7.2.6 Setting Up Sun Cluster HA for Informix Clients

Clients always must refer to the database using the logical host name and not the physical host name. Except during start-up, the database always should be available if the logical host is responding on the network.

Informix client-server connections will not survive a Sun Cluster HA for Informix switchover. The client application must be prepared to handle disconnection and reconnection or recovery as appropriate. A transaction monitor might simplify the application. Further, Sun Cluster HA for Informix server recovery time is application-dependent.

If your application uses functions from RDBMS dynamic link libraries, you must ensure that these libraries are available in the event of failover. To do so:

• Install the link libraries on the client, or

• If Sun Cluster HA for NFS service is to be provided by the cluster, copy the libraries to the logical host and set the environment variables to the directory path of the link libraries, then NFS share those directories to clients.