I am trying to find out more about ISA 2004 EE (never used it before). I haven't been able to get any clear idea on arrays. Can some one give me some details/ references for arrays? What are the different configurations that can be done in arrays? Is a Upstream -- Downstream combination also termed as an array?
Or is it only when you are doing load balancing, that you can call those servers to be an array?
Thanks Tom. I am looking for the options available and don't have any requirement as such. Rather I am looking at what are the various configurations possible and how ISA can be used to handle heavy traffic.
Basically, how well the product can scale.
(more in the learning mode, rather than deployment)
Would you say, a typical upstream -downstream combination of ISA's would also be termed as an array?
It could be but I tend to think of an array as a group of ISA Servers that share a common configuration.
I'd shy way from calling a upstream-downstream config an array - I'd call it a "chain" - only because, like Tom said, the term array is overused. There are no hard and fast rules for using the term though in the ISA world.
From the official Microsoft documentation on ISA 2004 EE:
quote:An array is a group of Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2004 computers. An array includes:
One or more Configuration Storage servers that store ISA Server information, such as the arrays and servers that are part of the enterprise, and for each array and server, its current configuration.
One or more array members, which are computers with ISA Server services installed.
One or more remote management computers, with ISA Server Management installed.
Array members share the same configuration, easing management and administration. When you modify the array configuration, all the ISA Server computers in the array are also modified, including all the access policies and cache policies.
Despite the loose usage of the term, it does in fact have a very concise definition. If people would read the documentation we might avoid such confusion.