Distributed Managed Servers

The distributed managed server configuration, although listed alongside the single-server and multi-server domain types, is not a true domain type. It's an optional extension for an existing multi-server configuration. As with the multi-server domain type, this configuration takes advantage of WebLogic’s managed server architecture. The distributed managed server configuration is intended for production environments encompassing multiple machines.

A distributed managed server configuration enables you to spread a logical WebLogic domain configuration physically across multiple machines in a heterogeneous network. One server machine might act as the domain administration server, while the other server machines act as distributed managed servers, running various manages servers, such as PIA1, PIA2, and so on. Typically, you would also take advantage of the WebLogic Node Manager, which enables a system administrator to control the managed servers remotely.

See your WebLogic Node Manager documentation.

In a distributed, multi-server configuration you can have multiple machines, multiple collections of resources and program files, multiple web server processes, and a replicated domain configuration file. In this model, if any of system resources or server instances becomes unavailable, work shifts to the next instance of that resource. In the multi-server configuration, an increase in PeopleSoft Interaction Hub usage, for example, can be accommodated by configuring an additional WebLogic server instance or machine to also serve the PeopleSoft Interaction Hub. Using distributed managed servers provides flexibility in shaping your hardware allocation to meet your system demands.

Benefits of the Distributed Managed Server

A distributed managed server configuration provides the same benefits as a multi-server configuration with the added benefit of hardware isolation. This option requires a multi-server installation to be performed to some other location, which will contain the configuration for this distributed managed server.

The fundamental benefits of a multi-server configuration include:

• Dedicated service providers: Web servers can be dedicated to providing PeopleSoft Interaction Hub and are isolated from other portions of the PeopleSoft Pure Internet Architecture such as PeopleSoft Integration Gateway.

• Redundant service providers: Multiple web servers can be used to serve different aspects of PIA, providing load balancing and failover support.

• Distributed resources: Multiple web server machines can be used, each capable of serving different or redundant aspects of PIA.

• Centralized and replicated configuration: Primary domain configuration is centralized and distributed server information is replicated locally.

The server configuration settings for a distributed managed server are maintained by that domain’s administration server and are stored locally on that administration server. Configuration settings are replicated to a managed server during its startup, but are only maintained as a read-only backup copy for that individual managed server in the event that the administration server isn't available the next time this particular managed server needs to be started.

Note:

Only one managed server can be run per distributed managed server domain directory. If you intend to run multiple distributed managed servers on a single machine, perform the PIA installation and create unique distributed managed server domain directories, one for each distributed managed server that you intend to run on that machine.

Note:

Do not create a web server domain using the names PIA, PIA1, PIA2, or weblogic. The name of the WebLogic domain and the server and cluster names within it must be unique. The names PIA, PIA1, and PIA2 are reserved for use by the PeopleSoft system. The name weblogic is reserved for use by the Oracle WebLogic software. These restrictions apply to single server and multi-server domain creation.

Example: Distributed Managed Server

The following illustrates the multiple servers, their roles, and the various elements running on the multiple server machines within a sample distributed managed server configuration:

Server	Role	WebLogic and PIA Elements
Server 1	Domain Administration Server	WebLogic Administration Server (WebLogicAdmin)
Server 2	Distributed Managed Server	PIA1 (for PeopleSoft Interaction Hub) PIA2 (for PeopleSoft Interaction Hub) WebLogic Node Manager
Server 3	Distributed Managed Server	PIA3 (for PeopleSoft Interaction Hub) PIA4 (for PeopleSoft Interaction Hub) WebLogic Node Manager
Server 4	Distributed Managed Server	PIA (for Integration Gateway) WebLogic Node Manager
Server 5	Distributed Managed Server	RPS (for httpproxyservlet) WebLogic Node Manager