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Subscription Considerations

A Proxy/Client server system delivers subscription updates. The first server you install is set as your Default Subscription Proxy server, which contacts the CA Subscription Server periodically to check for updates. Subsequent installations are configured as clients of that proxy server, contacting it periodically for updates. If they fail to make contact, a self-monitoring event is logged.

The default system reduces network traffic by eliminating the need for each server to contact the CA Subscription Server directly, but is fully configurable. You can add proxy servers as needed.

You can also reduce internet traffic still further by creating offline proxy servers, which store update information locally and provide it to clients when contacted. Support any offline proxy servers by manually copying everything in the download path of the online proxy to the download path of the offline proxy. Offline proxies must be configured in environments where there are CA Enterprise Log Manager servers that cannot access the Internet or an internet-connected server.

When configuring the Subscription Service, consider the following information about certain settings and their interactions:

Default Subscription Proxy

Defines the default proxy server for the Subscription Service. The default subscription proxy must have internet access. If no other subscription proxies are defined, this server gets subscription updates from the CA Subscription server, downloads binary updates to all clients, and distributes content updates to the CA Enterprise Log Manager user store. If other proxies are defined, clients contact this server for updates when no subscription proxy list is configured or when the configured list is exhausted. The default value is the first server installed in your environment. This value is only available as a global setting.

Public Key

Defines the key used to test and verify the signature used to sign the updates. When a public-private key pair is updated, the proxy downloads the update to the public key value, and the proxy updates the public key. This value is only available as a global setting.

Important! Never manually update this value.

Subscription Proxy

Controls whether the local server is a subscription proxy. If the subscription proxy check box is cleared, the server is a subscription client.

Update Now

Starts an on demand update cycle immediately for the selected server. You can perform an on demand update for only one server at a time; this option is not available globally. Update a subscription proxy server before you update its subscription client.

Online Subscription Proxy

Controls whether the local server is an online subscription proxy. An online subscription proxy uses its internet access to get subscription updates from the CA Subscription server and distribute them to the CA Enterprise Log Manager environment. To designate a server as an online subscription proxy, select both the Subscription Proxy check box and the Online Subscription Proxy option. This value is only available as a local setting.

Offline Subscription Proxy

Controls whether the local server is an offline subscription proxy. An offline subscription proxy is a server that gets subscription updates through a manual directory copy (using scp) from an online subscription proxy. Offline subscription proxies do not need internet access. To designate a server as an offline subscription proxy, select both the Subscription Proxy check box and the Offline Subscription Proxy option. This value is only available as a local setting.

Note: For important information about configuring offline subscription, see the CA Enterprise Log Manager Administration Guide.

RSS Feed URL

Defines the URL of the CA Subscription server. Online subscription proxies use this URL to access the CA Subscription server and download subscription updates.

Modules Available for Download

Lets you select from the modules available for download the modules that apply to your CA Enterprise Log Manager environment. Click Browse to display this dialog; the modules you select appear in the Modules list.

Modules selected are downloaded from the CA Subscription Server during subscription updates. Modules for download can be selected at the global level; other configured subscription proxies download these modules by default during update. Modules for download can also be selected at the local level for individual proxy and client servers. Doing so overrides global settings so that only the selected modules download to the given server. Modules selected for clients are used to update corresponding modules installed on the client. You can select a module to download for a client that is not selected for its proxy. The proxy retrieves it for the client, but does not install it on itself.

Note: If not populated, set the RSS Feed URL. This setting lets the system read the RSS Feed and, at the next update interval, display the list of available modules to download.

Modules Selected for Download

Displays the modules selected in the RSS Feed Browser dialog. The default subscription proxy and all other online proxies download these modules from the CA Subscription Server during the update process. The modules listed can be modules chosen for download at the global level, or can reflect modules selected for a given server at the local level.

HTTP Proxy Server

Controls whether this server contacts the CA Subscription Server through an HTTP Proxy for updates, rather than directly.

Proxy Address to Use

Specifies the full IP Address of the HTTP Proxy.

Port

Specifies the Port number used to contact the HTTP Proxy.

HTTP Proxy User ID

Specifies the user ID used to contact the HTTP Proxy.

HTTP Proxy Password

Specifies the password used to contact the HTTP Proxy.

Schedule

Specifies the start time and frequency for CA Enterprise Log Manager servers to request subscription updates. Online subscription proxy servers (including the default proxy server) contact the CA Subscription Server, and proxy clients contact their proxy servers, according to this schedule. The schedule can be set globally for all CA Enterprise Log Manager servers; it can also be overridden locally for a given server.

Subscription Proxy for Client Updates

Lets you set which proxies are contacted, in a round robin fashion, for product and operating system updates by all clients or the selected client. You can use the up/down arrows to control the order in which the client contacts the subscription proxies. The client downloads updates from the first proxy it successfully reaches. If none of the configured proxies are available, the client contacts the default subscription proxy.

Subscription Proxy(s) for Content Updates

Lets you select which proxies are used to distribute content updates to the user store. You can select offline proxies or online proxies. This value is only available as a global setting.

Note: Consider selecting more than one server to act as a subscription proxy for content updates, for redundancy.

More information:

Free Disk Space for Updates

About Subscription Public Keys