Security Updates

One factor in deciding between a stand-alone or distributed installation of FME Server is the degree of control you want in applying security updates.

All installations of FME Server, regardless of type, include the FME Server Core and FME Engines. These components are always provided directly from the FME Server installation package. Two additional components - a Web Application Server and a server for the FME Server Database - must also be installed.

When you choose to install a full, stand-alone version of FME Server, the install package provides its own versions of these components, including an Apache Tomcat web application servlet, and a PostgreSQL database server. This is the “Express” installation option.

When you choose a Distributed installation of FME Server, you can either provide your own web application server or choose the default FME Server Web Application Server; and depending on the scenario (2-tier or 3-tier architecture), you may also provide a database server.

Full vs Distributed

If you install a full, stand-alone FME Server, any security updates to the web application and database servers are dependent on updates to FME Server releases in general. Each time FME Server releases an update to its software (including both major and minor releases), any security updates for these components are included in that release. You will need to re-install to receive these updates.

If your FME Server is entirely internal to your organization, and behind a firewall, then you may be comfortable with the security updates provided with a full installation.

Alternatively, if you do not want to rely on FME Server updates for security updates to the Web Application and Database servers, then we recommend a Distributed installation. In this case, you provide these additional server components on your own and maintain security updates for them separately.

• In the case of the Web Application server, both Apache Tomcat and Oracle WebLogic are supported.
• The FME Server Database supports PostgreSQL, Oracle, and SQL Server.