File synchronization service settings
Specify that a file set on one node matches that on the central deployment manager node and to ensure consistent configuration data across a cell.
We can synchronize files on individual nodes or throughout the system.
(ZOS) (Dist) Note: If the installation includes mixed release cells, a large numbers of nodes, and runs a large number of applications, we might want to use the Generic JVM Arguments field, on the Java Virtual Machine Settings page of the administrative console, to enable the hot restart sync feature of the synchronization service. This feature indicates to the synchronization service that the installation is running in an environment where configuration updates are not made when the deployment manager is not active. Therefore, the service does not have to perform a complete repository comparison when the deployment manager or node agent servers restart. See Generic JVM arguments in the Java virtual machine settings documentation.
Important: Do not routinely disable the synchronization process as various portions of the application server run time depend on synchronization. For example, the security run time depends on node synchronization to propagate updated certificates during automated replacement processes. Also, the security runtime also depends on it for LTPA key changes. Other portions of the run time are dependent on synchronization. However, a complete list is not available. If we permanently disable synchronization, nodes might not be synchronized and an outage will result. The only exception is the configuration save operation. To avoid synchronizing the configuration when the configuration repository is being updated by a save operation, it might be beneficial to temporarily disable the synchronization process, save the configuration, and then re-enable the synchronization process. This process ensures that changes are fully committed to the configuration repository before the node synchronization.
From the admin console, click...
System administration > Node agents > node_agent_name > File synchronization service
Enable service at server startup
Specifies whether the server attempts to start the file synchronization service. This setting does not cause a file synchronization operation to start. This setting is enabled by default.
Important: Disabling synchronization is not recommended. Various portions of the run time have dependencies on synchronization being enabled. For example, in a multiple-server product, the security environment depends on node synchronization to propagate updated certificates during automated replacement and for LTPA key changes. If synchronization is disabled, the nodes might get out of synchronization, resulting in an outage.
Information Value Data type Boolean Default true
Synchronization interval
Number of minutes that elapse between synchronizations. Increase the time interval to synchronize files less often. Decrease the time interval to synchronize files more often.
Information Value Data type Integer Units Minutes Default (ZOS) 10 1
The minimum value that the application server uses is 1. If we specify a value of 0, the application server ignores the value and uses the default of 1. Important: We can change the node synchronization interval to a greater number of minutes. However, before we make the change, carefully consider the impact because some functions critically depend on node synchronization. Before changing the value to any value other than the default value, it is advisable that you complete careful, large-scale testing in the environment.
Automatic synchronization
Specifies whether to synchronize files automatically after a designated interval. When this setting is enabled, the node agent automatically contacts the deployment manager every synchronization interval to attempt to synchronize the node's configuration repository with the master repository owned by the deployment manager.
If the Automatic synchronization setting is enabled, the node agent attempts file synchronization when it establishes contact with the deployment manager. The node agent waits the synchronization interval before it attempts the next synchronization.
Remove the check mark from the check box to control when files are sent to the node.
Information Value Data type Boolean Default true
Startup synchronization
Specifies whether the node agent attempts to synchronize the node configuration with the latest configurations in the master repository prior to starting an application server.
The default is to not synchronize files prior to starting an application server. Enabling the setting ensures that the node agent has the latest configuration but increases the amount of time it takes to start the application server.
This setting has no effect on the startServer command. The startServer command launches a server directly and does not use the node agent.
Information Value Data type Boolean Default false
Exclusions
Specifies files or patterns that should not be part of the synchronization of configuration data. Files in this list are not copied from the master configuration repository to the node, and are not deleted from the repository at the node.
The default is to have no files specified.
To specify a file, use a complete name or a name with a leading or trailing asterisk (*) for a wildcard. For example:
Name Information Excludes this specific file Excludes files named file name in any context Excludes the subtree under dirname Excluding parts of an application might cause it to not deploy or run correctly.
Press Enter at the end of each entry. Each file name appears on a separate line.
Exclusions are not in effect when the syncnode command line tool is used.
Since these strings represent logical document locations and not actual file paths, only forward slashes are needed no matter the platform.
Changes to the exclusion list are picked up when the node agent is restarted.
Information Value Data type String Units File names or patterns
Exclusions do not affect the installedApps directory.
Related:
Remote files services for file transfer and file synchronization Configure remote file services Java virtual machine settings Custom property collection (ZOS) Enterprise application collection