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| Multicarta Implements SteelEye LifeKeeper for Linux Multicarta, a Russian credit card authorization processor, has implemented SteelEye LifeKeeper for Linux to ensure that downtime of its transaction processing system is limited to less than fifteen minutes per year. Multicarta authorizes transactions by holders of cards issued by Visa International, MasterCard International, Diners Club International and American Express. Cardholders are customers of Russian banks and financial services companies. When a cardholder wishes to pay for goods or services with their card, the retailer sends an authorization request to the Multicarta authorization processing centre. A database lookup ensues and the transaction is authorized or declined as the card holder's situation and credit terms dictate. These requests come in every second of every day of the year. If they can not be authorized, then they may fail unless another form of payment is possible. An authorization failure due to a technical fault can cause the loss of money by the retailer, disappointment and annoyance to the customer and a lessening of respect for the card issuer and bank. The key IT elements at Multicarta's processing centre are the server and storage hardware and the database of credit card holders and their details. Two HP ProLiant DL580 G3 servers running Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS 4 and an IBM Informix database access an HP EVA 6000 shared storage array. If a server fails or the database crashes, then authorization stops. Server and database operations are protected by SteelEye LifeKeeper for Linux and the LifeKeeper Informix ARK respectively. LifeKeeper monitors operation of the entire application stack including hardware and software. If the primary server fails, processing fails over automatically to the secondary server along with the database in such a way as to safeguard access to the information it contains. LifeKeeper preserves transaction authorization processing both in the event of an unexpected failure and in the situation of planned server downtime for software or hardware updates. The integrated solution was deployed by Aflex Software, an authorized SteelEye partner in Russia. The system was configured by Aflex support and deployed by Multicarta's in-house IT officers to test and fine-tune the complete system. During and after the deployment, Aflex's engineers provided appropriate consulting, training and support needed to start the system on time and maintain its operation. Aflex was supported by Nordicmind, SteelEye's Competence and Support Center for Northern EMEA and CIS. From now on those cardholders of the issuing banks that utilize Multicarta services are even safer when making purchases all over the globe any time of day and night. They may be absolutely unaware of LifeKeeper but are assured that their transactions will be authorized quickly and will never incur technical rejections. write your comments about the article :: © 2008 Computing News :: home page |