iNotes Deployment in HA Mode with Multiple Clusters using Apache Reverse Proxy.

High Availability for Lotus iNotes Installation

I am looking for various options available for achieving High Availability with Lotus iNotes installation. The article outlines the options available, work that Domino experts have done and the best option that suits my requirement.

Following available options are possible:

1. ICM (Internet Cluster Manager): ICM only provides initial redirect to correct Domino Web Server. But once user has opened a webpage and server goes down, user has to manually switch the URL to point to the other server or browse the ICM URL again.
http://www-12.lotus.com/ldd/doc/domino_notes/Rnext/help6_admin.nsf/c1f2605b7be6a95985256b870069c0a8/36fd13678096637585256c1d0039a59b?OpenDocument

2. Hardware based Load Balancer

3. Software based Load Balancer: 

Following two options are possible with Domino: Websphere Edge Proxy Server and Apache Web Server. In this article, we'll use Apache Web Server for Reverse Proxy and Load Balancer configuration. 

Note: It seems like Daniel has already done all the hard work.. He has published a great series on the same topic !! The article is in Spanish, but can easily be translated in English via Google Translate. Please copy the code from Original version only.. 

http://www.noteros.com/inotes-apache-reverse-proxy/

http://www.noteros.com/inotes-con-reverse-proxy-apache-parte-2/

http://www.noteros.com/inotes-con-reverse-proxy-apache-parte-3/

http://www.noteros.com/inotes-con-reverse-proxy-apache-parte-4/

I setup the following piece of code in httpd.conf: 

I setup two Domino Clusters as follows: 

Cluster1 - Server1, Server2

Cluster2 - Server3, Server4

 

<Proxy balancer://Cluster1/>

BalancerMember http://server1.demo.com:80/ route=Server1

BalancerMember http://server2.demo.com:80/ route=Server2

ProxySet lbmethod=byrequests

</Proxy>

 

<Proxy balancer://Cluster2/>

BalancerMember http://server3.demo.com:80/ route=Server3

BalancerMember http://server4.demo.com:80/ route=Server4

ProxySet lbmethod=byrequests

</Proxy>

 

ProxyPass / balancer://Cluster1/ stickysession=inotesses nofailover=Off

ProxyPassReverse / http://server1.demo.com/ 

ProxyPassReverse / http://server2.demo.com/ 

 

ProxyPass / balancer://Cluster2/ stickysession=inotesses nofailover=Off

ProxyPassReverse / http://server3.demo.com/ 

ProxyPassReverse / http://server4.demo.com/ 

 

RewriteCond %{HTTP_COOKIE} _clusterses=Cluster1 [NC]

RewriteRule ^/((mail|iNotes|icons|domjava)/.*)$ balancer://Cluster1/$1 [P]

 

RewriteCond %{HTTP_COOKIE} _clusterses=Cluster2 [NC]

RewriteRule ^/((mail|iNotes|icons|domjava)/.*)$ balancer://Cluster2/$1 [P]

Reference:

https://www.ibm.com/developerworks/mydeveloperworks/blogs/gvkempen/entry/configuring_inotes_reversed_proxy_using_apache_on_ubuntu?lang=en

http://www-10.lotus.com/ldd/dominowiki.nsf/dx/using-apache-as-a-reverse-proxy-and-load-balancer-for-domino-clustered-servers

http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/lotus/library/inotes-avail/index.html

http://www-10.lotus.com/ldd/dominowiki.nsf/dx/iNotes_High_Availability_Configuration#Why+prefer+Load+Balancer+to+ICM+solution

http://socialaboration.blogspot.in/2010/09/ubuntu-as-inotes-reverse-proxybalancer.html

Lotus MailFile Template Modification: Prevent changes in received emails

 

In the default Lotus Notes Mail template, users can edit the received emails and modify the content. To prevent the same, following customization is required in template.

Edit "Memo" and "Reply" form in the designer                                

                                                                            
  change "QueryModeChange" event, by adding this code:                 
                 
  If  (Not source.editmode And source.document.HasItem("PostedDate"))   Then
       continue = False                                                         
       Exit Sub                                                                 
  End If                                                                    
                                                                            
Change "QueryOpen" event, and towards the top, add:                         
                                                                            
 If (Not (source.isnewdoc) And source.editmode ) Then        
     If (source.document.HasItem("PostedDate") ) Then           
          Continue = False                                          
          Exit Sub                                                  
     End If                                                     
 End If

Using Linux Desktop - My Favourite Add-ons

I am using RHEL 6 Desktop for last 6 months..

Following are the essential softwares required/installed on my machine to ensure my productivity:
1. Mail: Lotus Notes 9
2. Office Suite: IBM Lotus Symphony 3.1, Open Office 3.4.1
3. PDF Docs: Foxit Reader, Adobe Reader
4. Screenshots: Shutter
5. Notes, Customer Activity Tracking: GNote
6. Web Browser: Firefox, Chrome
7. Virtualization: VMWare Workstation, VMWare Player (Virtual Image: Domino Server, Domino Designer, Domino Administrator)
8. Backup to External Hard-drive: GrSync
9. Media Player: VLC Media Player
10. Remote Control: Teamviewer, Tiger VNC Viewer
11. Graphics: GIMP, Pencil

This list covers all the installations/additions I have done to Vanilla RHEL desktop... Apart from Domino Designer, there is nothing for which I need a Windows environment.. I wish if we can have a Linux version of Domino Designer as well some day !!