Arcfra AECP 6.3 Tech Insights: Stretched Cluster (Active-Active) vs. Synchronous Replication
Arcfra Enterprise Cloud Platform (AECP) v6.3 introduces VM-level synchronous replication (RPO=0) capabilities in Arcfra Backup & Disaster Recovery (ABDR). This feature enables synchronous data writing between source and target sites, ensuring replica consistency and providing real-time dual-write capabilities with strong consistency guarantees at the virtual machine level.
While previous AECP versions have supported Stretched Clusters (Active-Active), this new Synchronous Replication capability offers distinct advantages. The following table provides a detailed technical comparison.
Stretched Cluster (Active-Active) vs. Synchronous Replication
| Feature | Mainstream Stretched Cluster (Including AECP Active-Active) | AECP Synchronous Replication |
|---|---|---|
| Protection Granularity | Cluster-level (Critical and non-critical workloads must be deployed together) | VM-level (Protects critical workloads selectively) |
| Network Requirements | Requires stable, low-latency L2 network | Supports L3 networks; tolerates certain levels of latency |
| Network Fault Tolerance | ❌ Network anomalies may trigger global failover | ✅ Supports latency tolerance; manual failover per object |
| Fault Domain Isolation | ❌ Sites function as a single logical cluster; no isolation | ✅ Production and DR clusters are completely independent |
| Management Platform | Single control plane (Single AOC management) | Supports single or dual control planes (Single/Cross-AOC) |
| Erasure Coding (EC) | ❌ Supports 3-replica mode only | ✅ Supports custom EC/Replica policies |
| Failover Mechanism | Automatic | Manual |
| Recovery Time Objective (RTO) | Unplanned: Automatic failover trigger (minutes) Planned: RTO = 0 | Unplanned: Manual failover trigger (5+ minutes) Planned: Minutes |
| Oracle RAC Support | ✅ Supports shared volumes | ❌ Currently unsupported |
| Deployment Flexibility | Requires symmetrical resource deployment | Supports on-demand, flexible resource deployment |
Use Cases
Stretched Cluster (Active-Active)
Best suited for core systems requiring maximum business continuity:
- Zero-Interruption Requirements: Ideal for scenarios needing automatic failover and ultra-low RTO (minute-level or less).
- Cluster-Aware Applications: Applications like Oracle RAC that rely on shared storage or multi-node coordination.
- Mature Infrastructure: Requires stable, low-latency inter-site networking and sufficient resource investment.
Synchronous Replication
Best suited for critical workloads balancing data security with cost efficiency:
- Zero Data Loss with Tolerable Downtime: Provides RPO=0 protection where manual intervention during failover is acceptable.
- Optimized Resource Investment: Allows for selective protection of critical workloads without requiring a full Active-Active deployment.
- Flexible Network Conditions: Supports L3 networking and is resilient to latency and jitter.
- Architectural Agility: Enables independent planning of production and DR resources, allowing for an evolutionary approach to disaster recovery.
Learn more about performance leap and upgraded features in AECP 6.3 from our latest blogs:
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