78.1 Web Configurations

Depending on the needs of your GroupWise system, it might be necessary for you to have multiple web servers running the GroupWise Web application.

78.1.1 Basic Installation

A basic installation of GroupWise Web requires the Web Application, at least two POAs, and a DVA, as shown in the following diagram.

When you install the GroupWise Web Application, you can configure it to communicate with a single POA. However, if that POA goes down, GroupWise Web users cannot access their mailboxes, even if all of the other POAs in your GroupWise system are still running.

78.1.2 Multiple DVAs for the GroupWise Web Application

When you install the GroupWise Web Application, you can configure it to communicate with a single DVA. Again, in this simple configuration, if that DVA goes down, no GroupWise Web users can view attached documents until that DVA is running again.

Configuring the Web Application for multiple DVAs provides more reliable document conversion. Three DVAs are recommended, but there is no limit to the number of DVAs that you can configure the Web Application to communicate with. When a DVA stops responding, the Web Application contacts the next DVA in the list to provide uninterrupted document conversion.

For setup instructions, see Configuring the GroupWise Web Application in the GroupWise Installation Guide.

78.1.3 Multiple GroupWise Web Applications and Web Servers for a Large GroupWise Web Installation

In a larger GroupWise system, you can install the GroupWise Web Application to multiple web servers.

There are various reasons why you might want to add additional GroupWise Web applications, including:

  • Improving GroupWise Web reliability: One instance of the GroupWise Web Application might provide sufficient access and performance, but you want to protect against downtime that would occur if the Web Application became unavailable because of a web server failure or some other reason. Installing more than one web image enables you to set up failover support to make your system more reliable.

  • Improving GroupWise Web performance: The GroupWise Web Application is designed to be close to GroupWise post offices. It requires SOAP access to the post office. For best performance, you should ensure that the Web Application is on the same local area network as the POA that it communicates with. For example, in most cases you do not want a GroupWise Web image in Los Angeles communicating with a POA in London.

  • Improving GroupWise Web availability: Adding additional Docker images enables GroupWise Web users on an intranet to access GroupWise through an internal web server and GroupWise Web users on the Internet to access GroupWise through an exposed web server.

  • Improving web server performance: Adding additional Docker images of GroupWise Web increases web server performance by balancing the workload among several web servers, especially if you are using the web server for other purposes in addition to GroupWise Web.