Hitachi

JP1 Version 12 JP1/IT Desktop Management 2 Distribution Function Administration Guide


7.6.15 Enabling automatic switching from one higher distribution system to another for file distribution

A higher system (relay system) used to distribute data and software to computers might become unavailable in the event of a failure. In this case, you can configure a multi-polling environment and switch the connection destination to another relay system or a management relay server located at a higher level. At this time, you can configure the computer information registered in the original relay system in the form of an ID group to be automatically registered in the new connection destination (another relay system or a management relay server).

When the original relay system (the higher distribution system) recovers from the failure and becomes available again, the connection destination is switched back to the original relay system, and the registered ID group is also moved back to the original relay system.

To use this functionality, you have to first set higher distribution systems in the Settings to Perform Polling for Multiple Higher Systems area of the Communication Settings page during agent setup. In addition, you have to specify the following settings:

Important

Keep the following in mind when enabling automatic switching from one higher distribution system to another for file distribution:

  • You cannot switch from one higher relay system (management server) to another.

  • You can only switch to another relay system (connection destination) under the same management relay server. In other words, you cannot switch to a relay system (connection destination) located under a different management relay server.

  • Even when the connection destination is automatically switched, the following information remains unchanged: Information specified in the file for connection destinations (itdmhost.conf) and the file for higher connection destinations (dmhost.txt) or the setting specified in the Higher Systems to Be Polled area under Settings to Perform Polling for Multiple Higher Systems on the Communication Settings page of the agent configurations.

  • If the version of the installed agent is earlier than JP1/IT Desktop Management 2 - Agent 12-00, even when you have enabled automatic switching from one higher distribution system to another, automatic switching does not occur.

  • If switching from one higher distribution system to another occurs while files are being distributed by an ID group job, the distribution of files are started all over again from the higher system that took over the file distribution process. When the original higher distribution system becomes available again, the downloading is discontinued and the remaining files get deleted.

    If the original higher distribution system is faulty or has been replaced with a new one and there are some remaining downloaded files on the agent, delete these files by creating a relay system having the same host name as the original higher distribution system.

  • The changes made to the agent configurations are applied at the following timings:

    - If you change the n hours setting and 1 is set as the priority of the higher distribution system, the time setting becomes enabled when the policies are applied. If 2 or lower level of priority is set for the higher distribution system, the setting becomes enabled when the priority of the higher distribution system goes back to 1.

    Note that the reference time to switching remains the same.

    - If priorities are changed for Higher Systems to Be Polled, or if a higher system is replaced or deleted, the setting specified for the higher systems becomes enabled when the policies are applied. The original higher distribution system, however, is retained. Due to this, switchover after the specified hours (n hours) is not enabled until the priority of the higher distribution system goes back to 1.

    - If you clear the Perform a switchover of the higher system for distribution if polling fails for a specified period of time check box, the system configuration is applied to the manager when agent computers restart after access to a higher distribution system whose priority is 1 becomes available.

Note

Automatic switching from one higher distribution system to another for file distribution requires the use of the functions described in the table below. For more details, see the relevant section or subsection, which is shown in the Refer to column beside each function.

Table 7‒3: Functions used to enable automatic switching from one higher distribution system to another for file distribution

Function name

Refer to

Multi-polling environment on an agent

3.4.2

Automatic changing of the agent connection destination

3.4.3

Distribution by using ID groups

5.3

Linkage of system configuration information with ID group information

5.4

The following figure shows an example of how automatic switching from one higher distribution system to another occurs for file distribution.

[Figure]

In this example, the multi-polling environment for the managed computer (Clt01) is configured to poll higher systems based on the following order of priority:

  1. Relay system (Sub01)

  2. Management relay server (Man01)

The following provides a detailed description of each step (represented by numbers (1) to (6)) illustrated in the above figure:

(1)

Polling fails because a relay system (Sub01) located at a higher level than the managed computer (Clt01) is down.

(2)

If the polling does not succeed within a specific period of time#, the managed computer (Clt01) starts polling the management relay server (Man01) located at a yet higher level. When the polling succeeds, the higher system is switched to the management relay server (Man01).

#

This is the time specified in the n hours area under Settings to Perform Polling for Multiple Higher Systems on the Communication Settings page of the agent configurations.

(3)

Because the higher system of managed computer (Clt01) is now switched, information regarding the managed computer (Clt01) is added to the system configuration information of the management relay server (Man01). This causes the ID group information to be changed as well.

Data and software can now be distributed from the management relay server (Man01) to the managed computer (Clt01).

(4)

When the relay system (Sub01) becomes available again, the managed computer (Clt01) switches the higher system to the relay system (Sub01).

(5)

Because the higher system of managed computer (Clt01) is now switched, information regarding the managed computer (Clt01) is added to the system configuration information of the relay system (Sub01). This causes the ID group information to be changed as well.

(6)

System configuration information on the management relay server (Man01) changes after the management relay server (Man01) detects the change of system configuration information on the relay system (Sub01). This causes the ID group information to be changed as well.

Data and software can now be distributed to the managed computer (Clt01) via the relay system (Sub01).