7.2 Object Accessibility Requires Search Appliances

7.2.1 Only Objects That Have Their Metadata Indexed Are Accessible

Administrators and users can only access a file, folder, user, or group in Filr after

  1. The Search server has processed/indexed the associated metadata for the file, folder, user, or group that has been synchronized to the SQL database.

  2. The resulting metadata index is stored in the SQL database.

As objects have their metadata synchronized and indexed by Filr Search, they become accessible. If the metadata index is unavailable because the Filr Search appliance is down, objects disappear from Filr.

7.2.2 Both Metadata Indexing and Content Indexing Require Planning

For new Filr deployments, the initial processing/indexing of file and folder metadata can take anywhere from a few seconds to a few hours, depending on the number of files and folders involved.

Content indexing for searchability can take much longer. See Net Folder File Content Indexing Overview.

After the initial synchronization and indexing of file and folder metadata and content is complete, Filr handles metadata and content changes quickly and automatically.

NOTE:User and group metadata processing happens as the objects are created and doesn’t require separate planning.

7.2.3 Having Two Search Servers Is Critical

Because Filr requires an accessible metadata index, if the only available search server goes down or if its index is lost (for example during an metadata index rebuild), access to files and folders, etc. is also lost (at least temporarily). For this reason, Micro Focus strongly recommends that every large deployment have two search servers. (See Setting Up Two Filr Search Appliances in the Filr: Installation, Deployment, and Upgrade Guide.)