Considerations when changing document storage to File System on UNIX / Linux systems

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In a busy Sterling B2B Integrator system that has many documents processed through, when changing the document storage from database to file system, one should also be aware of the following list that I have compiled for your reference:

1.  Review Operating System's Max number of open files and / or sockets per process settings or nofile value.  This setting and its value if not setup appropriately, you may start seeing the following error messages in your failed Business Process status report or other system logs.

(Too many open files)  at java.io.FileInputStream.open(Native Method)

If so, please review the Operating System Verification tasks in the Sterling B2B Integrator Installation Guide and increase the nofile value accordingly.

Please note that the nofile values referenced in the Operating System Verification tasks are the minimum settings.  The guide also recommends for setting to unlimited values.  If you have any questions on how to update this value, you may want to reach out to your System Administrator or consult the ulimit man page or your operating system documentation for further information.

2.  Perform certain system tasks manually for the documents, such as archiving. For a clustered environment, the document directory must be available using the same path on all nodes of the cluster.

3.  Additional Storage and File Systems considerations:

    - Capacity Requirements
    - Use of Native File Systems
    - Monitoring Disk Space

     Please review Storage and File System documentation.

4.  Review Raw Disks and I/O Sub-System Response Time information for additional File System performance planning.

5.  Related read on How to change the Document Storage to File System:

     Document Storage in depth review and setup related information

     Configure File System document storage for IBM Sterling FileGateway

6.  In an post upgrade scenario, if you use a File System as your document storage method, determine and record the path to the File System.

     You will need the File System path structure so that after the upgrade, you can copy/mount the documents to the new installation directory. The directory structure (path to the File System) must be the same in the current and in the upgraded system.

If you have any further questions, please either Add a Comment below and I would be happy to answer or that you may also open a Service Request with us any time.