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ColdFusion 8 introduced server monitoring for single and multiple servers. This Flex based app provided access to all sorts of ColdFusion internals, alerts, proactive problem management, and more.

ColdFusion 9 takes this a whole lot further with a new tool called "ColdFusion Server Manager". This AIR based application allows you to monitor as many servers as needed (including individual ColdFusion instances on a multi-instance configuration) and even offers pop-up alerts when issues occur, it allows for remote server configuration (define a datasource, for example), it also allows for settings to be applied to multiple servers at once, it can clear the template caches, it can upload hot-fixes to one or more servers, and it even allows you to select two ColdFusion servers to compare their configuration settings, highlighting any differences between them.

Oh, and before you ask, here are answers to the three most commonly asked questions. 1: No, this is not a separately sold utility, it is part of ColdFusion itself (and installed via a link in the ColdFusion Administrator). 2: ColdFusion Server Manager uses APIs added to ColdFusion 9, so no, this will not work with ColdFusion 8 or earlier. 3: no, we've not made any decisions yet as to product editioning, so no decision as to whether this is an Enterprise only feature or not.

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Looks great, and good anticipation of questions :)

One thing that I've always wanted for the admin / admin related tools is a 'windows update' approach to hotfixes. Where instead of upload / going to a separate site to find if there is a hotfix, then download it, then upload it. It simply list all the available hotfixes for that server version (CF9) and shows which are considered critical updates (ex FCKEditor updates) and you simply click the ones you want and install. This interface seems like the perfect spot for that.

Either way, this looks like it's shaping up to be a great release.

Thanks,
Roy

# Posted By Roy Martin | 7/7/09 8:34 PM

One more question that I got on the tour was "Does this mean the Web administrator is going away?"

The answer is, "No" the CF web administrator will continue to be available.

# Posted By Terrence Ryan | 7/7/09 9:35 PM

Will it only be available in CF enterprise? It was a huge bummer for me when I found out that the server monitor in CF 8 was only available in the enterprise version.

# Posted By Russ S. | 7/7/09 10:45 PM

"...so no decision as to whether this is an Enterprise only feature or not."

Duh. Look at the track record. Anytime CF gets involved with multiple CF servers (clustering, multiple instances, etc.) it's an Enterprise feature, involving software that costs more than many of today's 1U rack servers.

(Sorry. An old sore spot.)

# Posted By michael Long | 7/7/09 10:55 PM

Regardless of what edition this feature ends up in, it's cool to see you guys drinking your own kool-aid. An AIR app installable from the web ColdFusion Administrator and connecting to the CF API via (I imagine) Flash Remoting. A perfect natural fit.

# Posted By Joshua Curtiss | 7/8/09 1:11 AM

Another amazing new improvement of CF 9. And there a lot more new stuff, I am working with the Prerelease Adobe Comunity. And some blog, say CF is one of the 10 dying IT Skill(http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/10things/?p=842). How we can fight with this attacks Ben?

# Posted By Alirio Boquin | 7/8/09 1:36 PM

If nothing else... I'm using this to push for moving all of our servers to CF9. I'll be putting in a write up on it with a proposal by the end of this week, or possibly next. This is just amazing. Now, is it going to require going in by way of the internal webserver port? Or will it be able to just come in over 80? Please, let it be over 80 ;).

# Posted By Matthew Williams | 7/8/09 5:08 PM

Matthew, yes, regular port, and uses AMF.

Michael, I'd have a problem when/if core features were Enterprise only, we did that once, gateways in CF7, and we thankfully fixed that in CF8. But server management features, clustering, anything that by its nature is intended for use with multiple servers, well, that I have less of an issue with being Enterprise only. Now I am not suggesting that CF Server Management will be Enterprise only, we've really not decided yet. But, if that is the decision, then I think I'd be OK with it. But, I am with you on not liking arbitrary restrictions in editioning.

--- Ben

# Posted By Ben Forta | 7/8/09 5:48 PM

The thing is I know plenty of small shops that may have 2-3 standalone CF servers where this would help a lot. And even another where they're running multiple licensed CF servers in a VM.

But not when it's an "Enterprise" only feature and the cost of a single Enterprise license ($7500) exceeds the typical cost of FOUR 1U rack servers.

Just frustrating.

# Posted By michael Long | 7/8/09 6:04 PM

Michael - Merlin Manager is an alternative AIR based manager which can manage CF 7, 8 and 9 servers. It's in public beta currently and can be found at http://www.merlinmanager.com

# Posted By John Mason | 9/24/09 5:48 PM

Since the server manager did ship "Included" with CF 9, where can one find the link in the ColdFusion Administrator which we need to install the manager?

# Posted By Jack Ring | 10/12/09 6:05 PM

Hi Ben,

I've just upgraded to CF9 and this was one of the features that I went straight to.

However I'm a little confused. I have standard and the feature chart indicates that this is included but it states that this feature is not available in this version?

Can you confirm if this is correct - I was really looking forward to having access to this tool.

Cheers
Peter

# Posted By Peter | 10/22/09 2:11 PM

@Peter,

The Server Manager is included w/ ColdFusion 9 Standard and Enterprise editions. The product edition matrix on Adobe.com (website and PDF) correctly reflect this under Server Management --> Desktop-based Server Manager. Where are you seeing it say otherwise?

http://www.adobe.com/products/coldfusion/editions/...

-Adam
CF Product Manager

# Posted By Peter | 10/22/09 3:20 PM

Hi,

It's actually on my installation under server monitor on the admin panel. I have installed the air app manually and registered the server but it says unreachable for the server.

We did have some fun with the upgrade where the import settings part went a little funny - not sure if this would affect it?

Peter

# Posted By Peter | 10/22/09 4:32 PM

Well the full matrix of features between the different versions is found here:
http://www.adobe.com/products/coldfusion/pdfs/cf9_...

I'm assuming these features are the ones that provide the feature in admin (which are only available in enterprise)?
Server monitoring Dashboard
Server monitoring API

Correct me if I'm wrong....

# Posted By Michael McKavanagh | 3/19/10 2:12 AM

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Simplified ColdFusion Server Management