly reliable for the highest planned uptime. The EQP includes a qualification process, which extends the current hardware compatibility requirements from Microsoft. Datacenter configurations that have met the rigorous standards of the EQP are included in the Datacenter Hardware Compatibility List (HCL). The EQP process ensures all server components are tested together in a high-usage environment. A customer's configuration must be qualified to be eligible for support.
The Role of Windows Hardware Quality Labs
Windows Hardware Quality Labs (WHQL) exist to ensure that OEMs produce quality hardware and software that interacts efficiently and optimally with Microsoft products. OEM products must pass the appropriate Hardware Compatibility Test (HCT). If successful, they are placed on the HCL, and receive the Designed for Windows logo. The Windows logo on hardware products lets customers know the products meet Microsoft standards for compatibility with Windows operating systems. Hardware intended for use with Windows Server 2003 R2 Datacenter Edition must be designed to the specifications of the Hardware Design Guide for Windows Server 2003 R2 and the companion Server Design FAQ.
Customers who receive servers validated by the EQP know that they are receiving a complete configuration that has been rigorously tested with all hardware components and kernel-level software products. Only OEMs who are willing to conduct extra testing and configuration control, and who can provide comprehensive customer support programs, will distribute and provide EQP validated servers with Windows Server 2003 R2 Datacenter Edition. The result is a highly reliable and dependable server. The testing that OEMs must undertake ensures the customer that the following components will work smoothly on servers running Windows Server 2003 R2 Datacenter Edition:
| • | All hardware components |
| • | All hardware drivers |
| • | All software that works at the kernel level, including virus software, disk and tape management, backup software, and similar types of software |
Reliable components are the foundation for reliable servers. Consequently, any changes that OEMs make to the server configuration or drivers will require rerunning EQP tests and resubmitting the results to WHQL.
Note: Device drivers not covered by the Windows Logo Program are not signed and will not be checked for signatures.
Certified Datacenter Support Providers
A Datacenter Support Provider (DSP) is a Microsoft certified partner that meets requirements unique to supporting Datacenter Server customers. The DSP is committed to providing 24x7x365 support within the customer's region, has a process in place to escalate issues to the OEM or Microsoft, tracks Datacenter customer issues, assists with verification and change management process, and offers a minimum 99.9 percent uptime promise. The DSP can be the OEM or another company designated by the OEM to support their Datacenter High Availability Program servers.
Minimum 99.9 Percent Uptime Guarantee. The DSPs offer a service that guarantees system availability at the operating system level of 99.9 percent uptime. Clustered environments can be used to increased system uptime.
Support Services
The Datacenter High Availability (HA) Program consists of proactive and reactive support services.
| • | The proactive services include assessments, change management, and configuration audits. |
| • | The reactive services include 24x7x365 support, partner notifications and triggers, and the Microsoft High Availability Resolution Queue (HARQ): a Microsoft support program that provides 24x7x365 access to Microsoft support. |
Assessments
The Configuration Audit Test (CAT) is part of the assessment process that occurs at the customer site prior to the Datacenter configuration being used in a production environment. The CAT test is a program included with Windows Server 2003 Datacenter Edition. Your DSP can assist in performing the configuration audit.
Change Management
The change control service is a process to ensure coordinated delivery of hardware and software updates as a single re-qualified system Datacenter HCL system. The change control service must provide a way for a customer to move and/or update their system from one Datacenter HCL qualified configuration to the next on a periodic basis.
Configuration Audits
Ensuring that the initial configuration and kernel drivers remain intact is a key part of this program. Windows Server 2003 R2 Datacenter Edition is distributed with a file that reflects the server configuration including BIOS and hardware component firmware revision levels. The configuration-checking tool detects any changes to the original tested configuration and displays a message detailing the differences.
Summary
The Datacenter High Availability Program ensures that enterprise customers get the support and services they need to keep Datacenter Edition deployments up and running at peak performance.