Hello,
My company is evaluating 24x7 as a possible replace for our current job scheduling software particularly because of its reporting capabilities. We have an Oracle server that stores mirrored tables from the system that we run jobs off of. We have several hundred jobs that are generated out of MS Access 97 databases that link to this data. Because of the sheer size of our job load, we would like to use such features as the Server Load Balancing Report to make sure we're adequately utilizing the 6 job schedulers we are using.

Since we are using MS Access, how does 24x7 know if a job was completed? Would we need to pass a variable via VB code? Does the software simply check to see when the process stops running, thus implying that the job completed?

Thanks for your help!

In this scenario I suggest using 1 central scheduler and 6 remote agents.
On the central scheduler configure 6 profiles (1 for each agent). Schedule all your jobs using the central scheduler and for the "host" property of each job select [Least busy] option. This way the scheduler will automatically balance job load based on agent computers utilization.

If you provide more details about "Access 97 database job" (a sample scenario would be helpful) I can then suggest how you can check job exit code/status.

: Hello,
: My company is evaluating 24x7 as a possible replace for our current job
: scheduling software particularly because of its reporting capabilities. We
: have an Oracle server that stores mirrored tables from the system that we
: run jobs off of. We have several hundred jobs that are generated out of MS
: Access 97 databases that link to this data. Because of the sheer size of
: our job load, we would like to use such features as the Server Load
: Balancing Report to make sure we're adequately utilizing the 6 job
: schedulers we are using.

: Since we are using MS Access, how does 24x7 know if a job was completed?
: Would we need to pass a variable via VB code? Does the software simply
: check to see when the process stops running, thus implying that the job
: completed?

: Thanks for your help!

Hello,
Thanks for your reply! I didn't realize that this product could remotely and centrally administer a job queue. This is perfect for our needs and my supervisor has given me the go head to setup a test environment. I am having more trouble setting up the environment and would appreciate some help. Most of our jobs are kicked off by our current job scheduler program and contain an "autoexec" macro that fires up queries and modules as soon as the database is open. I've managed to setup 24x7 so that it will fire off the process. I want it to execute SQL once the process is finished, but I'm not sure how to configure the job to include the details for connecting to our Oracle server. Where can I put in these settings? Also, I'm getting an error "Missing message database profile."

Can you help?

Thanks!

: In this scenario I suggest using 1 central scheduler and 6 remote agents.
: On the central scheduler configure 6 profiles (1 for each agent). Schedule
: all your jobs using the central scheduler and for the "host"
: property of each job select [Least busy] option. This way the scheduler
: will automatically balance job load based on agent computers utilization.

: If you provide more details about "Access 97 database job" (a
: sample scenario would be helpful) I can then suggest how you can check job
: exit code/status.

Another question... it seems that when sending jobs to remote agents, these agents process job one at a time sequence. Is there any way to run a few processes at the same time? I'm concerned that if a process is scheduled to run at 9:00 and doesn't complete until say 9:45, that a process scheduled for 9:30 would be delayed. Is there a setting on the remote agent to specify the max number of jobs that can be performed at a time?

Thanks, also I found out where to configure the ODBC driver for the Oracle server, but we have a few Oracle servers each with different sets of data residing on them. How do I specify within a job which Oracle server I want to send the SQL commands to?

: In this scenario I suggest using 1 central scheduler and 6 remote agents.
: On the central scheduler configure 6 profiles (1 for each agent). Schedule
: all your jobs using the central scheduler and for the "host"
: property of each job select [Least busy] option. This way the scheduler
: will automatically balance job load based on agent computers utilization.

: If you provide more details about "Access 97 database job" (a
: sample scenario would be helpful) I can then suggest how you can check job
: exit code/status.

You need to configure database connections first (basically tell 24x7 how to conenct to your Oracle database)
Click Tools/Database Profiles menu. Select Oracle or ODBC (I prefer first as a more reliable method) click New button and enter connection settings.
Once you are done go back to your job, open it in the Job Wizard and when prompted select the name of this profile from the Database Profile drop-down box.

: Hello,
: Thanks for your reply! I didn't realize that this product could remotely and
: centrally administer a job queue. This is perfect for our needs and my
: supervisor has given me the go head to setup a test environment. I am
: having more trouble setting up the environment and would appreciate some
: help. Most of our jobs are kicked off by our current job scheduler program
: and contain an "autoexec" macro that fires up queries and
: modules as soon as the database is open. I've managed to setup 24x7 so
: that it will fire off the process. I want it to execute SQL once the
: process is finished, but I'm not sure how to configure the job to include
: the details for connecting to our Oracle server. Where can I put in these
: settings? Also, I'm getting an error "Missing message database
: profile."

: Can you help?

: Thanks!

You have 2 options:
1. Run jobs asynchronously so that other jobs for the same agent don't wait in a queue. To control asynchronous/synchronous mode use "asynchronous" job option.
2. Use synchronous jobs with multiple job queues. I highly recommend using this option.
In your situation I would create a separate queue for each agent (Tools/Job Queues menu)
Or even better if you create application specific queues. Multiple queues will allow you concurrent job processing.

PS. Each 24x7 Remote Agent is capable to handle multiple jobs concurrently (from the same or different schedulers) as well as each 24x7 Scheduler is capable to run multiple local and remote jobs simultaneously. Job sequencing and timing is controlled on the scheduler(s) side.

: Another question... it seems that when sending jobs to remote agents, these
: agents process job one at a time sequence. Is there any way to run a few
: processes at the same time? I'm concerned that if a process is scheduled
: to run at 9:00 and doesn't complete until say 9:45, that a process
: scheduled for 9:30 would be delayed. Is there a setting on the remote
: agent to specify the max number of jobs that can be performed at a time?

: Thanks, also I found out where to configure the ODBC driver for the Oracle
: server, but we have a few Oracle servers each with different sets of data
: residing on them. How do I specify within a job which Oracle server I want
: to send the SQL commands to?

I keep having issues with the send email feature. I have it set to send out an email when the job starts, finishes, and if it errors out. It keeps telling me
"Sending mail failed: Mail Return Failure!"

Although the job runs fine, I'm not sure what to do about the email error.

I've set up my Outlook account on both the Scheduler and the Remote Agent. I'm logged in using my network ID on both machines. Why wouldn't it be able to send the email? I'm not able to do it if I run it locally or if I run it on a Remote Agent.

: You need to configure database connections first (basically tell 24x7 how to
: conenct to your Oracle database)
: Click Tools/Database Profiles menu. Select Oracle or ODBC (I prefer first as
: a more reliable method) click New button and enter connection settings.
: Once you are done go back to your job, open it in the Job Wizard and when
: prompted select the name of this profile from the Database Profile
: drop-down box.

It looks like you are using MAPI email interface.
Make sure you specify correct MAPI profile name and password in the job properties.
If you attempt to email from JAL scripts use the same for the first and second parameters.

Also try changing "Send by Address" to "Send by Name" method in the global options (Tools/Options general). One of them should compatible with your email system.

: I keep having issues with the send email feature. I have it set to send out
: an email when the job starts, finishes, and if it errors out. It keeps
: telling me
: "Sending mail failed: Mail Return Failure!"

: Although the job runs fine, I'm not sure what to do about the email error.

: I've set up my Outlook account on both the Scheduler and the Remote Agent.
: I'm logged in using my network ID on both machines. Why wouldn't it be
: able to send the email? I'm not able to do it if I run it locally or if I
: run it on a Remote Agent.