Welcome to Continuity Engine 11 - What's New
Neverfail Continuity Engine 11
What's New
Automated Split-Brain Avoidance Configuration
- Continuity Engine 11 monitors the management identity configuration and will automatically configure a set of ping routes which will be used to avoid potential split-brain situations when failover is initiated as a consequence of channel loss. The automatic configuration of split-brain avoidance requires a minimum of one management IP address defined on each Primary and Secondary nodes. Split-brain avoidance works by pinging from the passive server to the active server across the client network. If the active server responds, the passive does not failover, even if the channel connection is lost. Ping routing configuration means defining ping routes between Primary and Secondary instances using existing/defined management IP addresses.
- This feature is enabled by the updated version of Neverfail System Plug-in bundled with Continuity Engine 11.
More Secure
SCOPE Security enhancements
SCOPE service is more secure.
Check Neverfail SCOPE Data Collector Service v5.5.0 Release Notes for more details.
OpenJDK and Apache Tomcat version updated to latest
Continuity Engine's objective is to keep your systems up, running, protected, and safe. Having the latest security updates, fixes and patches for the used open-source software is critical.
Neverfail Continuity Engine 11 is updated to Azul Zulu 8.72.0.17 (JDK version 8u382-b05).
Neverfail Continuity Engine 11 is updated to Apache Tomcat 9.0.78. Following link lists all security vulnerabilities fixed in released versions of Apache Tomcat.
Better User Experience
Continuity Engine Service Optimization
- Service heap space usage optimizations
Bundled Plugins Visibility
The set all of the bundled plugins which offer out-of-the-box automated protection for client applications (specific versions) is linked directly from Engine Management Service UI support section
NFCMD Enhancements
- New nfcmd command for configuring split-brain avoidance. This is documented in How to Use the NFCMD Command Line Utility.
Google Cloud Platform Support Enhancements - Solution Pack for streamlining hybrid deployments
Streamlines on-premises (VMware vCenter Server) to Google Cloud deployment process (prepare, migrate and configure DR standby node)
Solution pack with documentation available here: Neverfail Continuity Engine Add-on for Hybrid Deployment to Google Cloud Platform
Patching Downtime Reduction with Passive Management Name
Neverfail Continuity Engine's Passive Management Name feature enables the ability of patching of standby passive nodes in centralized update management environment.
Following document lists all the Patch Management or Backup Software Solutions / Technologies proven to work or scheduled in the near future for interoping validation with Neverfail Continuity Engine's Passive Management Name feature: Patch Management Solutions / Technologies supported by Neverfail Continuity Engine's Passive Management Name
New Supported Versions
New or Updated Plugins
Neverfail System Plug-in: split-brain avoidance autoconfiguration. And more.
Neverfail for Mitel MiContact Center Business: added support for MiContact Center Business R10/SIP
Neverfail for Clever Devices CleverCAD (new): protection for Clever Devices CleverCAD v9.9 and v10.15
VMware vCenter Server and VMware vCenter Converter Support
- Supported - Neverfail Engine Management Service API Support for deployment using the latest versions of VMware vCenter Server 7.0 and VMware vCenter Converter 6.2.
- Supported - Neverfail for vSphere Integration Plug-in Support for interoping with the latest versions of VMware vCenter Server 7.0
- Coming soon - Neverfail Engine Management Service API Support for deployment using the latest versions of VMware vCenter Server 8.0 and VMware vCenter Converter 6.3.
- Coming soon - Neverfail for vSphere Integration Plug-in Support for interoping with the latest versions of VMware vCenter Server 8.0
Licensing Updates
Software Subscription Payment Awareness (since v11)
- Starting with Continuity Engine v11, the software subscription licensing mechanism is changed to be aware of software subscription's payment status. The changes are summarized in the below section extracted from Neverfail End-User Software Subscription License Agreement.
Term Software Subscription is ready to be consumed immediately upon fulfilment. Depending on the payment status, the right to use may or may not be limited a follows: (a) if the payment is pending when software subscription is being activated (consumed), a limited forty-five (45) days license key counted from the term software subscription start date will be generated; as soon as the payment is confirmed, the full term software subscription period is unlocked; relicensing with a full term license key will be performed automatically for online licensing; (b) if the payment is confirmed when software subscription is being activated (consumed) a full term license key will be generated. Similar payment status usability rules apply also in the case of license term software subscription renewal.- Continuity Engine 11 licensing model is built on top of v9.0 model which transitioned Engine from a perpetual model to a software subscription term and rental model. Engine Licensing Service (ELS) enables call-home features that power our software subscription based licensing. The new cloud service is free but is required for Term and Rental deployments. For more information on how the licensing works and upgrade notes please read Continuity Engine Licensing Model.
Backward Compatibility
Neverfail Continuity Engine 11 Management Service is compatible with older versions of Continuity Engine (i.e. EMS 11.0 manages correctly CE 9.x/10.x).
- If I upgrade to Continuity Engine 11, will my perpetual license cease? Yes! You are accepting software subscription's requirements outlined in the new EULA for Term and Rental. Neverfail will generate new software subscriptions expiring the same day as the support was paid through. This means you will need to pay for support to continue software operations yearly or monthly depending on the type of subscription.
- Can I upgrade using the Upgrade Wizard from older versions to Continuity Engine 11? Yes, the upgrade wizard is still supported. Keep in mind that Continuity Engine 6.7, 7.x and 8.x are currently End-of-Life (EOL). To ensure organization continued support, you must upgrade to the latest Continuity Engine version.
When will Continuity Engine EOL? Check End of Life Policy for Neverfail Continuity Engine/
Can I stay on previous versions of Continuity Engine? Yes, however, previous versions will eventually EOL and you will not be able to take full advantage of the new features of Continuity Engine v11. And evenly important, your systems will be more exposed to cyberattacks. Fpr example:
- CEv9.0
- misses all the security fixes between OpenJDK 8u332-b09 (April 2022) and 8u382-b05 (July 2023)
- misses all the security fixes between Tomcat 9.0.64 (May 2022) and 9.0.78 (July 2023)
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