David Stephen
04-04-2007, 05:50 PM
What every retail store tech needs to know about Liberty.
This article serves to inform you of our best practices for maintaining the Liberty software. The information relevant to this task includes familiarity with Microsoft SQL Server Desk Top Engine (MSDE), Networking (if relevant), running Liberty updates, along with several Liberty utilities and some miscellaneous stuff.
Liberty software utilizes Microsoft SQL Server Desk Top Engine (MSDE) as the database Management System. This engine powers the database. Without it or connection to it Liberty will not function. Microsoft allows us to distribute MSDE for free. The caveat is a 2GB database size limit. Once this limit is reached, no more data will be able to be entered in to the database. This means no sales, no adding of inventory, etc.
The Liberty database file resides in C:\RWD\data\working. The database file is named "rwd_data.mdf." The "rwd_log.ldf" file works in conjunction with the rwd_data.mdf file. For most part, both files are needed for Liberty to function properly.
It is very, very important to understand that the mdf & ldf files can not be "backed up" with out either detaching them from SQL or stopping SQL first. So, if you utilize a backup system that makes an image or backs up the RWD directory you will be surprised to discover you actually do not have backup of a functional database because it was not dealt with properly. Any third party backup software must have a SQL "Plugin" or something that will deal with the detach/stop SQL issue. The Liberty software (L2K2 and newer) has an effective backup routine integrated into it. We recommend taking dvantage of this integration. More on backups latter.
A store can utilize SQL standard 2000 (currently we do not support SQL 2005). We referrer to it as "Full Blown SQL." This software, although expensive, will remove the 2GB barrier. To implement SQL Standard 2000 MSDE must first be uninstalled then SQL 2000 can be installed. You must ensure that you utilize 'mixed mode' and blank passwords. Please see this install guide: http://www.rswpartner.com/download/SQL2KInstall.pdf.
Most of the stores we interact with on a daily basis have more than one computer using the Liberty software package. It is important to have the same exact version of Liberty running on each machine. We do not support wireless networks. These networks, from our experience, are not as consistent as a wired network. In a business environment consistency is key. Liberty technicians really don't support networks. It will be up to you to configure the network. Here is a link to a network installation guide: http://www.resaleworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1589.
Once the network has been implemented and configured the workstations (computers connected to the network that are not running SQL) must have free communication with the server (computer that houses SQL and the Liberty database). Most common problems in a network environment is the lack of communication or "connection failures." Please see this Message Board article:
http://resaleworld.com/forums/showthread.php?p=6066.
The "RWDBUtil.exe" is a little utility that will point Liberty to the database. Running this utility will resolve many issues. This utility can be run from the workstation, to point Liberty to the database on the server or the server itself. Please see this Message Board article: http://resaleworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1614.
Resaleworld, the company that develops the Liberty software line of products, periodically releases product updates. These updates resolve known issues as well as implementing product enhancements. More specifically, exes are replaced as well as database structure changed. For these reasons, the database must not be accessed nor shall exes be running (anywhere on the network) when an update is run. In addition, updates must be run on each and every computer running the Liberty software. Of course, backup of the data base must be successfully completed first. Please see this Message Board article: http://www.resaleworld.com/forums/showthread.php?p=6758#post6758.
You will find links to many useful utilities on our Utilities page (http://www.resaleworld.com/utilities.php). I'd like to focus your attention to a few. The Purge utility removes data from the database to prevent the dreaded 2GB threshold. You will find a guide with instructions on how to execute it. Another helpful utility is the Database Checker (file name “CheckDBFix.exe). This, when run on the server computer, will fix some database corruption. No harm is endured if run more than once. Although if your issue is database corruption related and this utility does not resolve the issue we will not have any additional resources to provide. You may have to hire a SQL server database guru to resolve your issue. To date, database corruption issues have been resolved with the Database Checker. Another utility I will address is the Database Maintenance/Auto Backup (file RWMaint.exe). This utility will not only create a backup of the database and put it in the backup directory in the rd directory it will also compact the database. When connections to the database are established “room” is created in the database. This white spaced needs to be compacted (similar to the Windows defrag routine). This utility may have to be run 20-50 consecutive times to completely compact the database. We find this after several years of use. Once the database has been completely compacted this utility can be run one time per week for maintenance. How does one know the database has been completely compacted? Check the database size prior and after running this utility. If the size decreases it has not been completely compacted. If the size does not change compaction has been achieved. Please see this article for some additional information: http://www.resaleworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1339. The last utility I'd like to address is lovingly referred to as the PDU. The Printer Driver Utility is one of my favorites. This little baby makes all our lives easer with regards to printer driver installation and configuration. Once this utility is installed, and the windows is populated, by you, with the program, printer manufacture, printer model, and operating system, step-by-step instructions on how to install and configure the printer as well as Liberty appear.
Now, a little more on backups. Coping the mdf & ldf files may be your only option some day. I trust this article will enable you to not be in this situation. Regardless, here is the article for you: http://www.resaleworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1432. With regards to backup procedures, please see this article: http://www.resaleworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1273.
Regarding uninstalling and reinstalling the Liberty software please see this article: http://www.resaleworld.com/forums/showthread.php?p=5295#post5295.
Keep in mind, if you install the Server version over an existing database it will be over written and you will not be able to retrieve the data. You will need to restore from backup. Regarding restoring the database, always run the update after the restore.
