---
title: "Backend server"
slug: "grassfish-backend-server-services"
updated: 2026-05-06T05:59:24Z
published: 2026-05-06T05:59:24Z
canonical: "docs.grassfish.com/grassfish-backend-server-services"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.grassfish.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Backend server

This article explains the architecture of the Grassfish backend and features of the backend services.

## Backend architecture

The following diagram illustrates the Grassfish backend architecture. It’s structured as follows:

- The Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) cluster runs several specialized services.
- These services collectively handle the content management system (CMS) logic, data processing, and integrations.
- Data resides in the Azure SQL Managed Instance.
- Media files are stored in Azure File Storage.

![IXM Server Architecture](https://cdn.document360.io/e2b87f73-d9f5-43cb-8182-2641762664fd/Images/Documentation/IXM Architecture.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-06T19%3A13%3A07Z&se=2026-11-06T20%3A13%3A07Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=DRYMZEB48F3UUS8T4C8dzvSIfq8mL47jaOITXo%2BZ6QM%3D)

## Backend services

The Grassfish backend uses the following services:

****Data Gateway****

Data Gateway is a backend service. Its main tasks and features are:

- Controls media imports and creates metadata in the database.
- Performs cleanup tasks, such as deleting old files or database cleanup.
- Sends system notifications (GNS).
- Performs technical support functions, such as cyclic redundancy checks (CRC32) to ensure data integrity.

Technical information:

| Standard service name | GV2 DG |
| --- | --- |
| Service directory | `<Grassfish-RootDir>\DataGateway` |
| Log file | `<Grassfish-RootDir>\log\DataGateway` |
| Interfaces | - Access to the MS SQL database - Access to the central file share - Access to the SMTP server (optional) |

****Data Calculator****

Data Calculator is a backend service. Its main tasks and features are:

- Calculates playlists and playback rules based on the CMS configuration.
- Triggers content updates when bookings or layouts change.

Technical information:

| Standard service name | GV2 DC |
| --- | --- |
| Service directory | `<Grassfish-RootDir>\DataCalculator` |
| Log file | `<Grassfish-RootDir>\log\DataCalculator` |
| Interfaces | - Access to the MS SQL database - Access to the central file share |

****Media Handler****

Media Handler is a backend service. Its main tasks and features are:

- Generates thumbnails and previews for the CMS.
- Performs transcodings as needed and reads media metadata.

Technical information:

| Standard service name | GV2 MediaHandler |
| --- | --- |
| Service directory | `<Grassfish-RootDir>\MediaHandler` |
| Log file | `<Grassfish-RootDir>\log\MediaHandler` |
| Interfaces | - Access to the MS SQL database - Access to the central file share |

****Reporting Gateway****

Reporting Gateway is a backend service. Its main tasks and features are:

- Runs periodic background jobs (reports, aggregations, exports).
- Designed as a plugin system to add custom reports without modifying the core functionality.

Technical information:

| Standard service name | GV2 RG |
| --- | --- |
| Service directory | `<Grassfish-RootDir>\ReportingGateway` |
| Log file | `<Grassfish-RootDir>\log\ReportingGateway` |
| Interfaces | - Access to the MS SQL database: - Grassfish live database - Grassfish reporting database - Access to the central file share - Access to customer-specific import interfaces for file imports from an FTP directory or requests via external web interfaces (optional) |

****UDC****

Universal Data Controller (UDC) is a backend service. Its main tasks and features are:

- Provides a generic data model for structured external data.
- Performs periodic imports (REST, CSV/Excel, XML/JSON, Database) and writes normalized data to the CMS database.
- Replicates data to the local player database so that spots and HTML content can use it locally.

Technical information:

| Standard service name | GV2 UDC |
| --- | --- |
| Service directory | `<Grassfish-RootDir>\UdcService` |
| Log file | `<Grassfish-RootDir>\log\UDC` |
| Interfaces | - Access to the MS SQL database - Access to the central file share - Access to customer-specific import interfaces for file imports from an FTP directory or requests via external web interfaces (optional) |

Universal Data Controller, a system component that manages the import of external data into the IXM system.