Cluster communication

In the base PolicyCenter configuration, PolicyCenter clusters use the following types of transport mechanisms for sending messages between cluster members:

• Reliable broadcast without replies
• Unreliable fast broadcast without replies
• Reliable unicast with reply

Guidewire provides a default plugin implementation to support each of these transport types. However, it is possible to implement your own unicast/multicast transport by implementing the corresponding plugin. Guidewire disables fast broadcast messaging in the base configuration.

Unicast communications

PolicyCenter clusters use PPP protocol over TCP for direct server-to-server communication. For example, it is possible for a PolicyCenter Server Tools screen function to create a message request that directly targets a specific server. In this case, server A, on which the message request originate, sends a unicast message to server B, who receives and processes the request. PolicyCenter server lease management also leverages unicast communication to speed up certain actions, such as lease transfers.

Multicast communications

PolicyCenter clusters also leverage the database for distributing broadcast messages. In addition, Guidewire provides a transport mechanism for use with Redis.