When setting up an environment using load balancing technology, the configuration must be the same on each server used in the environment. When load balancing the Knowledge Center database, an exact replica must be maintained or synchronized across databases. In the setup example below, it is assumed that you are using multiple Knowledge Center servers and one Knowledge Center database. 
 
Note: When using Windows authentication, each server must be able to get authentication for the Windows users. That is, all servers should be able to get authentication for all Windows accounts rather than each knowing a subset of users. This is most likely to work when the servers are all within the same Windows domain.  
 
To install Knowledge Center servers for a load-balanced environment:

  1. Install Knowledge Center to the first server as desired. Make a note of your chosen Application (virtual directory) names, Authentication mode and Database configuration.
     
  2. The installation does not create Content Root folders for the subsequent servers because the content folder already exists on the original server; therefore, the Content Root folder created in the original installation must be replicated to each of the subsequent servers. The folders and virtual directories must be identical to that of the original server. This can either be done manually or through a replication service. Note that this is the content location and content will be continually imported to this location through the software.  The ContentToolsAppPool4 application pool that is created for the Content Root on the original server should be run under the identity of a user account that will also have access to the replicated Content Root folders.
     
  3. Run the installer for all subsequent Knowledge Center servers, using the information below for the screens indicated:
      
    Choose Web Site: All applications and authentication mode must the same as the first server noted in step 1.
     
    Database System: Select the database option used in the first server noted in step 1.
     
    SQL Script Options: Click the Yes, the scripts have already been run for this version option.
     
    Internet Information Services Option: Click the Yes, continue with the installation option.
     
    Oracle Database Login or Microsoft SQL Server Login: Enter the database information used in the first server noted in step 1.
     
    Schema Options or Database Options: Choose the Use existing schema or Use existing database option.
     
    Add Content Root: Choose No, additional content root is not needed at this time.

The web.config files within KCenter, KData, and KContent need to be modified for all servers:
  
Open the web.config file located in the Web Server\KCenter folder on the original install. Find the machineKey item in the config file (configuration -> system.web -> machineKey). Either copy this section to the clipboard or to a file. This section needs to be replicated to each of the subsequent servers.
 
Edit the web.config files for KCenter, KData, and KContent on each of the subsequent servers and replace the machineKey section with the machine key section of the original server.

 

If a secure website (SSL) is used, the Knowledge Center and Content Root applications will all be registered using the load-balanced URL, as long as the server certificate was issued to the load-balanced URL.  If SSL is not being used, the Knowledge Center and Content Root URLs should be updated using Manager to match the load-balanced URL.


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