client variables stored in the Registry

[Beards247]

[url]http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/knowledgebase/index.cfm?id=tn_17881[/url]

Using the registry tool I found 3700 client variables stored in the registry
on our appserver, but then on our external server we had over 11,000... (both
single server dual cpu xeon, CF 6.1ish).... but how many is too many? Is there
a recommended range-for-server-capacity?

We have had memory/instability problems on the external server in the past, I
was wondering if we could attribute the errors to this issue.

Thanks for the feedback,

Chris

[LinuxInductee]

FYI

I would highly suggest you create a database, datasource for your
client variables. While the default storage for client variables is
the registry, it is in no way the preferred method, in fact, it is not
recommended even by Adobe/Macromedia.

I don't have the instructions on-hand; however, it's pretty
straightforward:
1> Create a database ( any supported type ) and create a user with
sysadmin priviledges ( to start with )
2> Create a data source for this connection
3> Change the client variables storage to this new datasource
4> Permit the scripts to run to create necessary tables
5> Change the user in the database from sysadmin to read/write user

[tzimmerman]

It is actually best not to use the registry for storing client variables as it
can cause performance issues. You should store them in a database. You can
use the same database as your application, but you should use a separate dsn.
Also you should use a database that uses jdbc connections not odbc.

See the following:

[url]http://livedocs.macromedia.com/coldfusion/7/htmldocs/wwhelp/wwhimpl/common/html/[/url]
wwhelp.htm?context=ColdFusion_Documentation&file=0 0001154.htm


[url]http://livedocs.macromedia.com/coldfusion/7/htmldocs/wwhelp/wwhimpl/common/html/[/url]
wwhelp.htm?context=ColdFusion_Documentation&file=0 0001707.htm.

This document indicates you can use the same dsn, but it is best not to.

Also if you are still at CFMX 6.1 you'll want to install the client variable
hot fix from [url]http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/knowledgebase/index.cfm?id=b3a939ce[/url].

Ted Zimmerman

[LinuxInductee]

I realize that I did not ask your questions. I can't answer questions
related to the registry because we haven't used that approach, but I
can talk to you about your next question relating to memory.

> We have had memory/instability problems on the external server in the past, I
> was wondering if we could attribute the errors to this issue.

The registry is actually a pair of file databases and as long as your
advanced settings give you the space you will not see memory related
problems from it. Since you are not giving specifics as far as memory
problems I have to assume some things, like stand-alone installation
vs. multi-server, some flavor of Windows, and you don't mention how
much memory is on the box or what other applications are running (
IIS/Apache, firewalls, database(s), ... )

Memory optimization is not straight forward. Problems can range from
- memory leaks in one or more services ( cf session variables and their
expiration can be tough to juggle )
- application design
- server capacity ( size of app(s) vs. number of users )( number of
apps )( onboard SSL )( ... )
- hardware reliability ( mismatched or segmented RAM chips - they don't
last forever and even new ones can have a bad spot )
- JVM configuration ( min/max heap, ... )
- Users using the server as a desktop to surf! ( lol, just found a
company specializing in web hosting doing exactly that! the server was
the CIO's desktop MAC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! )

So in the end, your question is way too vague to give good feedback. If
you have a problem or error, it needs to be specified!