Sheetz recently performed the upgrade and replaced an x86 general-purpose backup server at a remote site with a second continuously available ftServer system. These changes allowed Sheetz to implement a feature [image-nocss] in its electronic payments software that splits live transaction loads between the two Stratus servers. Half of the transactions are sent to the resident server and the other half to the second server located 20 miles away.
Microsoft SQL Server data replication synchronizes all of the transaction data via simultaneous updates to both server databases.
"Noncash payment options account for the majority of our sales," said Randy Pielmeier, payments system administrator at Sheetz. "Reliable electronic funds transfers are crucial to our business. Stratus' rock-solid uptime assurance lets us confidently support more stores and new functionality."
Currently generating more than $5 billion in annual sales, the Altoona, Pa.-based chain of more than 380 stores in six states continues to add 25 new locations per year, building a per-store sales volume that is two to three-times greater than the industry average.
"The new ftServer systems deliver four times the performance of our earlier generation machine. This will enable us to keep up with our rapid growth, and set the stage to introduce Hyper-V virtualization in the future," said Pielmeier. "The new configuration also gives us a streamlined, higher performance and more resilient disaster recovery system that eliminates the need for a backup server."
The Stratus ftServer platform automatically prevents downtime and data loss for Microsoft Windows-based applications and databases. With its fault-tolerant, uptime technology, there is no need for application modification, specialized system management, proprietary systems or complex hardware and software configurations, Maynard, Mass.-based Stratus said.
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