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Tech Tip : CA Single Sign-On : Policy Server doesn't connect back to the first Session Store

  • 1.  Tech Tip : CA Single Sign-On : Policy Server doesn't connect back to the first Session Store

    Broadcom Employee
    Posted Apr 01, 2019 10:51 AM

    Question:


    We're running Policy Server and when we have several ODBC Session
    Stores, we see the ODBC connection unequally distributed among the
    ODBC instances. How can we get the connections distributed equally ?

     

    Environment:


    Policy Server 12.52SP1CR02 on RedHat 5;
    JDK 1.7.0_141 32bit;

    2 Session Store on ODBC Oracle;

    Answer:


    Even if the ODBC driver allows the usage of alternateservers and
    loadbalancing features, these will proceed only with failover,
    even if the feature is called loadbalancing. The value of
    loadbalancing determine the order in which the failover occur on the
    configuration (in serie or random) :

     

    Configure an Oracle Data Source for CA Single Sign-On

    AlternateServers=

    If the primary server is not accepting connections, specifies the
    connection failover to the other Oracle nodes.

     

    Example:
    (HostName=nete_servername2:PortNumber=1521:ServiceName=nete_servicename[,...])

    LoadBalancing=1

     

    Turns on client load balancing, which helps to distribute new
    connections to keep RAC nodes from being overwhelmed with connection
    requests. When enabled, the order in which primary and alternate
    database servers are accessed is random.

     

    https://docops.ca.com/ca-single-sign-on/12-7/en/installing/install-a-policy-server/configure-odbc-databases-as-policy-session-key-and-audit-stores/configure-odbc-databases-as-session-store/store-session-information-in-oracle


    Inconsistent behavior from PS to DB Loadbalancing

    https://comm.support.ca.com/kb/inconsistent-behavior-from-ps-to-db-loadbalancing/kb000119929

     

    In order to avoid trailing connections to down ODBC instances, in
    system_odbc.ini, configure the following :

     

    - Set the KeepAlive parameter to 1 in order to
    close any connection to a down server;

     

    CA SSO Oracle Server Wire Protocol

    KeepAlive=0 NOTE: The attributes in the example (above) reflect the
    hardcoded, default values. Adding the attribute and modifying the
    value will override the default value with the user-designated value.

     

    https://comm.support.ca.com/kb/ca-sso-oracle-server-wire-protocol/kb000032766

     

    TCP Keep Alive

    KeepAlive (KA)
    If set to 0 (Disabled), the driver does not enable TCPKeepAlive.
    If set to 1 (Enabled), the driver enables TCPKeepAlive.

    https://media.datadirect.com/download/docs/odbc/allodbc/index.html#page/odbc/tcp-keep-alive.html

     

    Load Balance Timeout

    Specifies the number of seconds to keep inactive connections open in a
    connection pool. An inactive connection is a database session that is
    not associated with an ODBC connection handle, that is, a connection
    in the pool that is not in use by an application.

    https://media.datadirect.com/download/docs/odbc/allodbc/index.html#page/odbc%2Fload-balance-timeout.html%23

     

    This will avoid the connections to be kept open to ODBC instances
    which are down.

    More, you can also configure 2 separated data source and remove the
    configuration of alternateservers and loadbalancing from the driver
    configuration will make all the odbc connection going back to the
    Primary Session Store. Note that from documentation, we support
    failover only, and the driver loadbalancing configuration stands for
    failover too.

