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How to create a load balanced CEWS environment

Overview​

This article describes how to configure a basic load balanced environment for the Netwrix Data Classification CEWS product. In this configuration each server will run both the:

  • Netwrix Data Classification QS Administration Interface
  • Netwrix Data Classification CEWS Web Service Endpoint

The CEWS endpoint leverages the local conceptQS.asmx web service endpoint on each server.

Assumptions​

This article assumes that the environment is currently a single server instance - not a DQS configuration.

Procedure​

  1. Access the current conceptCEWS server via RDP (mstsc) and perform the following actions:

    1. Locate your conceptDB directory (default location of C:\Program Files\ConceptSearching)
    2. Share the conceptDB folder with an appropriate service account (you will map this to each of the other servers)
    3. Locate your conceptQS/conceptCEWS directory (default location of C:\inetpub\wwwroot)
    4. Copy both directories

  2. Access the new server via RDP and perform the following actions:

    1. Map a shared drive to the share created in step 1(a)
    2. Navigate to the default IIS location (C:\inetpub\wwwroot)
    3. Paste the copied applications
    4. Navigate into the conceptQS folder
    5. Open conceptConfig.exe
    6. Amend the CSE files location to the mapped network drive
    7. Open IIS Manager (Run + inetmgr)
    8. Right-click each of the two new folders and select "Convert to Application"
    9. Validate that the configured Application Pool is configured for both the correct account and the correct .NET version (4.0)

  3. Configure your load balancer to point to the two servers, typically:

  4. Amend the SharePoint CEWS configuration to point to the load balancer rather than the new server. An example script is shown below for reference:

$ssa = Get-SPEnterpriseSearchServiceApplication
$config = New-SPEnterpriseSearchContentEnrichmentConfiguration
$config.Endpoint = "http://loadbalancer/conceptCEWS/ContentProcessingEnrichmentService.svc"
$config.InputProperties = "Body", "Title", "OriginalPath", "<CustomField1>", "<CustomField2>", ....
$config.OutputProperties = "<OutputFieldName1>", "<OutputFieldName2>", ....
$config.SendRawData = $True
$config.MaxRawDataSize = 8192
$config.Timeout = 30000
Set-SPEnterpriseSearchContentEnrichmentConfiguration -SearchApplication $ssa -ContentEnrichmentConfiguration $config

Notes​

  • Ensure that the service account used for the shared conceptDB has the necessary permissions on all servers.
  • Confirm that the application pools and identities are consistent across servers to avoid permission or configuration mismatches.
  • Verify connectivity from SharePoint (or other consumers) to the load balancer endpoint after configuration.