To provide efficient and correct operation, the processes that are running on DFS server machines in a cell must be configured properly. The Basic OverSeer Server (BOS Server) continually monitors and, if necessary, restarts the other server processes on a machine; you specify the processes that the BOS Server is to monitor. The BOS Server runs on all DFS server machines.
You also control server process status by issuing bos commands to perform routine maintenance or to correct errors the BOS Server cannot correct by itself. This topic explains how to define a server machine's processes and how to start and stop them. The BOS Server can monitor and control processes other than DFS processes. However, the information in this topic refers specifically to DFS server processes.
Do not use the BOS Server to control the following processes on a machine: fxd, dfsd, dfsbind, or dfsexport. The first two processes spawn kernel threads that, if continually restarted, can eventually result in system failure on the machine. The last two processes are usually executed only when a machine initially starts, and they must be started in the proper sequence with respect to other processes. It is recommended that all four of these processes be started by including a line in the proper initialization file (/etc/rc or its equivalent).