IBM Domino Applications on Cloud - explained
Tags :domino2025
IBM has deployed an interesting offering with IBM Domino Applications on Cloud that can carry complex tiers, pricing and restrictions. But, also benefits if you have the right needs.
The basis of the offering for IBM Domino Applications on Cloud is a SaaS offering for Domino applications inside of IBM Bluemix. There are quite a few built in capabilities:
- 25GB database size limit
- DAOS support
- Notes, ICAA and web access
- 3 data center locations (Dallas, Tokyo, Frankfurt)
- Use your own SSL and Domino certifier
- Backup and restore
Architecture of IBM Domino Applications on Cloud
Domino Applications on Cloud run in Containers within Docker Pods. I can have 7 Containers per Pod.
A Pod encapsulates an application container (or, in some cases, multiple containers), storage resources, a unique network IP, and options that govern how the container(s) should run.
Each pod needs 280 PVU (so the whole 40 PVU minimum license below throws me off, but we get to that). What I do not use every pod in DAC? Even splitting 280/7 = 40 they are saying you need a license for the entire Pod, not just a container.
All of these Pods are then hooked to shared resources like storage and are front end load balanced for DNS and IP assignment needs. The management Pod is built in for free and the customer does not pay for it. IBM covers this cost which may also account for the ten minimum requirement in costs.
On the back end there are passthru servers to proxy access from the public to private networks and Domino. So there may be some local deployment needs if connecting your existing Domino environment.
Pricing -there is where it became a little complex
As you can see there is a minimum you will pay no mater if you have one to ten applications. So they should make the base price $270 USD per month up to 10 applications. I also had some confusion on the 40 PVU minimum license requirement versus expecting the 280 PVU they state in other places.
If you wish to have replicas of your application for clustering and redundancy, then there is a lower cost for the replica, but I am unclear if the minimum USD price is then enforced?
Of course, there is some restrictions as well
- Minimum 10 apps (see above on pricing)
- Minimum 1 year commitment to the service
- Each application is considered a database instance (not a collection of apps)
- You supply the license with 280 PVU per pod (see pod architecture information)
- Shared cloud environment
- IBM defined security standards
- IBM owns the domain and manages the configuration
Migrating to IBM DAC should be checked by the Application Insights tool found in the Passport Advantage. The tool scans the applications for some dependency analysis and let's you know what apps can be migrated immediately and others that have needs to be addressed first (possibly)
Overall
I will write another piece on talking about dedicated versus this approach. It makes it easier to split the tech around the options.
blog comments powered by Disqus
On Wednesday, March 14th, 2018 by Chris Miller
