Reply to: This week I will be....

[darmstadt]

I've seen these at various events, IBM, Sun and HP, but never in action. The only DR I've been involved in with a truck was during the hurricanes in Florida where the main server was put into the back of a pickup and riven out of the area to somewhere safe

Sungard DR truck

IBM DR truck

The best DR exercise I was involved in took the following steps:

- backup system to tape
- draw straws to see who would perform the DR
- pack tapes into bag
- take taxi to Frankfurt airport
- take plane to Rome
- take taxi to Frascati
- hand tapes over to remote site personal
- sit in cafe on beachside drinking wine while they brought up the DR system

I also setup the DR system for Porsche, which was...interesting. I've been involved in a number of companies DR plans and it still amazes me how many don't have either a real DR plan in existence or if they do, then they haven't implemented it fully, ever.

[vwdan]

HP container solution is a PR stunt. There is a reason for using DC to host your IT infrastructure - resilience, connectivity, security, etc. all of them are lacking in the truck solution. Normally a DR site contains the most important portion of the company data, how do you secure that in a truck sitting in a parking lot? How do you refresh it without being connected to a fast broadband? In the event of disaster how do you consume the data without fast broadband? I can't see a single advantage of such solution over a DR site in a DC on the other side of the planet. Maybe i'm missing something.

You're missing that not everything is "data based", for a start. I'm not saying PC's DR solution is a good one - but how can we possibly comment without knowing what it's got to achieve and what they have to work with?

And why do you assume we need "fast broadband" to do everything? Most IT functions worked fine for a long time without fast internet - it's obviously not optimal, but that's all part of the risk/reward balance.

[sal]

Joking aside, not really. It's all a cost/reward calculation isn't it, and we know nothing of PC's client. For example, many years ago, I got the chance to play with a West Midlands Ambulance Service "MEOC" unit which is a "Mobile Emergency Operations Centre" which, well, kinda does what it says on the tin. They use them for major incidents or if the emergency centre needs evacuating, is damaged, etc etc.

And HP have been doing ISO container based DC solutions for ages. Not their primary intention, I don't think, but nothing stopping you from having one on standby ready to be chucked on the back of a truck.

HP container solution is a PR stunt. There is a reason for using DC to host your IT infrastructure - resilience, connectivity, security, etc. all of them are lacking in the truck solution. Normally a DR site contains the most important portion of the company data, how do you secure that in a truck sitting in a parking lot? How do you refresh it without being connected to a fast broadband? In the event of disaster how do you consume the data without fast broadband? I can't see a single advantage of such solution over a DR site in a DC on the other side of the planet. Maybe i'm missing something.

[vetran]

If you need to talk about a DR solution but never put it into practice then there is only one person capable. Better call SY01 !

FTFY

[Bunk]

If you need a DR solution then there is only one person capable. Better call SY01 !

Surely you only call him if you want to test your DR solution?

[FiveTimes]

If you need a DR solution then there is only one person capable. Better call SY01 !

[vetran]

You're all missing the point.

Sending PC out to go and sit in a carpark, locked in a truck with free wifi is HOW they intend to recover from the disaster.

meow!

[Pondlife]

You're all missing the point.

Sending PC out to go and sit in a carpark, locked in a truck with free wifi is HOW they intend to recover from the disaster.

[vwdan]

Sounds like a scene from Doomsday prepers

I'm curious how is the truck connected to the internet and how is the security managed...

The whole notion seems like a brainchild of a mad CIO

Joking aside, not really. It's all a cost/reward calculation isn't it, and we know nothing of PC's client. For example, many years ago, I got the chance to play with a West Midlands Ambulance Service "MEOC" unit which is a "Mobile Emergency Operations Centre" which, well, kinda does what it says on the tin. They use them for major incidents or if the emergency centre needs evacuating, is damaged, etc etc.

And HP have been doing ISO container based DC solutions for ages. Not their primary intention, I don't think, but nothing stopping you from having one on standby ready to be chucked on the back of a truck.

[vetran]

The whole notion seems like a brainchild of a mad CIO

OSQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4CGzeUW7To

great film, poor acting totally eclipsed by the sequel which brought more wood into the profession than Cuprinol.

[sal]

DR = Disaster Recovery

You know - they turn up in a truck with servers in etc. and its used in the event of a disaster.

Sounds like a scene from Doomsday prepers

I'm curious how is the truck connected to the internet and how is the security managed...

The whole notion seems like a brainchild of a mad CIO

[fullyautomatix]

Makes a change from yet another thread moaning about the client or moaning about the amount of JSA you are entitled to.

[psychocandy]

DR = Disaster Recovery

You know - they turn up in a truck with servers in etc. and its used in the event of a disaster.

Either that or my 2nd job as asda delivery driver....

[d000hg]

Annoying how catchy that is... not one you want to be caught singing to yourself

[vetran]

Ah, he's a truck driver. Don't get many of those on here.

NLYUK does apparently, reckons they are better behaved than IT contractors.