Configuring HP DCE Cells

Choosing a Cell Configuration Tool

Choosing a Cell Configuration Tool

HP DCE/9000 offers two cell configuration tools: a script-based tool, dce_config, and a SAM-based tool, DCM (DCE Configuration Manager). SAM (System Administration Manager) is an HP-UX menu-driven system administration program that includes several other system administration utilities, in addition to the DCE cell configuration component.

DCM and dce_config

DCM is essentially a graphical front-end to dce_config. However, in addition to the ease-of-use that a graphical interface confers, DCM has some important functional differences that offer advantages over running dce_config. Therefore, we recommend that you use DCM, and not dce_config, to configure cells in almost all cases. (See “Limitations of DCM,” the next subsection, for further details.)

Advantages of DCM

Some of the advantages of DCM are:

DCM has a template mode that allows you to create prototype configurations that can be tested before actually creating them.

DCM checks systems before performing the configuration.

DCM prevents you from creating an invalid configuration.

DCM allows you to configure all HP DCE/9000 Version 1.2, 1.2.1, 1.3.1, 1.4, 1.4.1, 1.4.2, 1.5, 1.6, and 1.7 systems in your cell remotely, from a single administrative node. However, DCM does not configure and may not discover all aspects of other vendors’ system configuration.

DCM remembers the last successful configuration. This information is used only when the cell is “down” or critical DCE servers are not running.

DCM includes complete online documentation.

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Planning and Configuring HP DCE 1.7

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HP UX DCE Software manual Choosing a Cell Configuration Tool, DCM and dceconfig, Advantages of DCM

UX DCE Software specifications

HP UX DCE Software, or Hewlett-Packard UNIX Distributed Computing Environment, represents a significant tool in the realm of distributed system architecture. Designed primarily for enterprise environments, HP UX DCE enhances the reliability, scalability, and manageability of applications over diverse networked systems.

One of the main features of HP UX DCE is its ability to integrate various computing platforms, enabling seamless communication and resource sharing across distributed nodes. This facilitates the creation of complex applications that can operate on a multitude of systems, thus enhancing operational flexibility. DCE employs standardized interfaces, which means applications written for one platform can run on any other platform that supports DCE, promoting cross-platform compatibility.

In terms of technologies, HP UX DCE utilizes Remote Procedure Calls (RPC) as a core feature. This mechanism allows different applications to communicate and invoke procedures on remote systems as if they were local calls. Additionally, DCE includes a robust security model that incorporates Kerberos for authentication, ensuring that communication between nodes remains secure and protected against unauthorized access.

Another significant characteristic of HP UX DCE is its distributed file system, which allows for transparent file access across different machines. The DCE File System (DFS) provides a unified namespace and manages data replication and consistency across distributed storage resources. This reduces the complexity of data management and enhances data availability.

HP UX DCE also supports a variety of programming languages, making it accessible for developers accustomed to different coding environments. This versatility encourages widespread adoption and innovation, as developers can leverage existing skills to create distributed applications.

Furthermore, HP UX DCE is built for high availability, ensuring that critical applications remain responsive even in the face of hardware or network failures. Its inherent component redundancy and fault-tolerant architecture are designed to minimize downtime, which is essential for mission-critical applications in enterprise scenarios.

In conclusion, HP UX DCE Software provides a comprehensive framework for developing, deploying, and managing distributed applications. Its core features such as RPC support, a secure authentication mechanism, a robust file system, and cross-platform compatibility make it a vital resource for organizations aiming to leverage distributed computing effectively. As enterprises evolve, HP UX DCE stands out as an influential solution in the dynamic landscape of distributed environments.