Number and Distribution of the Distribution Services

In addition, a minimum requirement for packaging is: A Distribution Service must be available in every site that has a repository.

Physically, a Distribution Service runs on a Management Point.
Logically, a Distribution Service is responsible for the distribution of individual site structure objects. Therefore every object has an entry in the configuration table specifying the responsible Distribution Service.

Theoretically, one Distribution Service should be adequate for all depots in the entire site structure. In practice, a separate Distribution Service should be created for every network (LAN) in order to reduce accesses bet­ween networks as much as possible.
Rule of thumb: For each site, an individual Distribution Service should be set up that is responsible for the site. Otherwise, copying proce­dures within a site would also transpire via the connection between two sites.
In addition, a minimum requirement for packaging is:
A Distribution Service must be available in every site that has a repository.
Background: When preparing for distribution, the responsible Distribution Service compresses the package’s installation files. We recommend not to perform this action beyond LAN limits.

• In the figure below, Region 1 contains Site 1 and Site 2. The master of Region 1 is also the master of Site 1. Site 1 and Site 2 are connected via WAN.
  
  The responsible Distribution Service for Site 2 is within in Site 2. It therefore only has to execute one of four distribution procedures via the WAN:
  1) Reading the source (region master) – via the WAN
  2) Writing on the Site 2 master - local (LAN)
  3) Reading the source (Site 2 master) - local
  4) Writing on the local depot - local
  
  

In the following graphic, the Distribution Service is shown on a single com­puter to clarify the individual steps. Normally you install the Distribution Service responsible for Site 2 on the Management Point located in site 2.

 

If the Distribution Service responsible for site is in Site 1, it would have to exe­cute all four distribution steps via the slow connection.