The Service Manager performs functions on each node to support the domain. Domain functions include authentication, authorization, and logging. The domain functions that the Service Manager performs on a node depend on the type and role of the node. For example, the Service Manager running on the master gateway node performs all domain functions on that node. The Service Manager running on any other type of node performs limited domain functions on that node.

When a node has the service role, the Service Manager starts application services configured to run on that node. It starts and stops services and service processes based on requests from Informatica clients.