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NerveCenter Database Management

NerveCenter includes two utilities that facilitate data management.

Database Utilities

NerveCenter uses different methods of storing information on UNIX and Windows systems.

The following sections describe data management for each platform:

• UNIX
• Windows

UNIX

NerveCenter uses two files for data storage on UNIX:

• nervecenter.ncdb -- Contains information about NerveCenter objects, such as polls, masks, and alarms.
• nervecenter.node -- Contains information about the nodes that NerveCenter manages.

Both files are loaded into NerveCenter during installation. After installation, you can back up, restore, and transfer this data by using SerializeDB.

The following diagram shows the UNIX database files.

NerveCenter Data Storage Files on UNIX

SerializeDB performs two operations:

• Converts UNIX *.ncdb and *.node files to a single database file, whose name you provide at the time of conversion. The database file has a binary format with an .asc extension.
• Converts the same or another *.asc file to two *.ncdb and *.node files.

You can use the serialized file as a backup. Should you need to restore the backup, convert the file back to your original *.ncdb and *.node files. You can also transfer the serialized file to another NerveCenter machine and convert the file to *.ncdb and *.node files for that NerveCenter. Finally, you can transfer your original database files to a Windows NerveCenter and import the files to its database. For more information about multiple NerveCenters, see Multiple NerveCenters.

Windows

On Windows, NerveCenter stores its behavior model objects in a database that is accessed using ODBC.

The following diagram shows the Windows database files along with the other NerveCenter components.

NerveCenter Database Components on Windows

NerveCenter ships with a serialized file that is imported into the database during installation. The file, NCExport.asc, contains the base set of NerveCenter objects, such as polls, masks, and alarms. During installation, DBWizard allows you to enter settings, for example, an ODBC source and a SQL Server host. DBWizard invokes an installation tool called InstallDB to configure the SQL Server or Access database. InstallDB, in turn, invokes SerializeDB to convert NCExport.asc to the proper database format. InstallDB can also be run standalone with SerializeDB to perform unattended database installations.

Afterward, if you upgrade to a new version of NerveCenter, DBWizard can be used to run an upgrade script against your database. Upgrade requirements for each new release are included in the Release Notes that accompany the release.

As with the UNIX environment, you can use SerializeDB to transfer data between your NerveCenter database and a serialized file. This lets you back up, restore, and transfer a database. On Windows, SerializeDB performs the following operations:

• Converts your database to a single database file. The database file has a binary format with an .asc extension.
• Converts an *.asc file to a database.
• Converts your database to NerveCenter flat files (*.ncdb and *.node), which can then be imported to another NerveCenter on a UNIX machine.
• Converts UNIX *.ncdb and *.node files to a SQL Server or Access database.

  For information about working with multiple NerveCenters, see Multiple NerveCenters.

You can also use DBWizard as an interface that runs SerializeDB and InstallDB to import a serialized file that you specify in DBWizard.