Configuring cells

You can change the cell protocol information, define custom properties for the cell, and add additional nodes.

Before you begin

Before you can configure cells, you must install the WebSphere® Application Server Network Deployment product.

About this task

When you create a deployment manager profile, a cell is created. A cell provides a way to group one or more nodes of your WebSphere Application Server Network Deployment product. You define the nodes that make up a cell, according to the specific criteria that make sense in your organizational environment. You probably do not need to configure the cell again.

Administrative configuration data is stored in XML files. A cell retains master configuration files for each server in every node in the cell. Each node and server also have their own local configuration files. Changes to a local node or to a server configuration file are temporary, if the server belongs to the cell. While in effect, local changes override cell configurations. Changes to the master server and master node configuration files made at the cell level replace any temporary changes made at the node when the cell configuration documents are synchronized to the nodes. Synchronization occurs at designated events, such as when a server starts.

To view information about and to manage a cell, use the settings page for a cell.

Procedure

  1. Access the settings page for a cell. Click System administration > Cell from the navigation tree of the administrative console.
  2. If the protocol that the cell uses to retrieve information from a network is not appropriate for your system, select the appropriate protocol. By default, a cell uses Transmission Control Protocol (TCP). If you want the cell to use User Datagram Protocol, select UDP from the list for Cell Discovery Protocol on the settings page for the cell. It is unlikely that you need to change the cell protocol configuration from TCP.
  3. Click Custom Properties and define any name-value pairs that your deployment manager needs.
    1. Click New.
    2. Specify a name and value for the custom property.
  4. When you install the WebSphere Application Server Network Deployment product, a node may have been added to the cell. You can add additional nodes on the Nodes page. Click Nodes to access the Nodes page, which you use to manage nodes.

Results

Depending on which steps you performed, you changed the cell protocol information, defined custom properties for the cell, and added additional nodes.

What to do next

You can continue to administer your WebSphere Application Server Network Deployment product by doing such tasks as managing nodes, node agents, and node groups.