Managed vs unmanaged processes

A node is a logical grouping of managed servers. A node usually corresponds to a logical or physical computer system with a distinct IP host address. Nodes cannot span multiple computers.

Nodes in the network deployment topology can be managed or unmanaged. A managed node has a node agent process that manages its configuration and servers. Unmanaged nodes do not have a node agent.

A managed node has a node agent that manages all servers on a node, whether the servers are WebSphere Application Servers, Java Message Service (JMS) servers (on Version 5 nodes only), Web servers, or generic servers. The node agent represents the node in the management cell and keeps the configuration up to date.

1. Managed node: A managed node has a node agent that manages all servers on a node, whether the servers are WebSphere Application Servers, Java Message Service (JMS) servers (on Version 5 nodes only), Web servers, or generic servers. The node agent represents the node in the management cell and keeps the configuration up to date. All WAS processes are called managed servers or managed processes, meaning that all are parto f a single administration domain (cell) and results can be centerally managed and monitored. In WAS following processes are managed process
   
   
   
   • Deployment Manager
   
   
   • Node Agent
   
   
   • Application Server
   
   
   • JMS Server
   
   
   
   


2. Unmanaged nodes: An unmanaged node does not have a node agent to manage its servers. Unmanaged nodes in the Network Deployment environment can have server definitions such as Web servers, but not Application Server definitions. Unmanaged nodes in the Network Deployment environment cannot have a node agent added to it, and therefore cannot become a managed node. In the stand-alone Application Server environment, nodes do not have node agents and are also considered unmanaged nodes. The deployment manager cannot manage a stand-alone Application Server because it is not known to the cell. A stand-alone Application Server can be federated. When it is federated, a node agent is automatically created, and the node becomes a managed node in the cell.

A supported Web server can be on a managed node or an unmanaged node. You can define only one Web server to a stand-alone WebSphere Application Server node. This Web server is defined on an unmanaged node. You can define Web servers to the deployment manager. These Web servers can be defined on managed or unmanaged nodes.