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CONTENTdm : Options : Cold and development servers

Cold and development servers

The optional Cold Server and Development Server licenses are available for those organizations that want a full installation of their CONTENTdm instance available on stand by or those that want a complete development environment. Though not needed for most organizations, these options are available and can provide extra security and flexibility.

Cold Server license

In the event of a primary server failure, the Cold Server license allows your CONTENTdm license to be run on a backup server until the primary server is up and running again. The main reason to have a Cold Server is if you want a full installation of your CONTENTdm instance—configuration, software and collection data—standing by for immediate switchover in the event of a catastrophic server failure of your primary production site.

Alternatively, many organizations simply use standard Web site backup techniques, often already in place at their organization, to back up the data on their CONTENTdm instances in case of emergency. Since CONTENTdm runs on a standard Web server, standard backup workflows that you use for your other Web sites also would work for CONTENTdm.

Development Server license

A Development Server license enables you to run the CONTENTdm license on a server solely for the purposes of creating and testing new CONTENTdm collections, interfaces and Web site functionality. The Development Server is provided as an option for those organizations that want a complete development environment.

Organizations not using the Development Server often take advantage of several features in CONTENTdm to hide in-process collections and Web template customizations from the public.