Automation Engine and Clusters

Clusters group computers in order to achieve increased computer capacity or workload distribution. AE can also run in a cluster.

Installation and configuration for a cluster are almost the same as they are for an individual computer. The most important steps are listed below. Other settings in the cluster itself depend on the cluster software in use.

Automation Engine

It is useful to integrate your Automation Engine in a cluster if it has only been installed on one computer.

  1. Install the Automation Engine in a separate directory.
  2. Enter the cluster's virtual IP address in the INI file parameter hostname= in the [TCP/IP] section.
  3. Install the ServiceManager on all the cluster's computers in order to ensure that the server processes can be started if the computer is changed. The ServiceManager must be available as a cluster service.

Agents

Agents can also run in a cluster.

  1. Install the agent in a separate directory.
  2. Enter the cluster's virtual IP address in the INI file parameter UC_EX_IP_ADDR. For more information, see List of Agent Variables.
  3. Install the ServiceManager on all the cluster's computers in order to ensure that the agents can be started if the computer is changed. The ServiceManager must be available as a cluster service. For more information, see ServiceManager.

Example: Microsoft Cluster

Keep the following instructions in mind when installing a Windows agent in a cluster:

There are two different installation types. The ServiceManager and the agent are either installed on a shared disk (Type 1) or the ServiceManager is installed on a local disk and the agent on a shared disk (Type 2).

Type 2 does not require you to switch the cluster group during the installation. The ServiceManager must be installed on each node.

Type 1:

Type 2:

See also:

Automation Engine System in a Windows Cluster