Configuring and Running a Cluster

This topic links to documentation that explains how to configure and run VMware GemFire clusters.

Use the gfsh command-line utility to configure your VMware GemFire cluster. The cluster configuration service persists the cluster configurations and distributes the configurations to members of the cluster. There are also several additional ways to configure a cluster.

Use gfsh to configure regions, disk stores, members, and other VMware GemFire objects. You can also use gfsh to start and stop locators, servers, and VMware GemFire monitoring tools. As you execute these commands, the cluster configuration service persists the configuration. When new members join the cluster, the service distributes the configuration to the new members.

gfsh is the recommended means of configuring and managing your VMware GemFire cluster, however you can still configure many aspects of a cluster using the older methods of the cache.xml and gemfire.properties files. See cache.xml and the Reference for configuration parameters. You can also configure some aspects of a cluster using a Java API. See Managing VMware GemFire.

• Overview of the Cluster Configuration Service

  The VMware GemFire cluster configuration service persists cluster configurations created by gfsh commands to the locators in a cluster and distributes the configurations to members of the cluster.

• Tutorial—Creating and Using a Cluster Configuration

  A short walk-through that uses a single computer to demonstrate how to use gfsh to create a cluster configuration for a VMware GemFire cluster.

• Deploying Application JARs to VMware GemFire Members

  You can dynamically deploy your application JAR files to specific members or to all members in your cluster. VMware GemFire automatically keeps track of JAR file versions; autoloads the deployed JAR files to the CLASSPATH; and auto-registers any functions that the JAR contains.

• Using Member Groups

  VMware GemFire allows you to organize your cluster members into logical member groups.

• Exporting and Importing Cluster Configurations

  The cluster configuration service exports and imports configurations created using gfsh for an entire VMware GemFire cluster.

• Cluster Configuration Files and Troubleshooting

  When you use the cluster configuration service in VMware GemFire, you can examine the generated configuration files in the cluster_config directory on the locator. gfsh saves configuration files at the cluster-level and at the individual group-level.

• Using gfsh to Manage a Remote Cluster Over HTTP or HTTPS

  You can connect gfsh via HTTP or HTTPS to a remote cluster and manage the cluster using gfsh commands.

• Deploying Configuration Files without the Cluster Configuration Service

  You can deploy your VMware GemFire configuration files in your system directory structure or in jar files. You determine how you want to deploy your configuration files and set them up accordingly.

• Starting Up and Shutting Down Your System

  Determine the proper startup and shutdown procedures, and write your startup and shutdown scripts.

• Running VMware GemFire Locator Processes

  The locator is a VMware GemFire process that tells new, connecting members where running members are located and provides load balancing for server use.

• Running VMware GemFire Server Processes

  A VMware GemFire server is a process that runs as a long-lived, configurable member of a client/server system.

• Managing System Output Files

  VMware GemFire output files are optional and can become quite large. Work with your system administrator to determine where to place them to avoid interfering with other system activities.

• Firewall Considerations

  You can configure and limit port usage for situations that involve firewalls, for example, between client-server or server-server connections.