Sheetz Upgrades Disaster Recovery System for POS, Data

ALTOONA, Pa. -- Sheetz Inc. has created a disaster recovery system ensuring business continuity and data protection in the event of a catastrophe.

The chain is using Stratus ftServer systems to help cut the risk of downtime to its point-of-sale payments system and loyalty program. With more than 380 stores, Sheetz recently upgraded an existing Stratus ftServer and replaced its backup server at a remote site with a second continuously available ftServer system.

The move allowed Sheetz to implement a feature in its electronic payments software that splits live transaction loads between the two Stratus servers. Half of the transactions are sent to the resident server and the other half to the second server 20 miles away. Microsoft SQL Server data replication synchronizes all of the transaction data via simultaneous updates to both server databases.

"Non-cash payment options account for the majority of our sales," noted Randy Pielmeier, Sheetz payments system administrator. "Reliable electronic funds transfers are crucial to our business. Stratus's rock solid uptime assurance lets us confidently support more stores and new functionality."

Currently generating more than $5 billion in annual sales, the chain is adding 25 new stores per year, quickly building a per-store sales volume that is two to three times greater than the industry average.

"The new ftServer systems deliver four times the performance of our earlier generation machine. This will enable us to keep up with our rapid growth," Pielmeier said. "The new configuration also gives us a streamlined, higher performance and more resilient disaster recovery system that eliminates the need for a backup server."

In contrast to alternative solutions, Stratus's uptime technology is instant, affordable and uncomplicated. There's no need for application modification, specialized system management, proprietary systems or complex hardware and software configurations, Stratus Technologies said in a statement.

 

X
This ad will auto-close in 10 seconds