23.1 Planning the Internet Agent in a Windows Cluster

A main system configuration difference between a GroupWise system in a clustering environment and a GroupWise system in a regular environment is that you need to create a separate domain to house the GWIA. The GWIA is faster and more stable when it runs on the same server with its domain. In a cluster, creating a separate domain for the GWIA ensures that the GWIA and its domain always fail over together.

Internet Agent Clustering Worksheet lists all the information you need as you set up the GWIA in a Windows cluster. You should print the worksheet and fill it out as you complete the tasks listed below:

23.1.1 Planning a Domain for the GWIA

The considerations involved in planning a domain for the GWIA are much the same as planning any other domain. In preparation, review Planning a New Domain, then print and fill out the New Domain Summary Sheet in Domains in the GroupWise 2012 Administration Guide.

Keep in mind the following cluster-specific details:

  • When you specify the location for the domain directory on the Domain Worksheet, include the shared disk where you want the domain directory to be located.

  • Do not concern yourself with the GroupWise agent information on the Domain Worksheet. You can stop with item 10. You will plan the MTA installation later.

When you have completed the Domain Worksheet, transfer the key information from the Domain Worksheet to the Internet Agent Clustering Worksheet.

INTERNET AGENT CLUSTERING WORKSHEET

Under Item 1: Resource Group for the GWIA, transfer the disk drive to the Internet Agent Clustering Worksheet.

Under Item 2: GWIA Domain Name, transfer the domain name and directory to the Internet Agent Clustering Worksheet.

23.1.2 Planning the GWIA Resource Group

The GWIA resource group is similar to the GroupWise resource groups you have already set up, as described in Planning GroupWise Resource Groups and Creating GroupWise Resource Groups. The GWIA resource group contains a domain whose only role is to connect the GWIA into your clustered GroupWise system. It also contains two agent service resources, one for the MTA that services the domain and one for the GWIA.

INTERNET AGENT CLUSTERING WORKSHEET

Under Item 1: Resource Group for GWIA, specify the network name and other required information for the GWIA resource group.

To ensure successful short name resolution, add entries for the GWIA network name to support your preferred methods of short name resolution, as described in Configuring Short Name Resolution.

23.1.3 Planning Cluster-Unique Port Numbers for the GWIA and Its MTA

As with the MTA, POA, and DVA, the GWIA needs cluster-unique port numbers. As part of planning to install the MTA and POA, you should already have determined the resource group IP address and cluster-unique port numbers for the GWIA and its MTA as you filled out the Network Address Worksheet. If you do not have a filled-out copy of this worksheet for your system, print it now and fill in current system information.

INTERNET AGENT CLUSTERING WORKSHEET

Under Item 5: MTA Network Information, transfer the resource group IP address and cluster-unique port numbers from the GWIA section of the Network Address Worksheet to the Internet Agent Clustering Worksheet.

Under Item 7: GWIA Network Information, transfer the resource group IP address (the same as for its MTA) and the cluster-unique GWIA port number from the GWIA section of the Network Address Worksheet to the Internet Agent Clustering Worksheet.

23.1.4 Preparing Your Firewall for the GWIA

The GWIA receives incoming messages on the IP address of the GWIA resource group. Your firewall configuration must be modified to allow inbound TCP/IP traffic from the Internet to the GWIA IP address on the following standard ports:

Protocol

Standard Port

IMAP4

143

LDAP

389

POP3

110

SMTP

25

By default, the GWIA sends outgoing messages on the IP address of the node where it is running. If you decide to use this default configuration, your firewall must be configured to allow outbound TCP/IP traffic from all nodes on the GWIA resource group’s possible owners list.

If the GWIA has a large number of nodes in its possible owners list, you can configure the GWIA to send outgoing messages to a relay host, which then sends them out through the firewall using its own IP address rather than the IP address of the particular node where the GWIA is running. This reduces the amount of modification to your firewall required to set up the GWIA. However, if the relay host goes down, all outgoing messages are delayed.

As another alternative, you can configure the GWIA to use its resource group IP address for sending as well as receiving messages. Setup instructions for this configuration are provided in Forcing Use of the GWIA Resource Group IP Address, which you can complete after installing the GWIA.

In preparation for installing the GWIA, configure your firewall as needed to handle the GWIA’s use of node and resource group IP addresses when sending and receiving messages.

23.1.5 Deciding Where to Install the GWIA and Its MTA

The default GWIA installation directory is c:\Program Files\Novell\GroupWise Server\GWIA. As with the MTA, the POA, and the DVA, you can choose to install the GWIA and its MTA to each node in the cluster or to the shared disk of the GWIA resource group. For a discussion of these alternatives, see Deciding Where to Install the Agent Software, which describes the issues in the context of planning MTA and POA installations. As with the MTA, POA, and DVA, the GWIA and its MTA must be installed as Windows services.

INTERNET AGENT CLUSTERING WORKSHEET

Under Item 4: MTA Installation Location and Item 6: GWIA Installation Location, mark whether you will install the GWIA and its MTA to the shared disk of the GWIA resource group or to each node in the cluster. If necessary, specify where the MTA startup file and the GWIA configuration file (gwia.cfg) will be stored.

23.1.6 Planning the MTA Installation

Follow the instructions in Planning the Windows Agent Installation to plan the MTA installation for the GWIA domain, then return to this point. After you follow the instructions, you will have a filled-out Windows Agent Worksheet to use when you install the MTA.

IMPORTANT:Do not install the Windows MTA until you are instructed to do so in Section 23.2, Setting Up the Internet Agent in a Windows Cluster.

23.1.7 Planning the GWIA Installation

Aside from the cluster-specific issues discussed in the preceding sections, the considerations involved in planning to install the GWIA are the same in a Windows cluster as for any other environment. Review Windows: Installing the GWIA Software, then print and fill out the GroupWise Internet Agent Installation Worksheet in Installing the GroupWise Internet Agent in the GroupWise 2012 Installation Guide. You need this information as you install the GWIA in your cluster.

IMPORTANT:Do not install the GWIA software until you are instructed to do so in Section 23.2, Setting Up the Internet Agent in a Windows Cluster.