Load Balancing Library Images and Files

Library load balancing is important when your configuration consists of 2 or more Web sites that share one database. Library files are not saved in the database but in the site root folders uploadedfiles and uploadedimages.

To support load balancing, library files on all servers must be identical. To maintain this state, whenever a user uploads an item to the library, it is replicated on all other servers. After following the setup instructions, whenever an image or file is added to the library of one server, it is copied to the corresponding folder on other servers in the configuration.

1. Open the file C:\Program Files\Ektron\EktronWindowsService40\Ektron.ASM.EktronServices40.exe.config using a word processor such as Notepad.
2. Set the value of the LibraryLoadBalanced property to 1.
3. Set the value of the LoadBalServerCount property to the number of servers in your load balance cluster.
4. Save the config file.
5. Restart the Ektron Windows Service.
   

   

See Also: Ektron Windows Service

Load Balancing Assets

Asset load balancing is important when your configuration consists of 2 or more Web sites that share one database. Ektron balances requests to work with assets from multiple servers by ensuring that each server has a copy of every asset.

After setting up asset load balancing, any asset added to one server is copied to the corresponding folder on other servers in the configuration. There is no limit to the number of servers that can be load balanced.

The following table shows the load balance setting summary.

To set up load balancing for assets, follow these steps on all servers that are load balanced together.

1. Within the site root folder, open the AssetManagement.config file using a word processor such as Notepad.
2. Change the value of the LoadBalanced element to 1.
3. Save the config file.
4. Open the following file using a word processor such as Notepad:

   C:\Program Files\Ektron\EktronWindowsservice40\
Ektron.ASM.EktronServices40.exe.config

5. Set the value of the LibraryLoadBalanced property to 1.
6. Set the value of the LoadBalServerCount property to the number of servers in your load balance cluster.
7. Save the config file.
8. Update these files for each server in the load balance cluster.
9. Sign on to Ektron. This action sets up the load balance software in the database.

Refreshing Load Balanced Files

Prerequisite: You must be an Administrators group member.

Asset and Library files may become out-of-date or lost due to equipment failures, power outages, or other events. In addition to your Load Balance system, Ektron provides a way to refresh the files contained in the DMS Assets folders and Library Files and Images folders.

NOTE: Open Port 8732 on Load Balanced Servers for Load Balancing Refresh to work properly.

IMPORTANT: Previously, Ektron used Port 6079 for communication between load balancing servers. Starting with version 8.01, this port is no longer used and can be closed in your firewall.

To refresh the load balanced files:

1. In the Workarea, go to Settings > Configuration > Load Balancing. The page looks like this.
   

   

2. Click Start. A status screen appears.
   

   

3. Verify that the status screen shows servers you expect to be refreshed. Server name WS10155 is circled in the example.

   WARNING! If you click Start and the screen quickly returns and files do not refresh, or if a server is missing from the status list, check your Load Balancing settings in Ektron.ASM.EKtronServices30.exe.config.

4. Click Close when finished viewing the status.

Load Balancing Status

To check the Load Balancing Status, click the Scroll button.

The Status screen shows the Load Balancing screen showing either the previous refresh or the current refresh in progress.