While there is at least a low-bandwidth WAN connection between the server and remote agents, the IBM UrbanCode Deploy server can send work to agents in other geographic locations. To aid performance and ease maintenance, IBM UrbanCode Deploy uses agent relays to communicate with remote agents. An agent relay requires that only a single system in the remote network contact the server. Other remote agents communicate with the server by using the agent relay. All agent-server communication from the remote network goes through the relay. Agent relays can be configured as CodeStation proxies to optimize the transfer of large objects.
The following, a simple artifact move, illustrates the mechanics of remote communications:
By default, agent relays open the connection to the IBM UrbanCode Deploy server, but the direction can be reversed if your firewall requires it. Remote agents open connections to the agent relay.
In configurations with relay agents, agents local to the IBM UrbanCode Deploy server continue to use direct communications.