There are two ways to create a service that uses the GDS:
Using the SunPlex Agent Builder
Using the standard Sun Cluster administration commands
Use the SunPlex Agent Builder and select GDS as the type of generated source code. The user input is used to generate a set of driving scripts that configure resources for the given application.
This method uses the precompiled data service code in SUNWscgds but requires that the system administrator use the standard Sun Cluster administration commands (scrgadm(1M) and scswitch(1M)) to create and configure the resource.
As shown in the procedures How to Use Sun Cluster Administration Commands to Create a Highly Available Service Using GDS and Standard Sun Cluster Administration Commands to Create a Scalable Service Using GDS, a significant amount of typing is required to issue the appropriate scrgadm and scswitch commands.
Using the GDS with SunPlex Agent Builder simplifies the process because it generates the driving scripts that issue the scrgadm and scswitch commands for you.
While using the GDS has many advantages, there are instances when it is not the mechanism to use the GDS. The GDS is not the mechanism to use when:
More control is required than is available using the precompiled resource type. such as when you need to add extension properties or change the defaults.
The source code needs to be modified to add special functions.
You want to use multiple process trees.
You want to use non-network-aware applications.