     

    Here we've removed the alternateservers and LoadBalancing
    configuration and we've defined 2 separate Session Store data sources,
    1 for the Primary and another one for the Secondary.

    system_odbc.ini :

     

    [Session Primary]
    Driver=/opt/CA/siteminder/odbc/lib/NSora27.so
    Description=DataDirect 7.1 Oracle Wire Protocol
    HostName=duspa01-u161157.ca.com
    PortNumber=1521
    LoginID=SMUSER
    Password=xxxxx
    ServiceName=XE
    #SID=XE
    CatalogOptions=0
    ProcedureRetResults=0
    EnableDescribeParam=0
    EnableStaticCursorsForLongData=0
    ApplicationUsingThreads=1
    DMCleanup=2

     

    [Session Secondary]
    Driver=/opt/CA/siteminder/odbc/lib/NSora27.so
    Description=DataDirect 7.1 Oracle Wire Protocol
    HostName=duspa01-u161156.ca.com
    PortNumber=1521
    LoginID=SMUSER
    Password=xxxxx
    ServiceName=XE
    #SID=XE
    CatalogOptions=0
    ProcedureRetResults=0
    EnableDescribeParam=0
    EnableStaticCursorsForLongData=0
    ApplicationUsingThreads=1
    DMCleanup=2

     

    In the SmConsole, we've configured the Session Store connection
    putting each of the datasources, separated with a coma "," :

     

    sm.registry :

     

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Netegrity\SiteMinder\CurrentVersion\Database\SessionServer=235352101
    Data Source=Session Primary, Session Secondary; REG_SZ
    Enabled= 0x1; REG_DWORD
    MaxConnections= 0x20; REG_DWORD
    Password= {RC2}cJhuVJ9LzQf12y9hk6FdGc9ztDo+Y8Em; REG_SZ
    ProviderNamespace= ODBC:; REG_SZ
    Use Default= 0; REG_DWORD
    User Name= SMUSER; REG_SZ

     

    Once done, we've started Policy Server, and we've seen it using the
    Primary Session Store. When the Primary Session Store went off line,
    Policy Server moved connections to the Secondary Session Store. When
    the Primary Session Store came back online, then Policy Server moved
    back the connections to the Primary Session Store :

     

    smps.log :

    [13473/4151690960][Fri Dec 28 2018
    03:08:08][CServer.cpp:4951][INFO][sm-Server-01430] Logging and Trace
    output in local time. TimeZone: [GMT-5:00]. Daylight Savings: 0

    [13473/3799419760][Fri Dec 28 2018
    03:08:12][CSmDbSessionManager.cpp:585][INFO][sm-Server-04350] Using
    ODBC 'Session Data' data source 'Session Primary'.

    [13473/4151690960][Fri Dec 28 2018
    03:08:12][SmSSInDBStore.cpp:299][INFO][sm_LoginLogout_02014]
    Initialized Session Server. Schema version is 3, lVersion

    [13473/3715414896][Fri Dec 28 2018
    03:09:12][CSmDbSessionManager.cpp:180][INFO][sm-Server-04350] Using
    ODBC 'Session Data' data source 'Session Primary'.

    [13473/4065667952][Fri Dec 28 2018
    03:17:38][CSmDbSessionManager.cpp:147][INFO][sm-Server-04330]
    Failing over to 'Session Data' data source 'Session
    Secondary'.

    [13473/3715414896][Fri Dec 28 2018
    03:22:12][CSmDbSessionManager.cpp:155][INFO][sm-Server-04340]
    Failing back to 'Session Data' data source 'Session
    Primary'.

     

    Netstat output during the use case reproduction :

     

    We start the Policy Server :

     

    Fri Dec 28 03:08:13 EST 2018

     

    tcp 0 0 10.162.31.240:11821 10.162.31.106:1521 ESTABLISHED
    13473/smpolicysrv

    tcp 0 0 10.162.31.240:44748 10.162.31.240:1521 ESTABLISHED
    12171/xe_pmon_XE

    tcp 0 0 10.162.31.240:31701 10.162.31.240:1521 ESTABLISHED
    13473/smpolicysrv

     

    We put load and Policy Servers build connections to the Primary
    Session Store (.240):

     

