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Installing and Configuring AppFabric

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You perform component-based installation and configuration of Microsoft AppFabric 1.1 for Windows Server by using two wizards: an installation wizard and a configuration wizard. The installation wizard installs the Hosting Services, Caching Service and Cache Client, Hosting Administration, and Cache Administration. The configuration wizard configures the monitoring and persistence components of the Hosting Services, and the Caching Service.

Separate installation and configuration wizards give you flexibility in setting up your system. You can choose to enter the configuration wizard immediately after the installation wizard has finished, or you can enter the configuration wizard at a later point. Both the installation and configuration wizards are available from the Start menu, so you can install or configure components after initial installation. For more information, see Install AppFabric and Configure AppFabric.

You can also run an automated (silent) installation that requires no user interaction. For more information, see Automated Installation (AppFabric 1.1 Caching).

If you run the AppFabric setup program on a computer that already has a previous version of AppFabric on it, you will be able to upgrade AppFabric through the setup wizard. For more information, see Upgrade AppFabric.

Security is an important consideration in the setup and configuration process of AppFabric. For information about AppFabric security, see “Security and Protection” in the AppFabric Core Help (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=164929).

After installing AppFabric, you should apply the latest update. For more information, see Cumulative update package 2 for Microsoft AppFabric 1.1 for Windows Server.

Hosting Services Installation and Configuration

Installing and configuring the AppFabric hosting features consists of the following tasks: installing AppFabric hosting features on a server, configuring AppFabric monitoring, preparing the monitoring store, configuring AppFabric persistence, and preparing the persistence store. The primary tasks are summarized in the following list:

  • Installing the AppFabric hosting features: Install the Hosting Services and the Hosting Administration tools. This step is performed with the AppFabric Setup Wizard or by using automated setup. For more information about automating the installation of AppFabric, see Automated Installation (AppFabric 1.1 Caching).

  • Configuring AppFabric monitoring, including configuring the account for the Event Collection service, and initializing and registering the monitoring store. This step is performed with the AppFabric Configuration Wizard.

  • Configuring AppFabric persistence, including configuring the account for the Workflow Management service, and initializing and registering the persistence store. This step is performed with the AppFabric Configuration Wizard.

Caching Services Installation and Configuration

Installing and configuring the AppFabric Caching features consists of the following tasks: installing AppFabric Caching features on a cache server, preparing the Caching Service configuration store, configuring the AppFabric Caching Service, and preparing a Cache Client to use the cache cluster. The primary tasks are summarized in the following list:

  • Installing the AppFabric Caching features: Install the Caching Service, the Cache Client, and the Windows PowerShell-based Cache Administration tool. This step is performed with the AppFabric Setup Wizard or by using automated setup. For more information about automating the installation of AppFabric, see Automated Installation (AppFabric 1.1 Caching).

  • Preparing the Caching Service configuration store by creating and designating a shared network folder, or by creating and registering a database to store the Caching Service configuration settings.

  • Configuring the Caching Service configuration settings in the Caching Service configuration store by using the AppFabric Configuration Wizard or the Cache Administration and Configuration cmdlets for Windows PowerShell.

  • Installing the AppFabric Cache Client on computers that will be running applications programmed to take advantage of caching features.

The caching features of AppFabric can be installed by using the AppFabric Setup Wizard or command prompt parameters. Both means of installation require the same input information and perform the same tasks. For more information about automating the installation of AppFabric, see Automated Installation (AppFabric 1.1 Caching).

After the Caching Service configuration store is configured and ready, you can install the caching features on as many cache servers as you would like in the cache cluster. You may experience some degree of contention on the Caching Service configuration store during parallel installations.

Note

To minimize contention issues on the Caching Service configuration storage location during parallel installation of caching features, we recommend that you use SQL Server to store the cluster configuration settings. Use SQL Server to store the Caching Service configuration settings by specifying the SQL Server AppFabric Caching Service Configuration Store Provider on the Configure Caching Service page of the AppFabric Configuration Wizard. When using a shared folder for Caching Service configuration settings, serial installation of servers with caching features is advised.

For the installation to succeed, the security identity of the person performing the installation must have the appropriate permissions on the Caching Service configuration store. Set the identity from the Configure Caching Service dialog box in the AppFabric Configuration Wizard.

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  2012-10-26