Using the Console and Service

The Client Console is an easy-to-use graphical interface that lets you access remote clients on different platforms. You can view multiple data sources (defined by the Server Accessory or Enterprise Server) and monitor all Client activity via onscreen messages and status updates.

Any task you perform in the Client Console is automated by a Windows service (or UNIX daemon). For example, when you add a new data source or generate scripts, the service starts one of two programs as a background run to perform that task. The first program, DBClient, performs most DMSII data processing tasks, such as running process and clone commands. The second program, DBClntCfgServer, handles the requests from the Client Console and Client Configurator that the service can't. Both DBClient and DBClntCfgServer use the Client Console to provide an operator interface and to display their output. You can configure the service to initiate background runs at certain times or intervals.

The following diagram shows the Client architecture. The dotted lines show the two types of clients: the command-line client (dbutility) and the service-controlled client (DBClient and other components).

The service handles all communication between background runs and the Client Console via IPC over TCP/IP protocol, sending all client-related messages to the Client Console for viewing. Neither the service nor the background runs interact with the desktop or require that a user be signed on to the server. This makes client operations more secure than command sessions and prevents the client runs from being terminated, accidentally or maliciously. The service restarts at system startup by default, ensuring that replication can continue without outside intervention in the event of system failure.

The Client Configurator, another graphic interface that is accessed from within the Client Console, lets you customize a data source, the relational database tables, and individual DMSII data mappings. Instead of hand-coding SQL user scripts, you can configure a data source by selecting options in the Client Configurator. You can use the Client Configurator with existing Client configurations, using either the command-line or service operated client. When you upgrade, your client control tables are updated using the existing user scripts.