WebSphere Application Server V7.0: Concepts ... - IBM Redbooks

3.1.4 Nodes, node groups, and node agents
This section defines node-related concepts.
Nodes
A node is an administrative grouping of application servers for configuration and
operational management within one operating system instance (virtualization
allows multiple operating systems on one machine). It is possible to create
multiple nodes inside one operating system instance, but a node cannot leave
the operating system boundaries. In a stand-alone application server
configuration, there is only one node. With Network Deployment, you can
configure a distributed server environment consisting of multiple nodes, which
are managed from one central administration server (Figure 3-4).
Node Agent
Application
Server
Node01
Node Agent
Application
Server
Node02
System A
Deployment
Manager
Node Agent
Application
Server
Node03
System B
Integrated Solutions
Console
Figure 3-4 Node concept in a WebSphere Application Server network deployment
configuration
Node agents
In distributed server configurations, each node has a node agent that works with
the deployment manager to manage administration processes (Figure 3-4). A
node agent is created automatically when you add (federate) a stand-alone node
to a cell. It is not included in the Base and Express configurations.
Chapter 3. WebSphere Application Server concepts 59