Learning the Configuration and Management architectural overview

The focal point of the Configuration and Management components is the Configuration and Management database that stores the application configuration. Applications read their configuration from the Configuration and Management database through the application configuration client. Administrators use the Management Console to view and change the configuration stored in the Configuration and Management database through the Management Agent.

There are three basic topologies that are relevant for the understanding of how the Configuration and Management components interact. These topologies are based on the types of managed applications:

• Stand-alone enterprise application
• Java EE clustered enterprise application
• Custom clustered enterprise application

In all of these topologies, the Configuration and Management database is available either locally or remotely to both the Management Agent and the application. The Management Console and the Management Agent are always located on the same computer. The main differences between these topologies are found in the ways in which the Management Agent communicates with the application to inform it about changes to configuration.