Hardware Upgrades Offer Critical Juncture for IBM i High Availability and Disaster Recovery Planning
Organizations currently undertaking hardware refreshes are uniquely positioned to reassess and possibly modernize their IBM i high availability (HA) and disaster recovery (DR) strategies, industry experts say. As companies invest in new infrastructure, evaluating existing HA/DR solutions alongside these upgrades can unlock significant benefits in resilience, cost-efficiency, and future-proofing.
For businesses reliant on the IBM i platform – a cornerstone of many core business operations – downtime can translate directly into lost revenue, damaged reputation, and compliance issues. A proactive review of HA/DR during a hardware refresh allows organizations to align their protection strategies with evolving threats, cloud adoption, and the increasing complexity of modern IT environments.This is particularly relevant as legacy solutions may not fully leverage newer technologies or integrate seamlessly with cloud-based DR options.
Maxava, a provider of HA/DR solutions for IBM i, emphasizes the importance of this timing. According to the company, changing HA/DR software isn’t the arduous task many believe. They’ve actively addressed common concerns surrounding migration, highlighting that end-to-end replication capabilities simplify the process.
the shift towards software-based HA/DR solutions is gaining traction, offering adaptability and cost advantages over traditional hardware-centric approaches. A case study published in July 2022 detailed the benefits of this software-defined approach. Moreover, utilizing the public cloud for IBM i disaster recovery is becoming increasingly viable, as explored in an article from February 2023.
Modernization of monitoring tools is also a key consideration. An April 2022 piece questioned why organizations haven’t modernized legacy monitoring, suggesting that improved visibility is crucial for proactive issue resolution and optimized performance. Maxava’s monitor Mi8, discussed in articles from February 2022 and February 2028, is positioned as a solution that leverages cloud technologies to enhance monitoring capabilities.
Recent appointments at Maxava in July 2024 signal a renewed focus on leadership and strategic growth within the HA/DR space. The company has been expanding its global reach, adding new products and users as November 2018. Fully managed disaster recovery options for IBM i partners were also highlighted in July 2023, demonstrating a trend towards outsourced and simplified DR solutions.
