IBM DB2 Everyplace Sync Server Administration Guide Version 7 Release 2 Modification 1


Manipulating synchronization objects

What is a synchronization object?

In the Mobile Devices Administration Center, you administer the synchronization process through a set of synchronization objects. A synchronization object contains information about aspects of the synchronization process in your organization. There are six types of synchronization objects:

Group
A group of users with similar mobile data synchronization needs. You define synchronization characteristics for each group, such as which applications the users in the group need to access to perform their jobs and what subsets of enterprise data they need to access.

User
A user who uses the DB2 Everyplace Sync Server to synchronize data between a source (the enterprise system) and a target (the mobile device). You assign a user to a group to provide access to the subscriptions defined in the group's subscription sets.

Subscription
A specification for what information in a source database or server is to be replicated to a target database (the DB2 Everyplace database on the mobile device). Like a magazine subscription where you choose the types of information you want to see on a periodic basis, a subscription allows you to define which subsets of your enterprise's data and files the group members are allowed to access. Members can then access and synchronize just this subset of data and files, improving both security and performance. You can create two types of subscriptions: file subscriptions for files stored at the source server, and table subscriptions in the source database using either DataPropagator or JDBC subscriptions.

Subscription set
A collection of subscriptions. To provide group members with access to the data and files defined in subscriptions, you collect the subscriptions together in a container called an subscription set, then assign this container object to the group. This two-step process of enabling members of a group to access the information that they need makes administration easier because you can bundle a set of subscriptions and assign that bundle to multiple groups if necessary.

When users start the synchronization client software on the device, they choose which subscription set to synchronize. The menu of subscription sets that appears on the client is created from the list of subscription sets associated with the user's group.

During a synchronization, if the client failed to synchronize a subscription successfully, it skips the remaining subscriptions in the same subscription set, and continues with the next subscription set.

Tip:Group closely related subscriptions into a subscription set instead of randomly assigning different subscriptions to a subscription set. This can make troubleshooting easier if a subscription set fails to synchronize successfully.

Adapter
An adapter is used to synchronize and communicate with the Sync Server. A collection of adapters is included for synchronizing files, relational data with DB2, relational data with JDBC, and remote query and stored procedure functionality.

Log
After you implement mobile data synchronization, you can monitor any synchronization problems using the error messages written to the error log. Monitoring log activity is explained in Viewing the error log to diagnose problems.

You can create and edit groups, subscriptions, subscription sets, and users to handle your organization's synchronization requirements. Logs are available for viewing only.

Where synchronization objects are stored

As you create, edit, or delete synchronization objects, the Mobile Devices Administration Center records this administration information in a control database stored on the source system. The name of this database is DSYCTLDB. DSYCTLDB is a reserved name; you cannot rename the database or use the name DSYCTLDB for any other database in the system.

Created at installation time, the control database helps the Sync Server authenticate users and obtain subscription information to determine what to replicate for the synchronization requests. Because it contains synchronization setup information as well as status information about synchronization operations, ensure that you regularly back up the administration control database. Passwords and other information in this database are not encrypted; thus, ensure that you take appropriate steps to protect this database.

Creating synchronization objects

Although each object requires different input, you create all objects using the same basic process in the Mobile Devices Administration Center. You can create an object from the object tree or when you are working within another object.

Creating an object from the object tree

To create a synchronization object:

  1. In the object tree, right-click the object folder that corresponds to the type of object that you want to create.
  2. Select Create. If you are creating a subscription, a submenu displays. Select either File subscription, Table subscription, or Custom subscription, depending on the type of subscription that you want to create.

The Create notebook opens with the object type displayed in the title of the notebook.

For details on how to complete the notebook pages for each object, see one of the following topics:

After you save an object, you can edit the object to complete it or make changes. See Editing a synchronization object for more information.

Creating a new object when working in another

The Mobile Devices Administration Center allows you to create new synchronization objects for a related object without disturbing your workflow. For example, you might be editing the characteristics of a group named Visiting Nurses and realize that you need to add a new nurse who just started work. Without leaving the Edit Group notebook, you could click Create on the Users page to open the Create User notebook, where you can add the new nurse and assign the nurse to the Visiting Nurses group.

