> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.pentaho.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.pentaho.com/install/9.3-install/pentaho-configuration/tasks-to-be-performed-by-an-it-administrator/set-up-the-adaptive-execution-layer-ael/advanced-topics.md).

# Advanced topics

The following topics help to extend your knowledge of the Adaptive Execution Layer beyond basic setup and use:

* [Spark Tuning](/install/9.3-install/pentaho-configuration/tasks-to-be-performed-by-an-it-administrator/set-up-the-adaptive-execution-layer-ael/advanced-topics/spark-tuning-landing-page-cp.md)

  You can customize PDI transformation and step parameters to improve the performance of running your PDI transformations on Spark. These parameters affect memory, cores, and instances used by the Spark engine. These Spark parameters include both application parameters and Spark tuning parameters.

  * See [Configuring application tuning parameters for Spark](/install/9.3-install/pentaho-configuration/tasks-to-be-performed-by-an-it-administrator/set-up-the-adaptive-execution-layer-ael/advanced-topics/spark-tuning-landing-page-cp/configuring-application-tuning-parameters-for-spark.md) to learn how to define additional Spark properties within the `application.properties` file or as run modification parameters within a transformation.
  * See [About Spark tuning in PDI](/install/9.3-install/pentaho-configuration/tasks-to-be-performed-by-an-it-administrator/set-up-the-adaptive-execution-layer-ael/advanced-topics/spark-tuning-landing-page-cp/about-spark-tuning-in-pdi-cp.md) to learn more about how Spark tuning parameters work in PDI.
  * For the list of Spark tuning parameters available in PDI transformation steps, see [Spark Tuning](/install/9.3-install/pentaho-configuration/tasks-to-be-performed-by-an-it-administrator/set-up-the-adaptive-execution-layer-ael/advanced-topics/spark-tuning-landing-page-cp.md).
* [Configuring AEL with Spark in a secure cluster](/install/9.3-install/pentaho-configuration/tasks-to-be-performed-by-an-it-administrator/set-up-the-adaptive-execution-layer-ael/advanced-topics/configuring-ael-with-spark-in-a-secure-cluster.md)

  If your AEL daemon server and your cluster machines are in a secure environment like a data center, you may only want to configure a secure connection between the PDI client and the AEL daemon server.


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