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Newbie Runtime Question(s)

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    #1

    Newbie Runtime Question(s)

    I'm not clear on a number of issues related to the runtime. First, what's with this installing 'shadow' copies of the DB on each client PC and on the 'regular' application on the server? I understand that this allows you to migrate DB updates to the clients, but what about the data in the DB? How is information shared between clients? If client A enters new data, does this travel to the server copy in the background? Assuming two clients, would I need three runtimes, one for each client and one for the server?

    Is it feasible to run this on a VPN? NOTE: There will literally be three users. I doubt they will often be on at the same time. This is a data collection system for a nonprofit.

    Thanks.

    Eric
    Tags: None
    #2
    Re: Newbie Runtime Question(s)

    Hello Eric,

    1. You would install your master database on your server and create "shadow" copies of the master database on every workstation on your network. This is handled by a build in function: Tools - Network Optimize - Create Shadow
    Note: If you have compiled your source code into an .aex file, you should copy that file as well to the workstations.

    2. The data remains on the server. If station 1 update record 1 in table A, will the changes be saved on the server. User 2 on station 2 will see those changes after the record was saved and the data refreshed on his pc. (this is also handled by build in settings)

    3. Runtimes:
    If you have a 3 user RUNTIME, you can install it on 5 machines if you like - BUT only 3 users will be able to use the program on the network at the same time.

    4. As for the VPN, no experience with that. I assume you will be able to work the system...

    Regards
    Walter

    Comment

      #3
      Re: Newbie Runtime Question(s)

      Eric, to supplement Walter's response let me add a bit of background.

      In the typical installation both your application and the data are stored on the "server".
      Without shadow databases on each client workstation, when Alpha Five is loaded / started on the workstation it will run your application on the server. Works fine. Is slow. Why? Your local copy of Alpha must retrieve all the bits and pieces of the application from the server, as well as the data, in order to open forms, apply field rules, update indexes, etc. This is necessary becasue a copy of the Application is not available locally. When you create a shadow copy of the database on the workstation no live data is stored there. The data remains only on the server. However, a copy of the application is created on the local machine. This includes empty "shadow" copies of the tables in your database. These tables simply contain pointers telling Alpha where the live data is to be found on the server. So, now, after network optimization, when you run the "shadowed" database locally, Alpha does not need to retrieve all the bits and pieces of the application from the server, they're available locally. All that must be moved over the LAN is your data. The result is faster performance.

      Comment

        #4
        Re: Newbie Runtime Question(s)

        Originally posted by Walter View Post
        Hello Eric,

        1. You would install your master database on your server and create "shadow" copies of the master database on every workstation on your network. This is handled by a build in function: Tools - Network Optimize - Create Shadow
        Note: If you have compiled your source code into an .aex file, you should copy that file as well to the workstations.

        2. The data remains on the server. If station 1 update record 1 in table A, will the changes be saved on the server. User 2 on station 2 will see those changes after the record was saved and the data refreshed on his pc. (this is also handled by build in settings)

        3. Runtimes:
        If you have a 3 user RUNTIME, you can install it on 5 machines if you like - BUT only 3 users will be able to use the program on the network at the same time.

        4. As for the VPN, no experience with that. I assume you will be able to work the system...

        Regards
        Walter

        Comment

          #5
          Re: Newbie Runtime Question(s)

          I'm with you most of the way here. Do I need to bring the full Alpha 5 software to do this kind of net installation or will the necessary tools be in the runtime. In other words, can I configure the network installation with just the run time CD install disk I create.

          Thanks much.

          Eric

          Comment

            #6
            Re: Newbie Runtime Question(s)

            Hi Tom,

            Originally posted by Tom Cone Jr View Post
            ....Alpha does not need to retrieve all the bits and pieces of the application from the server, they're available locally. All that must be moved over the LAN is your data. The result is faster performance.
            That's a good clean explanation of shadowing and the reason for doing it. Here are a few comments on speed improvements of shadowing (Also known as Network Optimization)

            There is no speed penalty for ever using shadowing except for the time it requires to refresh the shadow each station when an update is done. Very typically, everyone comes in about the same time in the morning, starts Alpha Five, and it starts an automatic refresh if set that way. During these minutes that everyone is refreshing their shadow, it can put a tremendous load on the network, causing everyone a delay until the process is done for most work stations.

            On the other hand, not shadowing does not necessarily cause a lot of overhead either. Only if your network's maximum throughput is ever peaked (even for fractional seconds - actually hard to measure) will it make any real difference. Some factors that affect network usage that shadowing helps include
            • loading/reloading layouts a lot
            • using global bitmaps, particularly large ones
            • Any significant code size not in a compiled AEX
            • more than a relatively few users compared to the bandwidth of the network
            • large field rules
            So if you fall in the above category, you may not see any improvements in speed!

            <Soapbox_On>
            One of the things I wish Alpha would (and could do) is to cache the application portions on the local drive rather than shadow it. It is relatively easy to detect data dictionary changes by time and date stamping of the files (as well as some other ways), and then dynamically reload the cached version onto a local drive should it have been changed the next time it is used. Rather than copying all data dictionaries, only those actually used by the workstation would ever be transferred, saving a lot of needless reshadowing of dictionary files that occurs but are never used. It would also make the process totally transparent to the user, which it should be.
            <Soapbox_Off>
            Regards,

            Ira J. Perlow
            Computer Systems Design


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            Comment

              #7
              Re: Newbie Runtime Question(s)

              Hello Eric,

              You only need the Runtime to set up the shadow copies on the workstation - PROVIDED you have access to your control panel in runtime.

              You can also create a shadow copy via a "Bootstrap" application. In the help file under network optimization -runtime installation, will you find more details about that.

              just remember, you do not create a shadow copy on your server.

              Regards
              Walter

              Comment

                #8
                Re: Newbie Runtime Question(s)

                Originally posted by Walter View Post
                Hello Eric,

                You only need the Runtime to set up the shadow copies on the workstation - PROVIDED you have access to your control panel in runtime.

                You can also create a shadow copy via a "Bootstrap" application. In the help file under network optimization -runtime installation, will you find more details about that.

                just remember, you do not create a shadow copy on your server.

                Regards
                Walter

                Comment

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