Viewing objects in the contents pane

After you create an object, information about that object appears in the contents pane. To display objects in the contents pane, select a folder in the object tree.

Information displayed

Different columns appear in the contents pane depending on which folder is currently open. The column headings are listed here alphabetically.

Adapter
This field displays the adapter used by the subscription.

Customizer class name
This field displays Java classname of the custom adapter.

Data filter
This field displays Yes if you set a data filter for the user or group and No if no data filter has been set.

Description
This field displays the description that you gave the object when you created it, and appears for all objects except logs.

Device type
This field displays the type of device registered to the user. You do not enter this information using the Mobile Devices Administration Center; the DB2 Everyplace Sync Server obtains the device type when the user registers the device.

Enabled
This field displays Yes if the group or user has been enabled for synchronization and No if it is not enabled. (See Enabling and disabling synchronization for information on enabling a group or user for synchronization.)

Encryption Level
This field displays the encryption level used during data transfer.

Group
When the Users folder is selected, this field displays the name of the group to which the user is assigned. When the Subscription sets folder is selected, this field displays the number of groups associated with the subscription set.

Name
This field displays the unique name that you gave the object when you created it, and appears for all objects except logs.

Signature
This field displays the signature used by the adapter.

Subscriptions
This field displays the number of subscriptions assigned to the subscription set.

Subscription sets
This field displays the number of subscription sets associated with a group or subscription.

Synchronization status
This field displays the synchronization status of the user. The synchronization status is retrieved by selecting a user, right-clicking it, and then selecting Synchronization status. The status displayed is real-time and indicates whether a synchronization session is starting, is in progress, or is completed.

Type
This field displays the type of subscription.

Users
This field displays the number of users assigned to a group.

Refreshing the view

When you make changes to an object, those changes might not be immediately displayed in the contents pane. To refresh the contents of an object folder:

  1. Right-click the object folder.
  2. Select Refresh.

Filtering the contents pane

If you have several synchronization objects in a folder, you might need to filter the folder's contents to more easily find what you need. Filtering a folder's contents displays a subset of the contents according to search criteria that you enter.

To filter a folder's contents:

  1. Right-click the object folder.
  2. Select Filter. The Filter notebook opens, displaying the column headings in the contents pane for the selected object folder. Some columns cannot be filtered.
  3. In the Values field of the Locate page, type your search criteria.

The Mobile Devices Administration Center displays only those objects meeting the specified filter criteria. After you set the filter for an object, you must explicitly clear the filter to display all elements in an object, or all objects in the tree.

For more information about object filters, see the online help for the DB2 Control Center.

Sorting the contents pane

Another way to quickly find what you need is to sort a column in the contents pane alphabetically.

To sort a column, click the column heading. The system rearranges the data rows in alphabetical order according to the column that is currently selected.

Editing a synchronization object

After you save a synchronization object in the administration control database, you can open the object in edit mode to add information or make changes.

To edit an object:

  1. In the object tree, open the object folder that corresponds to the type of object that you want to edit. The contents of the folder are displayed in the contents pane.
  2. In the contents pane, right-click the object that you want to edit.
  3. Select Edit. The Edit notebook opens with the object type displayed in the title of the notebook. The Edit notebook contains all the same fields as the Create notebook for the object. For information on specific pages and fields, see the sections for the type of object that you want to edit:

Deleting an object

You can delete any object in the Mobile Devices Administration Center. Before you delete an object, however, consider the consequences on your users' synchronization sessions. Will deleting the object cause a synchronization session to fail? If it does, the objects affected by the deletion are automatically disabled. (See Enabling and disabling synchronization for more information.)

To delete an object:

  1. In the object tree of the Mobile Devices Administration Center, open the object folder that corresponds to the type of object that you want to edit.
  2. In the contents pane, right-click the object that you want to delete. To select multiple objects serially, hold down the Ctrl key while selecting. To select multiple objects contiguously, hold down the Shift key while selecting.
  3. Select Delete. A confirmation window displays the objects that you selected for deletion. Clear the Delete check box for any items you decide to keep.
  4. Click OK.

When you delete an object, its information is automatically deleted from the administration control database. When you delete a subscription, mirror tables associated with that subscription are automatically dropped from the mirror database as well.


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