Installing and Maintaining CA AppLogic® › Backbone Fabric Controller (BFC) User Guide › BFC Overview

BFC Overview

This document describes how to install and use the Backbone Fabric Controller (BFC) for creating and managing CA AppLogic® grids. The BFC is a graphical browser-based tool for creating, managing, and modifying CA AppLogic® grids.

In CA AppLogic® version 2.9.9 and earlier, the administrator used a command line tool named the CA AppLogic® Distributor (ALDO) to create and manage their grids. The BFC replaces the previous manual static provisioning of servers to CA AppLogic® Grids with a container-based model that dynamically allocates servers to grids from a shared pool of resources under the control of the BFC.

Target Audience

This document is intended for the administrator that will install CA AppLogic® grids on a group of servers. It is expected that the administrator is familiar with the following:

• Basics of using Linux command line tools, including at least the following:
  SSH and SSHD, RPM, and YUM.
• Basics of IP networking and DNS name resolution

BFC Features

The BFC is a graphical browser-based tool intended for use by an administrator that will create and manage the grids.

The BFC provides the following features:

• Requires only a single BFC installation and minimal configuration to begin deploying grids.
• Enables you to add or modify BFC users and set username and passwords as needed.
• Provides functionality that automatically discovers servers that are available for grid creation.
• Enables you to modify existing CA AppLogic® grids (such as, adding or removing allocated servers).
• Allows you to upgrade, downgrade, or remove the CA AppLogic® software from a grid.

For more information:

Documentation Changes

Installing the BFC

Accessing the BFC UI

Creating and Working with Grids

Modifying a Grid

Working with Servers on a Grid

Upgrading or Downgrading Grid Software

Administration and Advanced Operations

BFC Troubleshooting