Monitoring 4D Server / Information Recorder

This document was created to assist with troubleshooting Freezing and/or Crashing DVMAX Server applications only when the datafile has been verified under MSC and is clean.

**The Information Component Logging tool is running by default in 8.8 and above.  

Step 1: Use the most recent 4D Info Report Components

To make use of the 4D Info Report Component, you are required to use the component for the version of 4D being run on the Server. By default, all versions of DVMAX 7.5 and up ship with this component. The components can be obtained here:
http://taow.4d.com/Tool-4D-Info-Report/PS.1938271.en.html
Note: You must be logged into 4D's website to get the component


You will need to make sure the information component is installed in two locations:
Windows:
DVMAXServerFolder/Components
DVMAXServerFolder/ServerDatabase/Components

Macintosh:
Right click on the Server application and choose Show Package Contents
Contents::Components
Contents::Server Database::Components

If you're updating the components remove the old one and drop in the new one.
This will require a quit and relaunch of the DVMAX Server application for it to take effect.

Step 2: Start the Server Logging

Log into DVMAX Client as Administrator
Go to the Section menu, hold SHIFT, click System Constants
When prompted with a warning click 'I Understand'
Click on the Functions tab
click the Execute Method button
In the prompt, type: aa4D_NP_Schedule_Reports_Server
Click OK and the process will start (no visual indication will appear). Close the Advanced Settings/Functions window.

Step 3: Verify Logging is occurring

On the Server Application, click the Processes tab.
A Stored Procedure will exist, with the name of SP_4DReport_Scheduler.

DVMAX will start logging files into a "Folder_Reports" folder.

Depending on your version, the folder location will either be in the same path as the user's datafile, OR within the DVMAX Server "Server Database" folder.

• Windows:
  • C:\DVMaxDatabaseFiles\DVmaxDataFileFolder\Folder_Reports
    • Or whatever Drive Letter the data file is located on
  • C:\Program Files (x86)\DVMAXPractice\DVMAXServer64Folder\Server Database\Folder_Reports
  • DVMAX v8.8 or higher - C:\DVMAXPractice
• Macintosh:
  • Right click on the Server application and choose Show Package Contents
    • Contents::Server Database::Folder_Reports
  • Go> Documents> DVMAXDatabaseFiles> DVMAXDataFileFolder

The logging will add another text file every 5 minutes until the Server application is terminated, or the Stored Procedure is aborted.

Step 4: Clinic Tracking and Obtaining Data

• Clinic should record each time they feel DVMAX is running sluggishly. 
• Support technician will reach out to the clinic in approximately 24 hours to gather feedback (or the following Monday if logging is started on a Friday)
  • If the clinic is working with an IT tech to obtain this data, the logging data can be found on the Server Computer, in the "Folder_Reports" folder (See verify logging step). This folder can be compressed and emailed to DVMAXSupport@idexx.com - Be sure to include the clinic name, DVMAX ID number, and the name of the technician with whom the clinic has been working. 
• If the clinic has seen any slowness since the logging was started, the support technician will take a copy of the logs and the feedback from the clinic. If no slowness had been reported yet, the technician will schedule another time to follow-up with the clinic. 
• After data has been obtained, the technician will attach the information to the case in the database, and escalate to Tier 2. The Tier 2 technician will schedule a time to review the data with the Tier 1 technician. Next steps will be determined after analysis of the data.

Analyze Reports

When the Logging is finished, or an event has occurred where you want to review the logs up to the event, you can analyze the logs directly from DVMAX client at the site, or zip the Folder_Reports file that is generated and download them to your own machine. Regardless of where you view the reports, you can bring up statistics and graphs by doing the following:

1. Go to Section → Hold SHIFT → Click System Constants
2. Click I Understand at the warning.
3. Click on the Functions tab.
4. Click the Execute Method button
   1. If you are launching this at the site that generated the report, type in: aa4D_NP_Report_Export_Display
      1. Click OK. At the next dialog click the range of reports you want, and click 'Get in Compare Dialog.
         
   2. If you are launching this on a computer where you downloaded the reports, type in: aa4d_NP_Report_Compare_Display
      1. Click the Select Folder button to point to the downloaded Folder_Reports.
         
5. Once the list is visible, you can also click Graph to see trending.