36.2 Shared Content Repository

This feature enables you to share the content repository among multiple Primary Servers in the same zone. In prior releases of ZENworks, every Primary Server had its own content repository. This section includes the following:

36.2.1 Pre-requisites

Before you configure the shared repository, you need to ensure that the following prerequisites are met in the following scenarios:

ZENworks running as a Primary Server on a Linux device

  • Ensure that the ZENworks user has read/write access to the shared volume.

  • Ensure that shared volume path is configured in the /etc/fstab file. This will ensure that during the reboot of the machine, the administrator does not have to remount the shared volume on the Primary Servers.

    The following command is an example of the shared volume path configuration when the shared repository is hosted on an separate OES Server as CIFS Share, on an NSS volume:

    In this command:

    • Replace <IP address of the OES server> with the IP address of the OES Server on which the content repository is hosted.

    • Replace <Shared Volume> with the NSS volume configured on the OES Server, with CIFS share enabled.

    • username is the name of the zenworks user, created on the OES Server, which is also LUM (Linux User Management) enabled.

    The following command is an example of the shared volume path configuration when the NFS Share is hosted on a separate SLES Server:

    In this command:

    • Replace <IP address of the SLES server> with the IP address of the SLES Server on which the content repository is hosted.

    • Replace <Shared Volume> with the NSS volume that is configured on the SLES Server, with NFS share enabled.

ZENworks running as a Primary Server on a ZENworks Appliance

NOTE:If NFS Share is configured on the appliance, ensure that you install the nfs-client RPM. This RPM is not installed by default along with the appliance.

ZENworks running as a Primary Server on a Windows Server Class device

When ZENworks is running as a Primary Server on a Windows device, the user account with which the ZENworks Loader process is running should have read/write access to the shared repository, before the shared repository is configured.

This section explains how to configure the shared content repository for an anonymous user. The ZENworks user account can be obtained by opening the ZENworks Loader process from the services.msc application and navigating to the Log on tab. Configuring stricter access permissions is beyond the scope of ZENworks. You will need to contact your File System administrator for further assistance.

The following command is an example for a scenario in which the shared content repository is hosted on an OES Server as CIFS Share, on an NSS volume:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Micro Focus\ZENworks\work>mklink /D content-repo \\<ip address of the OES Server>\<Shared Volume Eg: WIN_VOL>

In this command, WIN_VOL is the CIFS Share created on the OES Server, with anonymous access.

36.2.2 Configuring the Shared Content Repository for Multiple Primary Servers

  1. Stop the ZENworks Loader and ZENworks Server services only on those Primary Servers for which you want to configure the shared content repository.

    For example, if there are three Primary Servers in a zone (PS1, PS2 and PS3) and the shared content-repo needs to be configured for PS1 and PS2, then the services need to be stopped only on PS1 and PS2.

  2. Mount the shared content repo either by configuring the /etc/fstab file or by using the mount command on a Linux or Windows server. For more information, see the Pre-requisites section.

  3. Repeat steps 1 to 3 to mount each of the Primary Servers to the shared content repository.

  4. Restart the ZENwork Loader and ZENworks Server services only on those Primary Servers for which the shared content is configured.

    NOTE:

    1. If you plan to add a new Primary Server to an existing zone and then configure the Shared Content Repo for this server, the Primary Server should initially be configured with its own local content repository. Once the server is installed, ensure that there is a long delay in the content replication interval so that content replication does not happen to the local repository. You need to follow steps 1 to 7 that are listed above, to configure the new Primary Server to the shared content repo.

    2. If you want the shared content to be available for all the Primary Servers immediately, run the Replicate Now action.

36.2.3 Revoking the Sharing of the Content Repository

This scenario will enable you to revoke the sharing of the content repository that is mounted to a Primary Server.

  1. Stop the ZENworks Loader and ZENworks Server services on those Primary Servers for which the shared content repository needs to be revoked.

  2. Once the shared content repo folder is revoked successfully, you need to copy the content from the shared content repo to the local content repo.

  3. Restart the ZENworks Loader and ZENworks Server services on those Primary Servers for which the shared content repository is revoked.