Work with nodes - groups of managed servers

A node is a grouping of managed or unmanaged servers. We can add both managed and unmanaged nodes to the product topology. If we add a new node for an existing WebSphere application server to the network deployment cell, we add a managed node. If we create a node in the topology for managing web servers or servers other than WebSphere application servers, we add an unmanaged node. We can add, configure, remove, and otherwise work with nodes, node agents, and node groups.

Subtopics

• Managed and unmanaged nodes
  A node is a logical grouping of managed servers.

• Node groups
  A node group is a collection of managed nodes. Managed nodes are WebSphere Application Server nodes. A node group defines a boundary for server cluster formation.

• Example: Use node groups with clusters
  Use node groups to define groups of nodes that are capable of hosting members of the same cluster. An application that is deployed to a cluster must be capable of running on any of the cluster members. The node that hosts each of the cluster members must be configured with software and settings necessary to support the application.

• Add, managing, and removing nodes
  We can add a node, select the discovery protocol for a node, define a custom property for a node, stop servers on a node, and remove a node.

• Change the node host names
  After creating a profile or adding a node, the host name of the server or its ports might be incorrect. We can follow the examples to change the server host name using tools and the wsadmin scripting tool, and the host name of the server ports using the console and tools.

• Start and stop a node
  We can start a node using the startNode command. We can stop a node using the stopNode command. Starting and stopping a node is applicable only if the profile, also known as a node, is added to a WAS WebSphere Application Server Network Deployment domain or cell.

• Viewing, configuring, creating, and deleting node groups
  This task discusses how to create and manage node groups.

• Viewing, adding, and deleting node group members
  Use this topic to manage the nodes in the node groups by viewing, adding or deleting the nodes in a node group.

• Manage node agents
  Node agents are administrative agents that represent a node to the system and manage the servers on that node. Node agents monitor application servers on a host system and route administrative requests to servers.

• Configure remote file services
  Configuration data for the WAS product resides in files. Two services help you reconfigure and otherwise manage these files: the file transfer service and file synchronization service.