Testing distribution

About testing distribution to NetCache appliance

These instructions describe how to set up and run a simple job to test HTML or media file distribution to a single NetCache appliance.

These instructions assume that you have the following resources available:

Network with proven connectivity
Files you wish to distribute (content sources) on a file server or Network Appliance filer
ContentDirector core application installed and running, and agent configured and running on NetCache appliance

Resources for content distribution

ContentDirector requires four types of user-defined resources to distribute content:

Content source - identifies your source content on your local storage by URL
Policy - regulates how content is handled during distribution
Job - defines sources, destinations, and schedule
Destination group - specificies a group of destinations that all receive content from the same source

For maximum simplicity and minimal preparation:

You can use the default policy that comes with ContentDirector . You only need to change the default policy if your network includes a satellite link.
When you create a job, ContentDirector prompts you to create a destination group, so a separate procedure is not necessary.

Creating a content source

Only system administrators can create content sources. For test purposes, the recommended source is a single .html or .txt file in its own directory. To create a content source, complete the following steps.

Step	Action
1	Log in as a system administrator.
2	On the top menu bar of the ContentDirector main screen, click Sources.
3	Click New.
4	Next to Scheme, click the dropdown arrow and select the protocol.
5	In the Host name field, enter a unique name for this source. The host name must have at minimum a domain, for example: http://oursite. It may contain a full domain name such as http://oursite.com. It may not end with a slash /.
6	Click Browse and select the source folder for the source content, then OK to select the location. The source folder must be on a local or mapped drive.
7	Click OK to save the new source.
8	Click Close to return to the main screen. Result The new content source appears in the Sources view of the main screen.

Using the default policy

The quickest way to run your test is to use the default policy supplied with ContentDirector. You do not need to make any changes to the default policy for your test, unless you are testing distribution via a satellite link.

To view or change the default policy, complete the following steps:

Step	Action
1	At the left side of the ContentDirector main screen, click Policies.
2	Double-click the default policy to open it.
3	If you are testing via satellite, continue to the next step. If you are not, click Close to return to the main screen.
4	To change the policy for satellite link, click the Network tab.
5	Click Save to save your changes and return to the main screen.

Creating a job

To create a job, complete the following steps:

Step	Action
1	At the top of the ContentDirector main screen, click Jobs.
2	Click New.
3	In the Job Name field, enter a descriptive name for this job.
4	Leave the default entries in the other fields. Import job and Description can be left blank.
5	Click the Content tab.
6	In the Hosted site field, click the dropdown arrow and select the source you created for this test.
7	Click Add to select the source directory from a local Solaris or Windows file server. In the Browse screen, select the source location for the content on the local file system.
8	Click the Destination tab.
9	For simplicity in testing, select an individual destination. Click the destination name on the Available Servers panel, then click Add.
10	Leave the Filters and Schedule tabs at the default values. This test job is not scheduled, and must be run manually.
11	Click OK to save the job.
12	The new job displays in the Jobs view of the main screen.

Distributing content

To distribute your selected content, run the job you created by completing the following steps.

Step	Action
1	In the Jobs view table, select the job.
2	Click Run on the lower menu bar. Result the following prompt appears: Are you sure you want to run the selected job(s)?
3	Click Yes. Result After a few moments, the values in the Status field of the Jobs table changes as the event progresses through the various stages. Note If the job is a small one, some of the stages may flash on and off the screen too quickly to be seen. New output scrolls through the Status window. When the Job is finished running the status Completed or Failed appears in the Status field. ASSIGNMENT FINISH appears in the Status window.

Step

Action

In the Jobs view table, select the job.

Click Run on the lower menu bar.

Result

the following prompt appears:

Are you sure you want to run the selected job(s)?

Click Yes.

Result

After a few moments, the values in the Status field of the Jobs table changes as the event progresses through the various stages.

Note
If the job is a small one, some of the stages may flash on and off the screen too quickly to be seen.

New output scrolls through the Status window.

When the Job is finished running the status Completed or Failed appears in the Status field. ASSIGNMENT FINISH appears in the Status window.

Verifying the presence of pushed content at the destination

To verify that the pushed content is present at the destination, set up the NetCache as a proxy server in a client web browser, then request one of the files pushed.