Configure core group socket buffers

Most operating systems provide program interfaces for performing operations involving the sending and receiving of data over sockets. Most operating systems also provide administrative capabilities to control the amount of memory allocated per socket used as data buffers.

• (AIX) (Linux) Check the operating system settings relevant to TCP sockets. For example, if we are using an AIX operating system, check the values specified for the tcp_sendspace, tcp_recvspace, and sb_max settings. Similarly on a Linux operating system, check the values specified for the tcp_rmem, and tcp_wmem settings.

• Use the performance monitoring infrastructure for the product to determine the average message size that the core group transport handles. If our operating system setting for the default buffer size is smaller than the average message size, make one of the following changes:

  • Change the default buffer size setting for our operating system. However, this action might be inappropriate because it might affect the operation of other applications running on this operating system.

  • Change the size of the socket buffer that the core group transport obtains. The value specified for the IBM_CS_SOCKET_BUFFER_SIZE core group custom property determines the size of the socket buffer that the core group transport obtains.

    Socket Buffer Type	Property set to 0	Property set to 1	Property set to 2	Property set to 3
    Unicast receive	Operating system default buffer size is used.	Buffer size is 64 kilobytes	Buffer size is 256 kilobytes	Buffer size is 1 megabyte
    Unicast send	Operating system default buffer size is used.	Operating system default buffer size is used.	Buffer size is 64 kilobytes	Buffer size is 128 kilobytes
    Multicast receive	Operating system default buffer size is used.	Buffer size is 512 kilobytes	Buffer size is 1 megabyte	Buffer size is 3 megabytes

We might want to change the size of the core group buffers in the following circumstances:

• We are directed to do so by IBM Support
• We are directed to do so during the course of installing another WebSphere product.
• To change the behavior of the core group transport without affecting the behavior of other sockets.
• Tune the network communication path of our system to the application.

Change the socket buffer space that the core group transport allocates

1. In the administrative console, click...
   Servers > Core Groups > Core group settings > core_group_name > Additional Properties > Custom properties

2. Change the value specified for the IBM_CS_SOCKET_BUFFER_SIZE custom property.

   If the IBM_CS_SOCKET_BUFFER_SIZE property already exists, click the property name and specify either 0, 1, 2, or 3.

   If this property does not already exist, click New and create it:

   1. In the Name field, specify IBM_CS_SOCKET_BUFFER_SIZE.

   2. In the Value field specify one of the following strings:
      • 0
      • 1
      • 2
      • 3

3. Click OK and then click Review.

4. Select Synchronize changes with nodes, and then click Save.

5. Restart all members of the core group.

After the servers restart, the core group members all run with the new socket buffer size settings.

Related:

Core groups (high availability domains)