What Do I need to do on a regular basis?
(Cross Updating Sites)
Premvet 5 is quite happy to work away every day with a lot of its jobs being scheduled automatically. However, somebody should be checking things on a regular basis to make sure that all the programs are still running, as they should be.
- These things should be checked at every site that has it's own server.
- A system administrator would take full responsibility for the SYSTEM (main site plus any branches)
- All site staff should report any worries or known problems back to the administrator to deal with.
- Each site could check it's own system or the administrator can do this centrally (If you are going to ask the administrator to look after all sites, it is important to make sure that they have TIME to do so, preferably on a daily basis)
Daily tasks
- Backups - have they run and did they work?
- X-Show - Set up a function key to run x_show, this shows the
latest XUD status and includes information on whether transfers took
place, whether integration happened and if any 'locks' are present. This
must be checked at each 'server' site. See the FAQ
My Cross Updating Has Not Worked for details.
- XUD mail - E-mail relating to cross-updating (XUD) will, by
default, be sent to each server's 'root' mailbox. This should either be
read at site or forwarded to the mail address the administrator checks
daily. Any mail messages that are not understood should be forwarded to
Support.
- Server related mail - As for XUD mail but relates to potential
problems with the actual server at each site. Again, it is a good idea
to forward to Support if you are unsure whether they need action.
- Xmenu - If x_show throws up any problems use xmenu, (See
manual) to try and
narrow down the possible causes, it will list all recent XUD attempts
and shows the status of these attempts. It also logs every single call
made between sites in a file, including any failures and error messages
Weekly or monthly
Check the differences existing between your XUD sites.
There is a program called xuddiff that can show you any differences in names or balances at each of your XUD sites. See FAQ Comparing Sites for details.
- Set xuddiff to run at exactly the same time at each site either
weekly or monthly. This will produce a list of all your clients names
and balances as at the given time. It is best run on the quietest day
and time; usually early a Sunday morning.
- Use xmenu to check the differences at least once a month if not
more often
- REMEMBER: there will always be some differences between sites. The xuddiff program will only include work that is on clients cards. If there are log files waiting to integrate then this is NOT included. So, if your branch surgery doesn't get opened after Saturday lunchtime and no-one is integrating log files then it WILL show differences with the main hospital which is manned at all times.