Clustering › How to Implement Clustering

How to Implement Clustering

As a CA Service Catalog administrator, you can optionally use clustering for CA Workflow and Service View to improve performance and provide failover protection. Here, the term clustering means multiple computers grouped together performing the same or similar function, essentially acting as one virtual computer. Specifically, clustering here refers to CA Workflow and Service View running on two or more computers. Failover protection means that if one computer malfunctions, becomes heavily loaded, or loses power, its workload is transferred to the other computers in the cluster. These computers retain and complete the active sessions.

Another advantage of clustering is load-balancing: If one of the cluster components is busy processing a request, the load is redirected to another component in the cluster. Users of the system see no interruption of access. CA Workflow and Service View processing for CA Service Catalog continues. The loss of performance on users and business functions is minimized, even when computer availability is lost or reduced.

To implement clustering for CA Workflow and Service View, perform these tasks:

1. Perform the preliminary tasks.
2. Meet the prerequisites.
3. To implement clustering for Service View, do one or both of the following:
   • Set up vertical clustering for Service View
   • Set Up horizontal clustering for Service View
4. Set up NTLM authentication for each cluster, if applicable.
5. Configure NTLM with Apache Load Balancer, if applicable.
6. Optionally set up horizontal clustering for CA Workflow.
7. Set up load balancing.
8. If you are implementing horizontal clustering on multiple computers, use the computers that have the same default gateway. To obtain the default gateway, enter the ipconfig command at the DOS prompt.

Also, consider setting up a single location for shared files. While this task is not directly related to clustering, it does help improve overall system performance and helps reinforce best practices.