If your product bundle includes Metadata Manager, you must decide whether to create one domain or a split domain. In a split domain, the application services associated with the primary components of your product bundle run in one domain, and the application services associated with Metadata Manager run in a separate domain.
When you configure a split domain, you can upgrade Metadata Manager without having to upgrade the primary components of your product bundle. Metadata Manager can run on a more recent product version than the other components.
For example, your product bundle includes PowerCenter and Metadata Manager. In a split domain, the application services associated with PowerCenter run in the primary domain, while the application services associated with Metadata Manager run in the secondary domain. To upgrade Metadata Manager, you upgrade the product components in the secondary domain. You can upgrade Metadata Manager without having to upgrade PowerCenter at the same time.
To create each domain, you run the Informatica services installer separately. You can create each domain on a separate machine or you can create both domains on one machine.