35.25. Search server (9.04, 9.02)

Why using a search server?

The search server speeds up the search (full-text search, variable search, geometrical search).

Implementing a search server does not change any processes. Everything remains the same for the user.

Whether or not a search server should be implemented mainly depends on the type of installation.

Install search server as service (via installation routine)

The respective dialog box appears in the course of a client-server installation in the server installation section.

Activation of the Install search server as a service? checkbox:

A Windows service will be registered on this computer. This service will be used to minimize search times. If this service will not be installed the search times will increase depending on network speed.

Install search server as service (via command line) + Launching the server (service)

Register the search server (pssearchctrl.exe) in the "bin" directory via command line as service with the parameter "-install".

pssearchctrl -install

Command line: Install service with "pssearchctrl -install"

Command line: Install service with "pssearchctrl -install"

[Note]Note

Do not mix up "pssearchctrl" and "pssearchserver". "pssearchctrl" starts and controls the search server.

Commands:

  • Pssearchctrl.exe –install

    The service is installed/registered, but not yet started.

  • Pssearchctrl.exe

    The service is started.

    [Note]Note

    The service has to be started after the installation. Or the computer has to be rebooted, because during a boot procedure the installed service is automatically started.

    Alternatively the service can be started via "Start -> Control panel -> Administration -> Services".

    Service: CADENAS Search Server Service V9

    Service: CADENAS Search Server Service V9

  • Pssearchctrl.exe –exec

    The search server is started as a normal process; that means not as a service.

Search server activation in configuration file

Perform the activation under $CADENAS_SETUP/partsol.cfg -> section [REMOTESEARCH] -> Key enabled -> Values: 0 = 0ff; 1 = on

If the search server is off, then the search is locally performed on the client via PARTdataManager.

CACHE activation

[Note]Note

Caching is officially available as of version 9.04 (as of v9.03 not yet well-engineered, experimental).

If a search server is activated, caching of the index files is recommended due to performance reasons, if CADENAS_DATA and search server are not operating on the same server.

[Note]Note

Recommendation for multi site installations:

We recommend to install a central search server at the head quarter. CADENAS_DATA (catalogs) should be replicated to a file server of the respective secondary locations. In this replication the Lucene index files do not have to be included.

The configuration file is found under %cadenas_setup%/filesystems.cfg.

[Note]Note

The following excerpt of the configuration file shows the caching settings, but may possibly differ at release v9.04. In preceding release versions the setting options are similar.

[CACHEFS(psearchserver)]
#Caching activation
USECACHEFS=1
#Root directory, which has to be cached
CACHEROOT=$CADENAS_DATA/index
#Cache directory
SYNCDIR=$CADENAS_USER/cache_index
#which regex under CACHEROOT not to cache
 (ignore completely)
NOCACHE=.*index.cfg|.*index.idx
#Regular expressions under CACHEROOT, which have to be synchronized to $SYNCDIR
 and have to be checked concerning changes
SYNCLOCAL=.*lucene.*|.*geoindex.*|.*index.ic2t|.*index0.ic2t|.*index0.c2t|.*index.0.node.*
 |.*index.0.data.*
#Sync settings
# as of which KB size copying happens in a side thread
SYNCINLINELIMIT=100
# Interval, wherein changes are checked
SYNCCHECKSECONDS=180
# Number of Sync Threads, which check for changes on the filer at the same time
MAXSYNCTHREADS=100

Important settings:

  • Activation

    USECACHEFS=1 (default = 0 = off)

  • Declaration of the caching directory

    SYNCDIR=$CADENAS_USER/cache_index

    => Thus the cache index is stored under "C:\windows\system32\config\systemprofile\cache_index". If this is not wanted, then any other path can be adjusted.

  • Interval, wherein it is checked for changes.

    Adjust SYNCCHECKSECONDS if needed

Due to index file caching it is also possible to operate search server and $CADENAS_DATA on different servers.

More detailed information is found here:

  • Why using a search server?

    See Such-Server einsetzen.

  • Search server configuration

    See Such-Server Konfiguration.