Chapter 8: Installing a Front-End Web Server

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7.3.3. JBoss Domain Controller – Failure and Promotion |  | 8.1. The Architecture of an EKM Server
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## Chapter 8: Installing a Front-End Web Server

An EKM server consists of one or more EKM cluster nodes. On each EKM cluster node, the EKM server application is installed in an application server. The application server handles requests from clients such as web browsers, and forwards them to the EKM server application for processing. In this scenario, the client is making requests directly to the application server(s) where EKM is installed and set up. This is the default configuration installed by the ANSYS EKM Server product installation. This configuration is suitable for most single-node EKM servers. For a multi-node EKM server, an additional component called the “front-end web server” is required.

A front-end web server is a web server that is deployed between the client and the EKM cluster node(s). The web server is configured to recognize requests for certain URLs, and forward those requests transparently to the application server(s) on the EKM cluster node(s). This web server is referred to as a front-end web server because, from the perspective of a client, it is in front of the application server(s) hosting the EKM server application. EKM supports the use of Apache HTTP Server as a front-end web server.

This arrangement can be used to “virtualize” the URL that clients use to connect to EKM. The client always uses the same URL to get to the EKM server while the EKM cluster nodes can have any name/location. This arrangement provides flexibility to IT professionals who deploy and maintain the EKM server.

A front-end web server provides the ability to load balance connections in a multi-node EKM server, providing better user experience and resource management.

The use of a front-end web server also provides a way to expose an EKM server to the internet (such as on a protected DMZ network), while keeping back-end services like the file server and database server on a protected LAN.

Depending on your security needs, the front-end web server can be configured to support encryption via HTTPS, and can employ various authentication and access-control mechanisms that the web server supports. A complete discussion of web-server configuration is beyond the scope of this document, but instructions are provided for enabling HTTPS on the Apache web server.

Use of a front-end web server is optional when setting up an EKM server in a single-node configuration, and is required in a multi-node configuration. Instructions specific to either single-node or multi-node configuration will be highlighted in the instructions that follow. The front-end web server is installed manually, and not by the ANSYS EKM Server product installation.

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