    Fri Dec 28 03:16:07 EST 2018

    tcp 0 0 10.162.31.240:11821 10.162.31.106:1521 ESTABLISHED
    13473/smpolicysrv

    tcp 0 0 10.162.31.240:59662 10.162.31.240:1521 ESTABLISHED
    13473/smpolicysrv

    tcp 0 0 10.162.31.240:32757 10.162.31.240:1521 ESTABLISHED
    13473/smpolicysrv

    tcp 0 0 10.162.31.240:44748 10.162.31.240:1521 ESTABLISHED
    12171/xe_pmon_XE

    tcp 0 0 10.162.31.240:20816 10.162.31.240:1521 ESTABLISHED
    13473/smpolicysrv

    tcp 0 0 10.162.31.240:22829 10.162.31.240:1521 ESTABLISHED
    13473/smpolicysrv

    tcp 0 0 10.162.31.240:31004 10.162.31.240:1521 ESTABLISHED
    13473/smpolicysrv

    tcp 0 689 10.162.31.240:31701 10.162.31.240:1521 ESTABLISHED
    13473/smpolicysrv

    tcp 0 0 10.162.31.240:65377 10.162.31.240:1521 ESTABLISHED
    13473/smpolicysrv

     

    We shut down the Primary Session Server (.240) :

     

    Fri Dec 28 03:17:37 EST 2018

     

    tcp 0 0 10.162.31.240:11821 10.162.31.106:1521 ESTABLISHED
    13473/smpolicysrv

    tcp 1 0 10.162.31.240:47888 10.162.31.240:1521 CLOSE_WAIT
    13473/smpolicysrv

    tcp 1 0 10.162.31.240:59662 10.162.31.240:1521 CLOSE_WAIT
    13473/smpolicysrv

    tcp 0 0 10.162.31.240:44748 10.162.31.240:1521 ESTABLISHED
    12171/xe_pmon_XE

    tcp 1 0 10.162.31.240:20816 10.162.31.240:1521 CLOSE_WAIT
    13473/smpolicysrv

    tcp 1 0 10.162.31.240:22829 10.162.31.240:1521 CLOSE_WAIT
    13473/smpolicysrv

    tcp 1 0 10.162.31.240:31004 10.162.31.240:1521 CLOSE_WAIT
    13473/smpolicysrv

    tcp 1 0 10.162.31.240:65377 10.162.31.240:1521 CLOSE_WAIT
    13473/smpolicysrv

     

    Policy Server fails over connections to the Secondary Session Store
    (.106) :

     

    Fri Dec 28 03:18:38 EST 2018

    tcp 0 0 10.162.31.240:11821 10.162.31.106:1521 ESTABLISHED
    13473/smpolicysrv

    tcp 0 0 10.162.31.240:17993 10.162.31.106:1521 ESTABLISHED
    13473/smpolicysrv

    tcp 0 0 10.162.31.240:55709 10.162.31.106:1521 ESTABLISHED
    13473/smpolicysrv

    tcp 0 0 10.162.31.240:36960 10.162.31.106:1521 ESTABLISHED
    13473/smpolicysrv

    tcp 0 0 10.162.31.240:51719 10.162.31.106:1521 ESTABLISHED
    13473/smpolicysrv

    tcp 0 0 10.162.31.240:22171 10.162.31.106:1521 ESTABLISHED
    13473/smpolicysrv

    tcp 0 0 10.162.31.240:58619 10.162.31.106:1521 ESTABLISHED
    13473/smpolicysrv

    tcp 0 0 10.162.31.240:48457 10.162.31.106:1521 ESTABLISHED
    13473/smpolicysrv

     

    We start over the Primary Session Server :

     

    Fri Dec 28 03:21:32 EST 2018

     

    tcp 0 0 10.162.31.240:11821 10.162.31.106:1521 ESTABLISHED
    13473/smpolicysrv

    tcp 0 0 10.162.31.240:45040 10.162.31.240:1521 ESTABLISHED
    18172/xe_pmon_XE

    tcp 0 0 10.162.31.240:17993 10.162.31.106:1521 ESTABLISHED
    13473/smpolicysrv

    tcp 0 0 10.162.31.240:55709 10.162.31.106:1521 ESTABLISHED
    13473/smpolicysrv

    tcp 0 0 10.162.31.240:36960 10.162.31.106:1521 ESTABLISHED
    13473/smpolicysrv

    tcp 0 0 10.162.31.240:51719 10.162.31.106:1521 ESTABLISHED
    13473/smpolicysrv

    tcp 0 0 10.162.31.240:22171 10.162.31.106:1521 ESTABLISHED
    13473/smpolicysrv

    tcp 0 0 10.162.31.240:58619 10.162.31.106:1521 ESTABLISHED
    13473/smpolicysrv

    tcp 0 0 10.162.31.240:48457 10.162.31.106:1521 ESTABLISHED
    13473/smpolicysrv

     

