7 Using Dynamic Clusters
A dynamic cluster is a cluster that contains one or more dynamic servers. A dynamic server is a server instance that gets its configuration from a server template. This is in contrast to Managed Servers, which require you to configure each server individually.
- About Dynamic Clusters
Dynamic clusters consist of server instances that can be dynamically scaled up to meet the resource needs of your application. A dynamic cluster uses a single server template to define configuration for a specified number of generated (dynamic) server instances. - Why Do You Use Dynamic Clusters?
With dynamic clusters, you can easily scale up your cluster when you need additional server capacity by simply starting one or more of the preconfigured dynamic server instances. You do not need to manually configure a new server instance and add it to the cluster or perform a system restart. - How Do Dynamic Clusters Work?
You set the number of managed server instances that you want, and create or select a template for them. - Creating Dynamic Clusters in a High Availability Topology
You can create dynamic clusters to scale out a high availability topology. - Expanding or Reducing Dynamic Clusters
When you create a dynamic cluster, WebLogic Server generates the number of dynamic servers you specify. Before you decide upon the number of server instances, ensure you have the performance capacity to handle the desired number.
Parent topic: Creating a High Availability Environment
About Dynamic Clusters
Dynamic clusters consist of server instances that can be dynamically scaled up to meet the resource needs of your application. A dynamic cluster uses a single server template to define configuration for a specified number of generated (dynamic) server instances.
When you create a dynamic cluster, the dynamic servers are preconfigured and automatically generated for you, enabling you to easily scale up the number of server instances in your dynamic cluster when you need additional server capacity. You can simply start the dynamic servers without having to first manually configure and add them to the cluster.
If you need additional server instances on top of the number you originally specified, you can increase the maximum number of servers instances (dynamic) in the dynamic cluster configuration or manually add configured server instances to the dynamic cluster. A dynamic cluster that contains both dynamic and configured server instances is called a mixed cluster.
The following table defines terminology associated with dynamic clusters:
Term | Definition |
---|---|
dynamic cluster |
A cluster that contains one or more generated (dynamic) server instances that are based on a single shared server template. |
configured cluster |
A cluster in which you manually configure and add each server instance. |
dynamic server |
A server instance that is generated by WebLogic Server when creating a dynamic cluster. Configuration is based on a shared server template. |
configured server |
A server instance for which you manually configure attributes. |
mixed cluster |
A cluster that contains both dynamic and configured server instances. |
server template |
A prototype server definition that contains common, non-default settings and attributes that can be assigned to a set of server instances, which then inherit the template configuration. For dynamic clusters, the server template is used to generate the dynamic servers. See Server Templates in Understanding Domain Configuration for Oracle WebLogic Server. |
For more information about dynamic clusters, see Dynamic Clusters in Administering Clusters for Oracle WebLogic Server.
Parent topic: Using Dynamic Clusters
Why Do You Use Dynamic Clusters?
With dynamic clusters, you can easily scale up your cluster when you need additional server capacity by simply starting one or more of the preconfigured dynamic server instances. You do not need to manually configure a new server instance and add it to the cluster or perform a system restart.
Parent topic: Using Dynamic Clusters
How Do Dynamic Clusters Work?
You set the number of managed server instances that you want, and create or select a template for them.
- Creating and Configuring Dynamic Clusters
To create a dynamic cluster, you need to complete three steps in the Configuration Wizard. - Using Server Templates
Server templates define common configuration attributes that a set of server instances share. Dynamic clusters use server templates for dynamic server configuration. - Calculating Server-Specific Attributes
You cannot configure individual dynamic server instances or override server template values at the dynamic server level when using a dynamic cluster. Server-specific attributes, such as server name, machines, and listen ports, must be calculated using the values you set when creating the dynamic cluster.
Parent topic: Using Dynamic Clusters
Creating and Configuring Dynamic Clusters
To create a dynamic cluster, you need to complete three steps in the Configuration Wizard.
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Specify the number of server instances you anticipate needing at peak load.
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Create or select the server template that you want to base server configuration on.
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Define how WebLogic Server should calculate server-specific attributes.
WebLogic Server then generates the number of dynamic server instances you specified and applies the calculated attribute values to each dynamic server instance.
Note:
Ensure you have the performance capacity to handle the maximum number of server instances you specify in the dynamic cluster configuration. For design and deployment best practices when creating a cluster, see Clustering Best Practices.
