Scaling and configuring Core roles

Scaling and configuring Content Management

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Content Management (CM) roles enable content editors to create and publish content. You can configure multiple CM instances to meet your scaling requirements.

Installation

Use the Sitecore Installation Framework (SIF) or the Sitecore Azure Toolkit (SAT) to install the Content Management role. Refer to the installation guide for your version of the platform for more information.

Scaling the Content Management role

The following table describes the way you can scale the Content Management role:

Scaling option	Supported	Notes
Combined instance	Yes	The following combinations are supported: Content Management, xDB Processing Content Management, xDB Reporting Content Management, xDB Processing, xDB Reporting Content Management, xDB Processing, xDB Reporting, EXM Dispatch Content Management, EXM Dispatch Important A combined Content Management and xDB Reporting role cannot be used as a remote reporting service by a second, standalone Content Management server. If you have more than one instance of the Content Management role, you must set up a dedicated xDB Reporting instance. > [!note] > In a developer environment, all Core roles can be combined into a single instance. This includes Content Management, Content Delivery, xDB Processing, xDB Reporting, and EXM Dispatch. This setup is not recommended in production.
Standalone instance	Yes	You can deploy Content Management as a standalone role.
High availability and failover	Yes	You can fail over to a passive instance or set up multiple active instances behind a load balancer.
Horizontal scaling for load distribution	Yes	You can set up multiple instances behind a load balancer. All instances must connect to a centrally located Master database. Note Out-proc session state management is not officially supported. We recommend that you use in-process session state and sticky sessions.

The following general recommendations apply to all scaling scenarios:

Deploy the Content Management role as close as possible to the Master database.

Performance tuning tasks

Consider the following performance tuning options:

Tune and configure caching.
Set up a dedicated device to handle encryption/decryption of incoming requests.
To improve publishing performance of classic publishing, consider reviewing the DeepScan setting.

Security configuration tasks

Refer to the Content Management section of the Security guide.

General configuration tasks

The following general configuration tasks apply to the Content Management role:

Update Core role license files. You must perform this task on all instances of the Content Management role if your Sitecore license changes or expires.
Enable/disable the indexing sub-role. The indexing sub-role is enabled on the Content Management role by default. If you have more than one instance of the Content Management role, you must disable indexing on all except one instance.
Enable or disable performance counters
Disable the robot detection component. The robot detection component is disabled by default on the Content Management role, and may cause errors if enabled.

Default topologies and packages

The following tables list the topologies that include the Content Management role and how the role is packaged by default.

Sitecore Installation Framework

The Content Management role is available in the following default topologies for the Sitecore Installation Framework:

Topology	Web Deploy Packages	Description
XP Single	`Sitecore 9.X.X rev. XXXXXX (OnPrem)_single.scwdp.zip`	Content Management is bundled with all other Core roles. Not recommended in a production environment.
XP Scaled	`Sitecore 9.X.X rev. XXXXXX (OnPrem)_cm.scwdp.zip`	Standalone instance of Content Management.
XM Scaled	`Sitecore 9.X.X rev. XXXXXX (XM) (OnPrem)_cm.scwdp.zip`	Standalone instance of Content Management.

Sitecore Azure Toolkit

The Content Management role is available in the following default topologies for the Sitecore Azure Toolkit:

Topology	Web Deploy Packages	Description
XP Single	`Sitecore 9.X.X rev. XXXXXX (Cloud)_single.scwdp.zip`	Content Management is bundled with all other Core roles. Not recommended in a production environment.
XP Scaled	`Sitecore 9.X.X rev. XXXXXX (Cloud)_cm.scwdp.zip`	Standalone instance of Content Management.
XM Scaled	`Sitecore 9.2.0 rev. 002893 (XM) (Cloud)_cm.scwdp.zip`	Standalone instance of Content Management.
XM Single	Sitecore 9.2.0 rev. 002893 (XM) (Cloud)_single.scwdp.zip	Content Management is bundled with Content Delivery. Not recommended in a production environment.

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