    Policy Server notices it and starts to move back all connections to
    the Primary Session Store :

     

    Fri Dec 28 03:21:41 EST 2018

     

    tcp 0 0 10.162.31.240:11821 10.162.31.106:1521 ESTABLISHED
    13473/smpolicysrv

    tcp 0 0 10.162.31.240:45040 10.162.31.240:1521 ESTABLISHED
    18172/xe_pmon_XE

    tcp 0 0 10.162.31.240:39907 10.162.31.240:1521 ESTABLISHED
    13473/smpolicysrv

    tcp 0 0 10.162.31.240:17993 10.162.31.106:1521 ESTABLISHED
    13473/smpolicysrv

    tcp 0 0 10.162.31.240:55709 10.162.31.106:1521 ESTABLISHED
    13473/smpolicysrv

    tcp 0 0 10.162.31.240:55979 10.162.31.240:1521 ESTABLISHED
    13473/smpolicysrv

    tcp 0 0 10.162.31.240:36960 10.162.31.106:1521 ESTABLISHED
    13473/smpolicysrv

    tcp 0 0 10.162.31.240:51719 10.162.31.106:1521 ESTABLISHED
    13473/smpolicysrv

    tcp 0 0 10.162.31.240:22171 10.162.31.106:1521 ESTABLISHED
    13473/smpolicysrv

    tcp 0 0 10.162.31.240:27555 10.162.31.240:1521 ESTABLISHED
    13473/smpolicysrv

    tcp 0 0 10.162.31.240:58619 10.162.31.106:1521 ESTABLISHED
    13473/smpolicysrv

    tcp 0 0 10.162.31.240:48457 10.162.31.106:1521 ESTABLISHED
    13473/smpolicysrv

     

    Until all connections are back to the Primary Session Store :

     

    Fri Dec 28 03:21:48 EST 2018

     

    tcp 0 0 10.162.31.240:45040 10.162.31.240:1521 ESTABLISHED
    18172/xe_pmon_XE

    tcp 0 0 10.162.31.240:39907 10.162.31.240:1521 ESTABLISHED
    13473/smpolicysrv

    tcp 0 0 10.162.31.240:14352 10.162.31.240:1521 ESTABLISHED
    13473/smpolicysrv

    tcp 0 0 10.162.31.240:36902 10.162.31.240:1521 ESTABLISHED
    13473/smpolicysrv

    tcp 0 679 10.162.31.240:55979 10.162.31.240:1521 ESTABLISHED
    13473/smpolicysrv

    tcp 0 0 10.162.31.240:27776 10.162.31.240:1521 ESTABLISHED
    13473/smpolicysrv

    tcp 0 0 10.162.31.240:51390 10.162.31.240:1521 ESTABLISHED
    13473/smpolicysrv

    tcp 0 0 10.162.31.240:27555 10.162.31.240:1521 ESTABLISHED
    13473/smpolicysrv

    tcp 0 0 10.162.31.240:31303 10.162.31.240:1521 ESTABLISHED
    13473/smpolicysrv

     

    As stated earlier in this case, you won't be able to achieve
    loadbalancing between the Session Stores. So you will never get
    connections equally distributed between nodes.

    As our documentation states, Session Stores instances should be set as
    failover.

     

    Policy Server to Session Store Communication

    Allows for failover. If a primary session store fails, Policy Servers
    failover to a secondary session store.


    KB : KB000130316