Overview of Precisely Assure MIMIX™ Software on Skytap VMs

You can install Precisely Assure MIMIX™ Software to enable HA/DR support for Skytap IBM i VMs in Skytap on Azure. Precisely Assure MIMIX™ Software support requires two Skytap IBM i VMs: a production or source VM and a backup or target VM. Assure MIMIX™ Software replicates data between the production and backup VMs and allows these roles to be reversed so that the backup VM becomes the production VM. The software includes three major components:

  • Precisely Assure MIMIX™ Software – Provides IBM i data replication.
  • Precisely License Manager – Manages Precisely product installations, license keys and product level security.
  • Precisely Assure Unified Interface (AUI) – Displays a Assure MIMIX™ Software web interface server.

Supported topologies

The Precisely Assure MIMIX™ Software package currently only supports two-node configurations that exist on Skytap VMs. This includes a completely new instance of Assure MIMIX™ Software or a Assure MIMIX™ Software instance that has been transferred to Skytap VMs. More information about these supported topologies is included below.

New Precisely Assure MIMIX™ Software instance on Skytap VMs

In new Precisely Assure MIMIX™ Software instance, Assure MIMIX™ Software will be installed on a Skytap production VM and a backup/DR VM where no Assure MIMIX™ Software installation existed previously. Customer applications may or may not be already installed on the production VM. A default Assure MIMIX™ Software configuration based on system replication best practices is created to replicate common operating system level elements. You’ll need to define additional configuration to replicate customer applications.

To install Precisely Assure MIMIX™ Software, see Installing Precisely Assure MIMIX™ Software on Skytap VMs.

Migrated Assure MIMIX™ Software instance moved to Skytap VMs

If you have previously migrated an LPAR with a billed instance of Assure MIMIX™ Software from your on-prem datacenter into Skytap, don’t check the Enable Assure MIMIX™ Software for IBM i checkbox. Doing so could cause you to be double-billed for this instance of Assure MIMIX™ Software

In an existing, on-prem Assure MIMIX™ Software instance moved to Skytap VMs, Assure MIMIX™ Software has been previously installed and configured to replicate applications on one or two non-Skytap LPARs and have been transferred to Skytap VMs. The installation process will retain the configuration and adjust it to establish communication. The following additional best practice adjustments are made:

  • Both systems are set to Assure MIMIX™ Software management (*MGT) systems.
  • Assure MIMIX™ Software Data Protection Reports (DPR) are enabled on both production and backup systems.
  • Transfer definitions are adjusted to the specified host and port names.
  • Secure sockets (TLS/SSL) are used for AUI connections.

Skytap may support other topologies in the future. If your implementation plans do not meet the supported topologies mentioned above, please contact your next level of support.

Assure MIMIX™ Software license keys

The Precisely Assure MIMIX™ Software package includes Assure MIMIX™ Software license keys, which you typically won’t have to manage. These keys will work in the Skytap IBM i environment even if the VMs are moved. However, you must enable HA/DR support on the Skytap VM for Assure MIMIX™ Software to run. Assure MIMIX™ Software license keys will refresh automatically if the Skytap HA/DR support is still enabled.

Precisely Assure MIMIX™ Software billing

Precisely Assure MIMIX™ Software billing is based on Entitled Capacity per month.

Monthly is the only billing option for Precisely Assure MIMIX™ Software. Hourly billing is not available.