Skip to main content

Configuring Multiple Instances

Configuring Multiple Instances

You can install and simultaneously run multiple instances of InterSystems IRIS on a single machine. Install InterSystems IRIS as for a single installation, giving each instance a unique name, a unique installation directory, and a unique port number for the superserver, web server, and Telnet.

The special considerations for multiple instances are:

  • Installing multiple instances is limited by components where only one exists on a system. For example, typically there is only one web server on a system; and as such, the InterSystems IRIS installation configures the Web Gateway for the most recent installation. InterSystems IRIS client components stored in the registry encounter the same issue. InterSystems IRIS stores its ODBC driver in the registry using one name for each. Currently, the last installation updates these components to point to the last instance installed.

    InterSystems makes an effort to move common components to a common directory that can be shared across InterSystems IRIS instances.

  • Multiple instances can share the same multiserver key, but if they do, they must use the same license server or set of license servers. Each system running an instance of InterSystems IRIS under the auspices of one or more license servers must have a local copy of the authorizing license key file installed in every instance.

  • Multiple instances can be networked.

  • Protection is included against simultaneous database use (that is, each instance must have its own databases and cannot access or modify another instance’s databases).

  • Additional consideration should be given for routing requests to specific instances when multiple instances are configured. For details on this, see Target Applications on Multiple InterSystems IRIS Servers.

  • Each instance must have unique port numbers. See the next section for information on how to Set Port Numbers.

Set Port Numbers

For a standard, single instance of InterSystems IRIS, the superserver port number is 1972 by default. For multiple instances of InterSystems IRIS on a single machine, each must have a unique superserver port number. During installation, subsequent instances are assigned a port if you choose to set it automatically, or you can manually enter port numbers during the installation.

You most likely do not need to change the superserver port numbers because of the way the InterSystems IRIS installation assigns them. You can change the superserver port value after installation from the Memory and Startup page (System Administration > Configuration > System Configuration > Memory and Startup) of the Management Portal.

You do need to assign each instance a unique Telnet port number. You can change the Telnet port values after installation from the Startup Settings page (System Administration > Configuration > Additional Settings > Startup) and the Telnet Settings page (System Administration > Configuration > Device Settings > Telnet Settings), respectively, of the Management Portal.

FeedbackOpens in a new tab