Connections when servers use the CMS directory listing service

The Crystal Management Server (CMS) manages a directory listing service for the Web Component Server and the servers in the Intelligence Tier and the Processing Tier. (See Architecture overview and diagram for a listing of these servers.)

When a Crystal Enterprise server first connects to the Crystal Enterprise framework, it registers its IP address and port number with the CMS. By default this port number is dynamically chosen.

When one Crystal Enterprise server needs to communicate with another, it contacts the directory listing service on the CMS to obtain the connection information. The first server then uses this information to communicate directly with the second server.

For example, before running a scheduled report, the Report Job Server must communicate with the Input File Repository Server (FRS) to obtain the report object. To do so:

• The Report Job Server contacts the CMS and requests connection information for the Input FRS.
• The CMS replies to the Report Job Server with the IP address and port number of the Input FRS.
• The Report Job Server uses this information to connect directly to the Input FRS. All subsequent communications between the two servers continues using the same address and port.

Note:    

• This communication model is also used when a Crystal SDK or the WCA communicates directly with a server in the Intelligence Tier or the Processing Tier.
• The CMS includes a directory listing for the WCS, but communications between the CMS and WCS (or the CMS and the Crystal Enterprise SDK and WCA) follow another model. See Connections between the Web Connector and WCS, or between the application tier and CMS.
• Using the -requestport command, you can configure any Crystal Enterprise server to register a fixed port number with the CMS, rather than using one that is dynamically selected.

Related topics

• Crystal Enterprise Architecture
• Understanding Crystal Enterprise and firewall integration
• Configuring Crystal Enterprise to work with firewalls
• Server Command Lines