CFUnited August 12-15, 2009
CFUnited August 12-15, 2009
Mike Brunt – CFWhisperer
mbrunt@go2ria.net

I have been using CF since 1996, version 1.54 (dbml) and am still actively developing in CF.
I have been using CF since 1996, version 1.54 (dbml) and am still actively developing in CF.
I worked for Allaire-Macromedia as a ColdFusion-Spectra consultant.
Co-founded Webapper (SeeFusion crowd) carried on the Allaire-Macromedia consulting work.
This series of slides will detail Clustering techniques and some myths and legends surrounding the subject.

From my experiences in the field I see ColdFusion being used in ever larger Enterprises. Typically these organizations either have clustered environments already or are considering moving to a clustered environment.
From my experiences in the field I see ColdFusion being used in ever larger Enterprises. Typically these organizations either have clustered environments already or are considering moving to a clustered environment.
In this presentation we will cover all that I have encountered relating to clustering ColdFusion over the past 11 years. Including Hardware and Software clustering and the effects that has on application architecture considerations and also address some Myths and Legends!

What is Clustering? It is not Load Balancing
What is Clustering? It is not Load Balancing
Consider Clustering from Day One
Software Clustering (Java – CF – JRun). It is important to note that the J2EE clustering employed by ColdFusion does not cluster the external web server: IIS-Apache etc.
Hardware Clustering Considerations
Hardware and Software Clustering

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Consider Clustering from Day One.
Here are some important things we need to think about as we bring clustering into the picture.
Synchronizing copies of code.
Session Variables – Client Variables?
Application Variables – Request Scope?
Hard coded localization – directory paths, IP Addresses
Third Party Devices – Databases etc.

Software Clustering.
Cluster Cats – maximum 8 servers. (Now sadly long gone, despite what some have said ClusterCats was good and Harvest would have been even better.) HARVEST??????
Windows NLB
Ensure ColdFusion Administrator Settings are synchronized. CF 9 will address this at last with the AIR based multi-server manager.
Only Session Scope items can be shared between “Buddies”.

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Hardware Clustering Considerations
Hardware Clustering has pretty much the same needs/planning as Software Clustering.
Synchronizing copies of code.
Session Scope Variables – Client Variables?
Application Scope Variables – Request Scope.
Third Party Devices – Databases etc.
Once again I recommend RoundRobin with Sticky Sessions.
One very important point, if the Hardware Clustering device is “pinging” a template on the server/instance make sure it is not also causing lots of code-processes to run. I have seen that bring applications to their knees.

Maximum redundancy in a single location.
Maximum redundancy in a single location.

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