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Reliable advanced satellite communication services

JSAT Corporation, the largest satellite communication system in Asia with eight satellites in operation, supplies a number of communications services, including digital broadcasting, SKYPerfect TV, and 110 Degrees CS. One of JSAT's newest and most innovative offerings is a satellite multicasting distribution system that provides content distribution for businesses.

"Satellite communication enables simultaneous distribution of large content volumes to multiple locations in a very efficient manner," says Mr. Fusao Yamada of JSAT.

In contrast, distributing large volumes of data via landline requires high-capacity cables and additional lines to accommodate new users. A more expensive server is also needed to handle data quickly and efficiently. By using satellites instead, bandwidth-intensive multimedia content such as high-resolution video can be distributed simultaneously across large areas, without the investment in physical connections.

"We want many businesses to use our system. That is our mission as a leading provider of network infrastructure," comments Mr. Yamada. To this end, JSAT opted for "system sharing." On behalf of a number of its business clients, the company provides customized content for each customer from a single system.

Sharing a single system helps cut costs dramatically. "This, however, required us to resolve system platform issues," Mr. Yamada says. The fault-tolerant ftServer^®  system from Stratus Technologies, a line of Intel^®  processor-based servers for Microsoft^®  Windows^®  server environments, ultimately became the choice to support this next-generation communication service.

Reliable data distribution, 24/7

In order to support different business clients, JSAT created a flexible system using its own station. Users can send requests from Web browsers and verify distribution requests easily. Software updates can be done remotely through a satellite connection. Three servers are the core of the system: one for receiving data requests from customers, one for administration, and one for distributing specific content according to internal schedules. The requested content is delivered through the satellites to receiver machines that are maintained by JSAT's business clients.

"The reliability of the whole system is directly related to the reliability of these three servers," explains Mr. Kazuhisa Hayashi at Hitachi Software Solutions. This leading systems integrator in Japan, involved in the development of mission-critical managerial systems for many industries including municipal politics, finance, retail, and manufacturing, was seeking dependability. Adds Mr. Hayashi, "Particularly from the standpoint of delivering services to multiple businesses, we needed reliability beyond what cluster systems offer."

In some cases, cluster systems allow switching time (service downtime), however short, due to data overflow. However, the satellite multicasting distribution system continuously has to provide content delivery, account charging, and other functions for a number of users.

"At no time, under any circumstances, must the system stop, or some customers will be unable to receive proper service. We cannot permit any downtime," adds Mr. Hayashi. The platform needs to ensure smooth operation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

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Continuous availability, operational simplicity

In late 2001, a project began to create a prototype of the satellite multicasting distribution system. The prototype was a system for delivering high-volume content to approximately 1,000 sites. JSAT and Hitachi Software chose the fault-tolerant ftServer platform from Stratus Technologies to support such a large system architecture.

To store large amounts of multimedia content, the ftStorageT solution, a dual RAID controller and Fibre Channel array, was connected to the file server to provide enhanced scalability, high performance, and flexibility.

"We had decided on the ftServer solution well before working on the details of the system," Mr. Hayashi says. He was already aware of the inherent advantages of the ftServer system, which is engineered with Continuous Processing ^® capabilities that include replicated hardware components and failsafe software features. This design transparently and automatically isolates faults while enabling the server to operate without any interruption. "This ensures continuous operation. We had no other option in terms of reliability," he continues.

System development was smooth because the ftServer environment presents a single image of its redundant hardware architecture to the operating system and software applications. The ftServer system required neither complex customization nor special middleware to maximize its availability, unlike clustered systems.

This simple development environment provided another important merit. "It is the expandability that responds flexibly to users and content updates," explains Mr. Yamada of JSAT. With ftServer systems, additional fault-tolerant machines can be connected without complicated setup. This attribute enables a business to expand seamlessly while providing core services all the while, leading to lower operating costs and development expenses.

After six months of development, the new network system went into operation in July 2002.

Providing realistic solutions

The satellite multicasting distribution system successfully integrates JSAT's advanced satellite communication technology with Hitachi Software's system architecture. Among those showing interest in this new network infrastructure are content providers of movies, music, and online games; stores that need to collect customer data through interactive displays; universities that distribute popular courses; and financialand manufacturing enterprises.

JSAT and Hitachi Software hope to respond reliably to these increasing demands. Fault-tolerant ftServer technology from Stratus promises to make such hopes a reality.

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