High Availability Clustering Solution

Cobalt's StaQware clustering software is designed to enhance the reliability of applications and Web sites hosted on Cobalt RaQ 3i Server Appliances.

By Wayne Kawamoto

Cobalt Networks recently announced Cobalt StaQware, a high-availability clustering solution that promises to ensure the uptime of business critical Web sites and applications, is easy to set-up and administer, and costs $999.

StaQware was designed to provide constant uptime reliability, real-time content replication and full data and hardware redundancy. According to Cobalt, StaQware, which runs on Cobalt's RaQ 3i server appliances, offers 99.99 percent availability and requires no customization or modification to applications.

Cobalt says that StaQware's automatic real-time data mirroring ensures the safety of the data that resides on the Cobalt RaQ 3i server appliance so the data is not vulnerable to hardware faults, power failure, operator error, software crashes and other causes of server failure. StaQware was designed to ensure that data and Web-based applications are constantly available. It's supposed to continuously monitor the status of the server installation and ensure that a standby server appliance is available to assume the role of the primary if the primary server fails.

In the event that the primary Cobalt RaQ 3i server appliance experiences difficulty, the company claims that the hot standby server appliance automatically takes on the role as the primary server appliance with all hardware and software intact, which eliminates downtime for critical Web sites and applications.

Cobalt StaQware also offers a turnkey user interface setup that is common to all Cobalt server appliances. StaQware was designed to install in minutes and, according to the company, requires no training or advanced knowledge of cluster technologies. The company also claims that users have full control and cluster status through the Web-based user interface, and this interface enables rapid deployment and management of a cluster while freeing time to respond to new customer inquiries.

"Service providers must be able to expand their service offerings while ensuring solid reliability, simplicity and affordability to their customers," said Kelly Herrell, vice president of marketing, Cobalt Networks, Inc. "Cobalt StaQware offers service providers a means to deliver highly reliable and affordable dedicated Web and application hosting services that their customers are seeking."

Pricing and Availability
Cobalt StaQware is available now with a suggested retail price of $999. The software runs on two Cobalt RaQ 3i appliances.

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