Parent topic: How Do Dynamic Clusters Work?
Using Server Templates
Server templates define common configuration attributes that a set of server instances share. Dynamic clusters use server templates for dynamic server configuration.
See Server Templates in Understanding Domain Configuration for Oracle WebLogic Server.
Parent topic: How Do Dynamic Clusters Work?
Calculating Server-Specific Attributes
You cannot configure individual dynamic server instances or override server template values at the dynamic server level when using a dynamic cluster. Server-specific attributes, such as server name, machines, and listen ports, must be calculated using the values you set when creating the dynamic cluster.
Note:
You must set a unique Listen Address value for the Managed Server instance that will host the JTA Transaction Recovery service. Otherwise, the migration fails.
WebLogic Server calculates and applies these server-specific attributes using the dynamic server instance ID:
-
Server name
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(Optional) Listen ports (clear text and SSL)
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(Optional) Network access point listen ports
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(Optional) Machines or virtual machines
- Calculating Server Names
The Server Name Prefix controls the calculated server name. - Calculating Listen Ports
Calculating Listen Ports specifies whether listen ports for the server are calculated. - Calculating Machine Names
The Calculated Machine Names and Machine Name Match Expression control how server instances in a dynamic cluster are assigned to a machine.
Parent topic: How Do Dynamic Clusters Work?
Calculating Server Names
The Server Name Prefix controls the calculated server name.
Server names are the prefix that you enter, followed by the index number. For example, if the prefix is set to dyn-server-
, then the dynamic servers have the names dyn-server-1
, dyn-server-2
, and so on for the number of server instances you specified.
Parent topic: Calculating Server-Specific Attributes
Calculating Listen Ports
Calculating Listen Ports specifies whether listen ports for the server are calculated.
If you do not calculate listen ports when creating your dynamic cluster, WebLogic Server uses the value in the server template. If you don’t define listen ports in the dynamic cluster configuration or server template, WebLogic Server uses the default value.
If you define a base listen port for your dynamic cluster in the server template or the dynamic cluster configuration, the listen port value for the first dynamic server instance is the base listen port incremented by one. For each additional dynamic server instance, the listen port value increments by one. If the default base listen port is used, WebLogic Server increments the hundreds digit by one and continues from there for each dynamic server instance.
Parent topic: Calculating Server-Specific Attributes
Calculating Machine Names
The Calculated Machine Names and Machine Name Match Expression control how server instances in a dynamic cluster are assigned to a machine.
If you select the Calculated Machine Names option, you can use the Machine Name Match Expression to choose the set of machines used for the dynamic servers. If you don’t set Machine Name Match Expression, then all machines in the domain are selected. Assignments are made using a round robin algorithm.
The following table shows examples of machine assignments in a dynamic cluster.
Table 7-1 Calculating Machine Names
Machines in Domain | Machine Name Match Expression Configuration | Dynamic Server Machine Assignments |
---|---|---|
M1, M2 |
Not set |
dyn-server-1: M1 dyn-server-2: M2 dyn-server-3: M1 ... |
Ma1, Ma2, Mb1, Mb2 |
Ma1, Mb* |
dyn-server-1: Ma1 dyn-server-2: Mb1 dyn-server-3: Mb2 dyn-server-4: Ma1 ... |
Parent topic: Calculating Server-Specific Attributes
Creating Dynamic Clusters in a High Availability Topology
You can create dynamic clusters to scale out a high availability topology.
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Oracle Fusion Middleware Infrastructure and the product software are installed.
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Product schemas are created in the database.
Parent topic: Using Dynamic Clusters
Expanding or Reducing Dynamic Clusters
When you create a dynamic cluster, WebLogic Server generates the number of dynamic servers you specify. Before you decide upon the number of server instances, ensure you have the performance capacity to handle the desired number.
The dynamic server instances are based on the configuration you specified in the server template and calculated attributes.
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To expand your cluster, start any number of the preconfigured dynamic servers.
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To shrink your dynamic cluster, shut down the excess number of dynamic servers.
If you need additional server capacity on top of the number of server instances you originally specified, increase the maximum number of dynamic servers in the dynamic cluster configuration. To reduce the number of server instances in the dynamic cluster, decrease the value of the maximum number of dynamic servers attribute. Before lowering this value, shut down the server instances you plan to remove.
Parent topic: Using Dynamic Clusters