Mission Critical Network Stability

ContentKeeper's High Availability Module (HAM) provides cost effective high availability for mission-critical eneteprises. Designed as an electromechanical Ethernet bypass switch, HAM maintains connectivity even in the event of a hardware, software or power failure.

In collaboration with CK-Web's in-built, automatic health monitoring system to correct minor errors and report status to the HAM, it ensures that your network resources are operational at all times.

How it works

In the event of a ContentKeeper appliance or software failure, the HAM effectively removes the ContentKeeper filtering appliance from the Ethernet data stream, allowing complete Internet connectivity. In bypass mode, the HAM directly connects the Ethernet ports on the ContentKeeper appliance to re-establish end-to-end communications. An audible alarm is emitted when in bypass mode.

All current and new ContentKeeper Appliances now come with an on-board HAM built-in to the motherboard.

HAMs can also provide an automatic hot standby failover to a second ContentKeeper Appliance. With this option, administrators can choose to redirect all traffic to a standby ContentKeeper appliance, to maintain both Internet connectivity and filtering.

An additional HAM is required for this option, and can be either an external HAM (black box), or an internal PCI card 10/100/1000 BaseT Ham OR 10/100 BaseT HAM.

As an Ethernet Bypass Switch, the HAM provides automatic bypass of the ContentKeeper appliance in the event of a hardware or software failure. Administrators have the ability to easily cause the unit to bypass all Ethernet traffic or go back online.

The HAM also allows ContentKeeper Software upgrades to take place during production hours without disrupting network connectivity.

Administration and configuration

• Web-based, online/bypass and configuration support
• Complete Web-based management, both locally and remotely via the ContentKeeper Web GUI
• Fully automatic cut-in (bypass) and system restore (no user involvement required)

The HAM is available in multiple configurations as described below:

Ethernet Speed	Internal PCI Card	External Module
10/100BaseT
10/100/1000BaseT (Gigabit)
OpticalHAM 1000 Base (Fiber)

Features

• Simple installation and management
• Hack-proof transparent Ethernet Bypass Switch, completely transparent to Ethernet traffic - no desktop re-configuration or IP re-numbering
• Fault-tolerant hardware and application design
• Network and operating system independent
• Bypass function is not reliant on electrical supply
• Optional automatic fail over to a standby ContentKeeper appliance
• Independent Watchdog function - responds to hardware failures and power outages
• Rapid bypass in response to appliance failure - by default, bypass occurs within 4 seconds (almost instantly when Cisco "portfast" is set on attached switches).
• Application "keep alive" - provides automatic bypass in the event of software failure
• Simple control interface via ContentKeeper GUI administration menu
• "Point-and-click" bypass control
• Flash firmware upgradeable
• Flexible Physical Design for PCI Internal Card or External Chassis Applications
• Supports: 10/100 BaseT and 1000BaseT Ethernet and Optical Fiber networks

Operating Environment

• Compatible with all operating environments, including: Microsoft™, Novell™, Unix, Linux™, Apple™
• Compatible with all proxy servers, firewalls, caching devices, routers and other IP based network devices.
• Designed for corporate high availability, high throughput and load balanced environments, as well as small site installations.

ContentKeeper Appliances

Different ContentKeeper appliances have different in-built HAM configurations. The following is a list of the configurations found in different ContentKeeper appliances.

Small to Medium Enterprise 3 (SME3).

Small Business 2 (SB2).

SME2: On board HAM on 10/100 ports only. For Gigabyte port usage the unit requires either an internal 10/100/1000BaseT HAM or an external 10/100/1000BaseT HAM (optional)

VLE - - on board 10/100/1000BaseT HAM (included)

Small Business (SB): No on-board HAM - uses external 10/100BaseT HAM (optional)

Small to Medium Enterprise (SME): No on-board HAM - uses external 10/100BaseT HAM (optional)

Large Enterprise (LE): Uses either an internal 10/100/1000BaseT HAM or an external 10/100/1000BaseT HAM