In AppManager, a management site always consists of one AppManager repository (QDB), at least one AppManager management server, the Task Scheduler service, and some number of AppManager agents on agent computers that report events and data through the management server to the QDB. A single management site may have multiple management servers to distribute processing and communication for agent computers, but each management server communicates with only one QDB. Therefore, the QDB and the management servers that communicate with it define the management site.
In planning the configuration of your site, decide whether to use a single management server or multiple management servers. If you install multiple management servers within a given management site (that is, for a single QDB), you should explicitly designate a primary and secondary management server for each agent computer to communicate with. Explicitly designating a primary and a secondary, or backup, management server enables you to distribute processing load, provide failover support for agent computers, and control which management servers communicate with which agents based on the constraints of your network, department requirements, or other factors.
Using a single management server might simplify site administration and troubleshooting of your AppManager environment, but it can overload the management server, inhibiting system performance.
NOTE:Although you can install multiple management servers in your environment without explicitly specifying a primary and secondary management server for each agent computer, NetIQ Corporation does not recommend this practice. Choosing not to designate management servers in the recommended way can limit the amount of control you have over which management servers communicate with which agent computers. Always install a single management server and explicitly designate its agent computers before installing a second management server.
For a review of issues to consider in planning the number of management servers and management sites, see the Installation Guide for AppManager, available on the AppManager Documentation page, and Developing a Management Site and Site Policies.