Hardware advantages and disadvantages

Overview

This documents outlines the benefits and downsides of a PINsafe Hardware installation.

For comparison of the Software Installation see Software Install advantages and disadvantages

For comparison of the VM Installation see VM advantages and disadvantages

Advantages

Supported platform for PINsafe deployment

Simple Command Management Interface (CMI) for all OS functions

Testing and support tools in CMI

Management of regular backups and off server backup storage

Appliance upgrades, patches and bug fixes

MySQL DB on appliance gives resilience and scalability

Proxy port for graphical images from the PINsafe appliance gives an additional layer of security

Management port separated from graphical image port for security

VIP on appliances allow failover on appliances on the same IP broadcast subnet

Session sharing of graphical Single Channel image between a pair of PINsafe servers on the same IP multicast network, configurable through CMI

Worldwide support of hardware through Dell Support network

Replacement hardware required in event of hardware failure

Deployment Considerations

For the Hardware Appliance Specification see Hardware Appliance Specification

High Availability

If a HA solution is required, it is better to deploy this the HA solution initially. Moving from a standalone installation to a Active/Active-DR solution requires replacing the standalone solution. It would however be possible to deploy one half of an A/A solution to compete deployment at a later date.

Virtual IP Address

This allows a Virtual IP (VIP) address to move from a failed server to a working server. This requires both PINsafe servers to be on the same subnet.

Single Channel Session Sharing

When a single Channel Image request is made, the RADIUS or Agent-XML authentication needs to be made against the same PINsafe server. To allow authentication on a second PINsafe server then session sharing needs to be enabled. This requires that the PINsafe servers are allowed to communicate using multicast.

Next Step

See Getting Started Hardware Appliance