Master server setup for the read-only replica

On the master server, configure the read-only replica. We might name the read-only replica readonly-1667 because we will configure it to use port 1667:

$ p4 -u super server readonly-1667

A default server spec appears.

Prerequisite

The steps on this page assume you have logged into the master server as the Helix Core user with the access level of super. See Permission levels and access rights in the p4 protect topic of Helix Core Command-Line (P4) Reference. That user can have any name, but for convenience the examples use super:

p4 -u super login

Spec configuration

On the master server, configure the server spec for the read-only replica by adding some configurables and setting their values. In this example, the ServerID is readonly-1667, the read-only replica host name is replica, and replica:1667 is its Address:

ServerID:	readonly-1667
Name:		readonly-1667
Type:		server
Services:	replica
Address:	replica:1667
DistributedConfig:
	db.replication=readonly
	lbr.replication=readonly
	lbr.autocompress=1
	startup.1=pull -i 1
	startup.2=pull -u -i 1
	startup.3=pull -u -i 1
	P4TARGET=master:1666
	serviceUser=service
	monitor=1 # optional but required if using the 'p4 monitor show' command
	journalPrefix=/p4/journals/read-only-replica # recommended
	P4TICKETS=/p4/.p4tickets # recommended
	P4LOG=/p4/logs/read-only-replica.log # recommended
Description:
       Read-only replica pointing to master:1666

Regarding this configuration:

For the optional fields, you can use your own naming conventions.
For the Address field, see Communicating port information.
The DistributedConfig: section might contain fields starting any#, such as
any#P4LOG=perforce.log
any#serverlog.file.2=logs/commands.csv
These are options configured on the master server that, by default, apply to any server for which it is a master. To override such a configurable for the replica, add it before or after the fields containing any#
For example:
any#P4LOG=perforce.log
any#serverlog.file.2=logs/commands.csv
P4LOG=perforce.read-only.log
serverlog.file.2=logs/my-subdirectory/commands.csv

Service user creation

In replicated and multi-server environments, a service user is required. See p4 user in Helix Core Command-Line (P4) Reference.

On the master server, create the service user for the replication service. For example:
```
$ p4 -u super user -f service
```
The default user specification opens in your default editor. To make this user be of type service, add the following line:
```
Type: service
```
Save the user specification and exit your default editor.
Use the p4 group command to create a group for your service users and set the value of the timeout field. To avoid service users being logged out, consider using unlimited as the Timeout value. See Tickets and timeouts for service users.
Set the service group protections to super in your protections table. See Service users.
Set the level of security to 3 or higher on the master server. See Server security levels.
For example,
$ p4 -u super configure set security=4
Ensure the service user is protected with a password:
$ p4 -u super passwd service

Next step

Creating the read-only replica