Conference decwet::networker

522.0. "Cluster client lic when upgrading NSR 3.1A to 3.2?" by HGOVC::EDMONDLEUNG () Mon Mar 24 1997 07:06

    Hi,
    
    I am trying to clarify a question from our customer on cluster client
    license. The situation is this customer has two 8400s running DUNIX
    V3.2C under a ASE V1.3 environment and there is another AlphaStation
    255 workstation which is being used as a Networker Server running NSR
    V3.1A with a TZ87 DLT tape drive. 
    
    This customer has ordered the NSR V3.1A NSR server lic for the
    AlphaServer 255 and two NSR client licenses for the two 8400s. Since
    NSR V3.1A did not support cluster (ASE), therefore, customer can backup
    the local disks for the AlphaStation 255, two 8400s. If they want to
    backup the shared disks in the ASE environment, they will copy the data
    from the shared disk data to the either one of the local disk and then
    do the backup. There is no problem under this situation.
    
    Now the problem came when the customer has tried to update the NSR V3.1A 
    to V3.2 (since they've joined the software maintenance and they
    received the new NSR software and license) which can support to backup 
    the services provided by ASE. After upgrade the NSR from V3.1A to V3. 2 
    and this customer tries to configure the two 8400s as the clients as
    before, they encounter problem since NSE discovers that the two 8400s
    are in the ASE cluster. Therefore, the cluster client licenses are
    required and the customer cannot configure these two 8400s as the
    normal clients as before even though they've purchased the NSR client
    licenses. 
    
    Here are the questions:
    1. Is this a MUST that the customer should buy the cluster client
    licenses for the two 8400s even though they just want to do the local
    disk data backup as mentioned above because of upgrading the NSR
    version?
    
    2. Since the customer has purchased the NSR client licenses for the two
    8400s, when they upgrade the NSR V3.1A to V3.2, what will these NSR
    client licenses for?
    
    3. This customer is complaining that they cannot configure the two
    8400s as the NSR client so that they cannot even do the local backup
    for the two 8400s. The fact is they don't want to pay extra momey to 
    purchase the Cluster Client licenses for the two 8400s because this new
    feature is only provided from NSR V3.2 which is new for them. What thsi
    custome can do If they just want to do the backup as before? Any
    suggestions? (Of course, this customer does not want to stay in the old
    version of NSR 3.1A. They want to use the later version)
    
    Thanks for any suggestions.
    Edmond
    
    8400s system after upgrading the NSR software to V3.2,      
    
    environment 

>    1. Is this a MUST that the customer should buy the cluster client
>    licenses for the two 8400s even though they just want to do the local
>    disk data backup as mentioned above because of upgrading the NSR
>    version?
    
  Yes.  The cluster client license is required to backup a cluster 
  system under NetWorker V3.2 and up.

>    2. Since the customer has purchased the NSR client licenses for the two
>    8400s, when they upgrade the NSR V3.1A to V3.2, what will these NSR
>    client licenses for?
    
  Unfortunately, there is no client -> cluster client upgrade path.

>    3. This customer is complaining that they cannot configure the two
>    8400s as the NSR client so that they cannot even do the local backup
>    for the two 8400s. The fact is they don't want to pay extra momey to 
>    purchase the Cluster Client licenses for the two 8400s because this new
>    feature is only provided from NSR V3.2 which is new for them. What thsi
>    custome can do If they just want to do the backup as before? Any
>    suggestions? (Of course, this customer does not want to stay in the old
>    version of NSR 3.1A. They want to use the later version)
    
  The cluster client provides the capability to backup the disk 
  services using the address of the disk service.  The files can be 
  recovered to the disk service regardless of which system is 
  currently hosting the service.  This is additional capability 
  that we believe it is reasonable to charge for.

I will forward this string to the product manager for comments.

Wes

>  The cluster client provides the capability to backup the disk 
>  services using the address of the disk service.  The files can be 
>  recovered to the disk service regardless of which system is 
>  currently hosting the service.  This is additional capability 
>  that we believe it is reasonable to charge for.

Of course we should charge for the additional features, but if you _only_ want
to backup the systemdisks? Should you be charged extra do use standard features?
I certainly don't think so.

/Claes