Options for installing on a cluster

When you install IBM® InfoSphere® Information Server, you have a choice of whether to install by using a front-end web server or a cluster member.

It is recommended to take advantage of this new feature and install InfoSphere Information Server by using a cluster member and configure the front-end web server after installation. By doing so, you avoid potential complications during installation if there are problems with the front-end web server configuration. Some of the items to consider in a front-end web server configuration are as follows:

• All communication with InfoSphere Information Server is through SSL and cell level certificates must be imported into the front-end web server and plugins.
• Web server port numbers must be specified into application server virtual host aliases.
• The front-end web server must be able to access InfoSphere Information Server through the firewall.
• A set of InfoSphere Information Server web applications are deployed in the cluster and some of these applications are accessed through REST APIs. Therefore, the front-end web server must be pre-configured to propagate SSL requests to the back-end application server. Or, the front-end web server must be fully managed by the application server with automatic update and propagation of the HTTP plugin when new web applications are deployed.