Data Replication Service (DRS) Failure Detection [Quick Tip]

Data Replication Service (DRS) – is a utility that will silently update the oneWeigh systems with changes to specific packages that have occurred on the Agris server, depending on the DRS configuration.

The most common packages that are updated using DRS are the Name Address and Inventory packages.

This is a very powerful and convenient Utility. However, if it fails and the failure is not detected and corrected, this failure can create ticket rework; due to outdated data on the oneWeighs.

Root causes of DRS failures are typically, the following:

  • Windows Task Scheduler not running at the correct time or not running at all

  • Windows Agris_ABS component server not running

  • Windows updates turning firewalls on

  • Other network issues

The first step in troubleshooting is detecting a DRS failure.

There are three primary ways to detect DRS failures.

1. Communication Inquiry under – Utilities – Data Replication Service

The value in the “Late” column is the last time the site had successful communication. This value is in minutes, in the example below the last successful communication was 6 hours ago – 360 mins/ 60 mins = 6 hours. There are 1420 mins in a day, you can use that value to do a quick calculation of the last time a site was communicated with.

To get more detailed information of the last time the system ran – double click on Inquiry and a report will run showing details of last successful communication with the site.

2. Setup an email alert to notify staff that the Agris Database is not communicating with a site.

NOTE: This requires the Agris email functionality be configured and turned on.

Email alerts for DRS failures can be setup under:

Utilities

Data Replication Service

Site Configuration

Select the first site

Select “Notifications” > Fill in the email of the person to be notified.

3. This is not a technical test but it is the ultimate test:

  1. Add a name in Agris Name address or make a change to a Name in Name and address

  2. In Utilities – Data Replication Service – Process all sites

  3. Check the Communications Inquiry

  4. Call the sites that show communication and ask if the changes are present on the oneWeighs.

  5. If the changes appear in the oneWeigh then there is no doubt the system is updating the oneWeighs