geode-docs/topologies_and_comm/p2p_configuration/configuring_peer_member_groups.html.md.erb

---
title:  Organizing Peers into Logical Member Groups
---

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In a peer-to-peer configuration, you can organize members into logical member groups and use those groups to associate specific data or assign tasks to a pre-defined set of members.

<a id="concept_032521546EF34FABB40EB2C18080ED35__section_411EA6C46AD4456C987C0759A05340F2"></a>
You can use logical member groups to deploy JAR applications across multiple members or to execute functions across a member group.

To add a peer to a member group, you can configure the following:

1.  Add the member group names to the `gemfire.properties` file for the member. For example:

    ``` pre
    #gemfire.properties
    groups=Portfolios,ManagementGroup1
    ```

    A member can belong to more than one member group. If specifying multiple member groups for a member, use a comma-separated list. Alternatively, if you are using the `gfsh` command interface to start up the member, provide the group name or group names as a parameter.

    For example, to start up a server and associate it with member groups, you could type:

    ``` pre
    gfsh>start server --name=server1 \
    --group=Portfolios,ManagementGroup1
    ```

    For example, to start up a locator and associate it with member groups, you could type:

    ``` pre
    gfsh>start locator --name=locator1 \
    --group=ManagementGroup1
    ```

2.  Then you can use the member group names to perform tasks such as deploy applications or execute functions.

    For example, to deploy an application across a member group, you could type the following in `gfsh`:

    ``` pre
    gfsh>deploy --jar=group1_functions.jar --group=ManagementGroup1
    ```