frontend and master server

Master server (MS)

The master server provides all the functionality of a FORMCYCLE system. You only need to install a single master server for a simple setup. Each master server can, if necessary, connect to multiple frontend servers.

Frontend-Server (FS)

A frontend server is always connected to a master server. It cannot be used standalone. It is meant only for one single task: handling form requests. That is, when a user opens a form in the browser, the frontend server receives that request. It connects to the master server, fetches the form, and returns it. Then, when the user submits the form, the frontend server accepts the request and forwards the submitted data to the master server.

A frontend server cannot be used by itself and always needs a master server. A master server, however, can connect to multiple frontend servers. There are various reasons why you might want to use a frontend servers:

First of all, by using a frontend server, you can separate your internal intranet from the external internet. You might configure your network in such a way that the master server is accessible only within your intranet. This increases security, as a master server manages sensible form and personal data. Form the outside network, end users only need to be able to access forms. And this is the (only) service a frontend server provides.

Secondly, you can setup more than one frontend server. These frontend server can cache forms, which provides a light form of load balancing. However, please note that the single master server still needs to process all the form data by itself. If you need better load balancing, consider setting up a cluster with several master servers.