Using Import Agents

You must activate import agents to allow federation. Increasing or decreasing the number of import agents enables you to optimize system performance.

More import agents can improve throughput but use more system and network resources. However, too many import agents might create too much database activity for the Content Engine,and reduce actual throughput. Fewer import agents require fewer system resources but might not be able to efficiently process the flow of catalog data.

CAUTION Do not modify any values unless an IBM support representative specifically instructs you to do so. Improper modification of a value could adversely affect system performance and functionality.

To enable or change the number of import agents per object store on the Content Engine server

  1. Launch Enterprise Manager at logon with appropriate credentials.
  2. Right-click the Enterprise Manager (Domain) icon or open the Sites folder and right-click a Site icon.
  3. Click Properties on the context-sensitive menu.
  4. When the Properties menu displays, select the CFS Import Agent tab.
  5. Ensure that the Enable Dispatcher box is checked. This box must be checked to start the import agents and allow federation.
  6. Enter a value for the Dispatcher Wait Interval. This is the number of seconds that the dispatcher waits before looking for work. Valid settings range from 5 to 600 seconds.
  7. In the Maximum Number of Worker Threads field, type the new number of import agents to use. The default is 10, but there is no maximum value.

    You can also adjust the other values on the CFS Import Agent tab to tune the performance of the CFS for CMOD system.

    Batch Selection Size
    The maximum number of batches that are selected by the import agent dispatcher from the database in a single database round trip.
    Maximum in Memory Items
    Number of import agent threads on each Content Engine server. (Default = 10. Note that there is no upper limit for this value.)
    Override inherited settings
    If available, select the check box to override the inherited import agent configuration settings. When you select selected, the Copy Values button is enabled for use in overriding the inherited settings.
    Copy Values
    Click Copy Values to open a dialog box and select an object from which to copy import agent configuration settings. The Copy Values button remains disabled until the user selects the Override inherited settings check box.
  8. Click OK to save your changes and close the Properties window. The new values will automatically take effect.

    NOTE CFS uses the old settings to complete any batch that was in process before the changes were saved. The Import Agent processes subsequent batches with the new values.

Starting and restarting import agents

You must map at least one Content Engine object store to each fixed content device before the import agents are started. If no object store is mapped to any fixed content device, the CFS services will exit.

You do not have to restart the import agents when you modify properties or document class mappings. However, if you choose to stop or restart the import agents to manage the work load on the Content Engine server, clear or check the Enable Dispatcher box on the CFS Import Agent tab of the Enterprise Manager Properties window, as described above.