Date: September 2, 2010 (reposted with correction regarding 2008 R2 being a requirement – specifically R2)
2010 has been a busy year for the ImageSilo engineering team. Network upgrades, complete replacement of the server infrastructure, storage expansions… Needless to say, we never cease our continual improvements and expansions of the systems and infrastructure that give you access to “Any Document – Anywhere – Anytime®.”
To those ends, beginning in October, we will be upgrading the storage systems (SANs) that provide the backend storage for our SQL database clusters. To minimize any customer impact (maintenance windows), this will require building entirely new SQL database clusters which are attached to the new storage systems. We will take this opportunity to build the new clusters using Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2, whereas previously we were running Microsoft SQL Server 2005. Our engineering team takes an extremely conservative approach to our infrastructure and believes that, with SQL Server 2008 having been commercially available for over two years, it is now proven stable enough for the rigorous requirements of ImageSilo.
Around mid-October, we will begin transitioning all the databases from the old clusters to the new clusters. There is no need to contact ImageSilo Administration regarding the specific dates; when it comes time to transition specific databases, we will notify the affected customers. Once the databases have been moved, the new Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 servers will be providing the backup services that produce the database backup files that are used for Data Delivery. Since the system generating the new database backups is Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2, Data Delivery customers will need to be running at least SQL Server 2008 R2 or later in order to restore the backups provided as part of the Data Delivery service. Neither Microsoft SQL Server 2005 nor Microsoft SQL Server 2008 (non-R2) will be able to restore these backups. We are providing this notification at this time in order to provide Data Delivery customers ample opportunity to upgrade to the necessary version of Microsoft SQL Server. We encourage them to upgrade immediately. Rest assured that Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 is compatible with the Data Delivery database backups currently being provided.
The upgrade options for Microsoft SQL Server 2005 to Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 are numerous. One of the most enticing options is use of the free Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 Express Edition. This latest free version, which is included on our newest product DVD’s and can be downloaded from http://www.microsoft.com/express/Database/, has an increased database storage limit of 10 GB (previously limited to 4 GB). If your needs exceed the limitations of the free Express Edition, additional information about other editions and upgrade options can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/sqlserver/2008/en/us/default.aspx.
We are excited about these upcoming database system upgrades which will provide improved customer experience, better fault tolerance, enhanced security, increased management capabilities, and superior backup processing. If you, or anybody on your team, have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact the ImageSilo Administration team.
We appreciate your business and work hard every day to earn it.
ImageSilo Administration
866.374.3569 (303.493.6900)
siloadmin@imagesilo.com
