---
title: "Scaling and configuring the Reference Data service role"
slug: "scaling-and-configuring-the-reference-data-service-role"
abstract: ""
---
# Scaling and configuring the Reference Data service role

The Reference Data service is referenced by the Content Delivery role and may experience high load as a result of activities such as IP and user agent lookups.

## Installation

Use the Sitecore Installation Framework (SIF) or the Sitecore Azure Toolkit (SAT) to install the Reference Data service role. Refer to the [installation guide](https://dev.sitecore.net/Downloads/Sitecore_Experience_Platform.aspx) for your version of the platform for more information.

## Scaling the Reference Data service

The following table describes the way you can scale the Reference Data service:

| Scaling option | Supported | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Combined instance | Yes | The[Reference Data service role can be combined](https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/developers/102/platform-administration-and-architecture/manually-enable-the-reference-data-service.html) with any other Experience Platform Service role.<br><br>> [!note]<br>> In a developer environment, all XP service roles can be combined into a single instance. This setup is not recommended in production. |
| Standalone instance | Yes | You can deploy the Reference Data service as a standalone role. |
| High availability and failover | Yes | You can failover 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 read from a single centrally located Reference Data database. |

The following general scaling recommendations apply in all scenarios:

- Deploy the Reference Data service as close as possible to the Content Delivery (CD) environment because the CD environment generates the most load on the application.

> [!note]
> In a developer environment, you can combine all XP service roles into a single instance. We do not recommended this setup in a production environment.

## Performance tuning tasks

Consider the following performance tuning options:

- High resource consumption by the Reference Data database may result in a slower response time from the Reference Data service and degrade Content Delivery performance. There is a [patch available for Sitecore 9.0 - 9.2](https://kb.sitecore.net/articles/595419).

> [!note]
> The Reference Data service is used heavily by the [Content Delivery](https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/developers/102/platform-administration-and-architecture/scaling-and-configuring-content-delivery.html "Scaling and configuring Content Delivery") role.

## Security configuration tasks

Refer to [the Reference Data service section of the Security guide](https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/developers/102/platform-administration-and-architecture/securing-experience-platform.html "Securing Experience Platform").

## Default topologies and packages

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

### Sitecore Installation Framework

The Reference Data service is available in the following default topologies for Sitecore Installation Framework:

| Topology | Web Deploy Packages | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| XP Single | `Sitecore 9.X.X rev. XXXXXX (OnPrem)_xp0xconnect.scwdp.zip` | Reference Data is bundled with all other XP service roles. |
| XP Scaled | `Sitecore 9.X.X rev. XXXXXX (OnPrem)_xp1referencedatacollection.scwdp.zip` | Standalone instance of Reference Data. |

### Sitecore Azure Toolkit

The Reference Data service is available in the following default topologies for Sitecore Azure Toolkit:

| Topology | Web Deploy Packages | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| XP Single | `Sitecore 9.X.X rev. XXXXXX (Cloud)_xp0xconnect.scwdp.zip` | Reference Data is bundled with all other XP service roles. |
| xDB Single |  |  |
| XP Scaled | `Sitecore 9.X.X rev. XXXXXX (Cloud)_xp1referencedata.scwdp.zip ` | Standalone instance of xReference Data. |
| xDB Scaled |  |  |