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    SOL8035: Overview of BIG-IP daemons on Version 9


    Updated: 2/27/08 4:50 PM


    The BIG-IP system daemons perform a variety of functions, such as managing load-balanced traffic, configuring and controlling the switch chips, monitoring the health and performance of pool members, and performing high availability failover actions.

    BIG-IP services belong to one of two categories: core daemons, which start up when you boot the BIG-IP system and run continually, and secondary daemons, which are not critical for basic operation. The tasks required to manage these daemons is different depending on whether the daemon is a core or an optional daemon.

    Core BIG-IP daemons


    Core BIG-IP daemons are those that are
    essential to system operation. The following table lists the core BIG-IP services, and indicates the impact to BIG-IP system operation if the service is not running:

    Daemon Description Impact if not running Logs to
    alertd The alert daemon monitors system error messages and triggers proper actions, such as sending snmptrap and displaying message on panel. No Alerts /var/log/ltm
    bcm56xxd The switch daemon configures and controls the Broadcom 56xx switch chips. No switch traffic, LEDs not functional, STP and LACP not functional /var/log/ltm
    /var/log/bcm56xxd

    bigd The bigd monitor daemon provides system health checks. Monitors not available /var/log/ltm
    bigdbd The bigdb daemon loads the mcpd daemon with the initial values from the BigDB.dat database, and adds any changes to these values to the BigDB.dat database. Cannot initalize mcpd, cannot load or save BigDB.dat values /var/log/ltm
    chmand The chassis manager deamon is responsible for implementing the following HAL capabilities: platform identification, synchronization with SCCP (on platforms containing SCCP), device discovery, chassis sensor monitoring, and chassis configuration (management & serial interfaces).     Cannot perform platform ID, enumerate interfaces and push/publish platform info to MCPD, nor start SCCP software daemons /var/log/ltm
    crond The cron daemon executes scheduled commands and scripts.
    Cannot execute scheduled commands
    /var/log/cron
    cssd The config sync status daemon monitors configuration changes and establishes when the configuration needs to be synchronized between systems. No configsysnc status /var/log/ltm
    fpdd The front panel display daemon draws screens on the LCD panel and manages LEDs on all platforms. No front panel access or data /var/log/ltm
    httpd
    The http daemon performs HTTP web server functions.
    No Configuration utility
    /var/log/httpd/httpd_errors
    lacp The link aggregation control daemon creates link aggregation groups (trunks) based on user configuration. It implements IEEE 802.3ad - Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP). It also implements the high availability feature Switchboard Failsafe. No link aggregation functionality /var/log/ltm
    mcpd The master control program daemon is the messenger daemon that allows userland processes to communicate with TMM and vice versa. No traffic management functionality; the system status cannot be retrieved or updated, and the system cannot be re-configured; other daemons will not be functional /var/log/ltm
    pvad The packet velocity accelerator daemon runs on systems equipped with the PVA ASIC chip. The PVA runs in wire mode /var/log/ltm
    rmonsnmpd The RMON SNMP daemon monitors interface statistics. Partial loss of snmp /var/log/daemon.log
    snmpd The SNMP daemon is the parent SNMP agent. Without this daemon, no data will be exposed by SNMP, including data from the SNMP subagents. The process also exposes common SNMP data. No SNMP functionality /var/log/daemon.log
    sod The failover, standby daemon causes the unit to become active or standby, and provides failover and restart capability through a high availability table. No failover capability /var/log/ltm
    statsd The stats daemon collects statistics from the system and records them in the rrd files. No rrd data recorded for system graphs /var/log/ltm
    stpd The STP daemon implements the IEEE Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) for preventing bridge loops. The protocols include the original STP, Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP), and Multiple Spanning Tree Protocol (MSTP). No bridge loop detection /var/log/ltm
    syscalld The syscall daemon manages system call functions. Lose system call functions such as bp save from GUI /var/log/ltm
    tamd The traffic authorization daemon authorizes traffic. No remote authentication / authorization /var/log/ltm
    tmm The traffic management microkernel is the process running on the BIG-IP host O/S that performs all of the traffic management for the system. No traffic management for the system /var/log/tmm
    /var/log/ltm

    tmsnmpd The snmp daemon for traffic management functions is an snmp subagent that exposes common data of the traffic management system. Partial loss of snmp /var/log/daemon.log
    tomcat4 Tomcat provides web server functions for the BIG-IP web utiltiy. Tomcat is an open-source implementation of Java Servlet and JavaServer Pages technologies developed under the Jakarta project at the Apache Software Foundation. The configuration utility does not function /var/log/tomcat4/catalina.out
    syslog-ng The syslog-ng process performs system logging based on the syslog-ng utility. Unable to generate system logs /var/log/messages
    eventd The event daemon provides asynchronous event notification, using iControl messaging. iControl-based subscription messaging fails /var/log/ltm


    Starting and stopping core daemons
    You can use the command line to manage most core daemons on the BIG-IP system. To stop, start, restart, or view the status of a core daemon, use the bigstart command.

    For example, to view the status of the bcm56xxd service, type the following command:

    bigstart status bcm56xxd
    

    For information about using the bigstart utility, see the bigstart man page.

    Secondary BIG-IP daemons Secondary BIG-IP daemons are those that are not essential to system operation. The following table lists secondary BIG-IP services:
     

    Secondary daemon
    Description
    big3d The big3d daemon is the GTM / 3-DNS metrics collection daemon.
    gtmd * The GTM daemon reads wide IP configuration and listens and responds to DNS queries containing wide IP names.
    named The name daemon is the DNS server daemon.
    ntpd The ntp daemon sets and maintains the system time.
    postfix The postfix process sends and receives email.
    radvd The radv daemon is used by hosts to configure their interfaces. It also listens to router solicitations, and answers with router advertisements.
    sshd The ssh daemon provides remote access to the BIG-IP system command line interface.
    zrd * The zr daemon is the ZoneRunner daemon.


    * These daemons are active on systems running the BIG-IP GTM module.

    Starting and stopping secondary daemons


    Use the Configuration utility to manage secondary BIG-IP daemons. The configuration utility lists the name of each service and its current status.

    To stop, start, restart, or view the status of a secondary daemon, perform the following procedure:

       1. Log in to the Configuration utility.
      
       2. Click System.
      
       3. Click Services.
      
       4. In the Service column, locate the name of the daemon you want to start, stop, or restart.
      
       5. Select the Service Select box.
      
       6. Click the Start, Stop, or Restart button.

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