Overview

A Snaplex is a runtime environment for Pipelines. One or more nodes can belong to a Snaplex, with Pipeline execution requests automatically load-balanced across nodes. The algorithm is least-loaded, with priority on memory usage. If there are similarly loaded nodes, the algorithm randomizes the Pipeline execution across them. You can deploy one or many Snaplexes as required to run pipelines and process data.

Where are Snaplexes Used in the SnapLogic Platform

Snaplexes are used in nearly every area of the SnapLogic platform, performing the following functions:

Standard, Resumable, and Ultra Pipelines
Triggered Task and Scheduled Tasks
SnapLogic APIs and Proxies
API Policies in APIM and Tasks in Manager
AutoSync integrations

Types of Snaplexes

The Snaplex can be a Cloudplex (SnapLogic Managed) or a Groundplex (Self-managed). Snaplexes are configured by SnapLogic when the customer is provisioned, and Self-managed Snaplexes can be added anytime. For Cloudplexes, SnapLogic will install and maintain the Snaplex nodes. For Groundplexes, the customer has to install the Snaplex software on nodes in the customer data center.

You can deploy one or many Snaplex instances as required to run Pipelines and process data. A Snaplex consists of one or more nodes and can be one of the following types:

Cloudplex: All Cloudplex instances run inside the SnapLogic IIP. A Cloudplex is ideal if you require integrations that orchestrate across cloud applications (such as Salesforce, ServiceNow, and Workday) with no on-premises connections that do not require any software to run behind a firewall. Use SnapLogic Manager and Monitor to administer and monitor your Cloudplex.
Groundplex: If you need on-premises connectivity (such as SAP, Oracle, or Microsoft Dynamics AX) then you require a Groundplex that runs behind the firewall. Although Groundplex nodes run on private or virtual private data centers, Groundplex instances are managed remotely by the SnapLogic Platform's control plane.

Comparison of Snaplex Types

Type of Snaplex	Advantages	Disadvantages

Type of Snaplex	Advantages	Disadvantages
SnapLogic Managed Snaplex (Cloudplex)	No infrastructure overhead Minimal administrative tasks required Flexibility in deployment FeedMaster nodes are configured with load balancers	No support for customization Scaling requires SnapLogic provisioning more Cloudplexes Only endpoints reachable over the public internet are accessible from Cloudplexes
Self-managed (Groundplex)	Customized configurations supported Choice of security implementation and network communication Flexibility in choice of node resources Can access private endpoints which are not reachable over the public internet. Allows for data processing closer to the source/target endpoints which come with performance and security benefits	Requires administrative oversight Setup requires planning

Snaplex Architecture

The Snaplex represents the Data Plane in the SnapLogic ecosystem. Users who access the SnapLogic application through the UI and most of the Public APIs communicate are communicating with the Control Plane.

The following diagram illustrates the data flow in the SnapLogic architecture for both types of Snaplexes and the relationship between the Control Plane and Data Plane.

In a Self-managed Snaplex (Groundplex), the Snaplex is managed by the customer’s organization.

Managing a Snaplex

Who Can Create or Update a Snaplex

You must be an Org admin to view and change the values of a Snaplex. In terms of Snaplex types, Org admins can create Groundplexes, and only SnapLogic can create Cloudplexes. However, an Org admin can edit basic Cloudplex settings, such as the Snaplex version it runs.

Monitoring your Snaplex

You can monitor Snaplexes in Monitor. Open the System overview from the Infrastructure link in the navigation pane. The default view displays usage graphs for the Snaplex services and the nodes on which they run. When the System overview page opens, it shows the Snaplex node graph view and the average percentage of memory, CPU, and disk use for the last 15 minutes. You can also select the time period for up to 45 days in both Graph and List view. Click a Snaplex to open the details panel. Snaplex details include information on the Snaplex and its nodes.

Snaplex nodes emit metrics every 10 seconds. Graphs on the Metrics page show downsampled results, with the granularity depending on the selected time period. If a node exceeds a performance threshold, it creates an alert that you can view in the Monitor Alert history page.

Click Metrics in the Monitor navigation menu and select a Snaplex node, or for a Snaplex with multiple execution or FeedMaster nodes, all execution nodes, or all FeedMaster nodes. Multiple graphs display utilization metrics for CPU, memory, disk capacity, and other metrics.

For more detailed information, refer to Monitor.

The SnapLogic Snaplex