A little more on Tag Printers (Eltron & TSC/BCP):
Two issues with printers are getting the correct driver installed and configured (see above) and alignment. This alignment issue has already been addressed. Please see the following articles: How To: Do a Line/Page Mode Change on a Eltron/Zebra Printer - http://resaleworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1375 and How To: Do a Memory Dump on Eltron/Zebra Printer - http://resaleworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1275
I'd like to address a few miscellaneous things. Firewalls, please see this article: http://www.resaleworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1577.
Support & Contact Numbers: http://www.resaleworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1783.
This information should enable you to competently and confidently provide essential support.
I trust you have found this information informative.
Keywords: Tech, technician, Liberty support, new tech, support.
This article serves to inform you of our best practices for maintaining the Liberty software. The information relevant to this task includes familiarity with Microsoft SQL Server Desk Top Engine (MSDE), Networking (if relevant), running Liberty updates, along with several Liberty utilities and some miscellaneous stuff.
Liberty software utilizes Microsoft SQL Server Desk Top Engine (MSDE) as the database Management System. This engine powers the database. Without it or connection to it Liberty will not function. Microsoft allows us to distribute MSDE for free. The caveat is a 2GB database size limit. Once this limit is reached, no more data will be able to be entered in to the database. This means no sales, no adding of inventory, etc.
The Liberty database file resides in C:\RWD\data\working. The database file is named "rwd_data.mdf." The "rwd_log.ldf" file works in conjunction with the rwd_data.mdf file. For most part, both files are needed for Liberty to function properly.
It is very, very important to understand that the mdf & ldf files can not be "backed up" with out either detaching them from SQL or stopping SQL first. So, if you utilize a backup system that makes an image or backs up the RWD directory you will be surprised to discover you actually do not have backup of a functional database because it was not dealt with properly. Any third party backup software must have a SQL "Plugin" or something that will deal with the detach/stop SQL issue. The Liberty software (L2K2 and newer) has an effective backup routine integrated into it. We recommend taking dvantage of this integration. More on backups latter.
A store can utilize SQL standard 2000 (currently we do not support SQL 2005). We referrer to it as "Full Blown SQL." This software, although expensive, will remove the 2GB barrier. To implement SQL Standard 2000 MSDE must first be uninstalled then SQL 2000 can be installed. You must ensure that you utilize 'mixed mode' and blank passwords. Please see this install guide: http://www.rswpartner.com/download/SQL2KInstall.pdf.
Most of the stores we interact with on a daily basis have more than one computer using the Liberty software package. It is important to have the same exact version of Liberty running on each machine. We do not support wireless networks. These networks, from our experience, are not as consistent as a wired network. In a business environment consistency is key. Liberty technicians really don't support networks. It will be up to you to configure the network. Here is a link to a network installation guide: http://www.resaleworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1589.
Once the network has been implemented and configured the workstations (computers connected to the network that are not running SQL) must have free communication with the server (computer that houses SQL and the Liberty database). Most common problems in a network environment is the lack of communication or "connection failures." Please see this Message Board article:
http://resaleworld.com/forums/showthread.php?p=6066.
The "RWDBUtil.exe" is a little utility that will point Liberty to the database. Running this utility will resolve many issues. This utility can be run from the workstation, to point Liberty to the database on the server or the server itself. Please see this Message Board article: http://resaleworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1614.
Resaleworld, the company that develops the Liberty software line of products, periodically releases product updates. These updates resolve known issues as well as implementing product enhancements. More specifically, exes are replaced as well as database structure changed. For these reasons, the database must not be accessed nor shall exes be running (anywhere on the network) when an update is run. In addition, updates must be run on each and every computer running the Liberty software. Of course, backup of the data base must be successfully completed first. Please see this Message Board article: http://www.resaleworld.com/forums/showthread.php?p=6758#post6758.
You will find links to many useful utilities on our Utilities page (http://www.resaleworld.com/utilities.php). I'd like to focus your attention to a few. The Purge utility removes data from the database to prevent the dreaded 2GB threshold. You will find a guide with instructions on how to execute it. Another helpful utility is the Database Checker (file name “CheckDBFix.exe). This, when run on the server computer, will fix some database corruption. No harm is endured if run more than once. Although if your issue is database corruption related and this utility does not resolve the issue we will not have any additional resources to provide. You may have to hire a SQL server database guru to resolve your issue. To date, database corruption issues have been resolved with the Database Checker. Another utility I will address is the Database Maintenance/Auto Backup (file RWMaint.exe). This utility will not only create a backup of the database and put it in the backup directory in the rd directory it will also compact the database. When connections to the database are established “room” is created in the database. This white spaced needs to be compacted (similar to the Windows defrag routine). This utility may have to be run 20-50 consecutive times to completely compact the database. We find this after several years of use. Once the database has been completely compacted this utility can be run one time per week for maintenance. How does one know the database has been completely compacted? Check the database size prior and after running this utility. If the size decreases it has not been completely compacted. If the size does not change compaction has been achieved. Please see this article for some additional information: http://www.resaleworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1339. The last utility I'd like to address is lovingly referred to as the PDU. The Printer Driver Utility is one of my favorites. This little baby makes all our lives easer with regards to printer driver installation and configuration. Once this utility is installed, and the windows is populated, by you, with the program, printer manufacture, printer model, and operating system, step-by-step instructions on how to install and configure the printer as well as Liberty appear.
Now, a little more on backups. Coping the mdf & ldf files may be your only option some day. I trust this article will enable you to not be in this situation. Regardless, here is the article for you: http://www.resaleworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1432. With regards to backup procedures, please see this article: http://www.resaleworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1273.
Regarding uninstalling and reinstalling the Liberty software please see this article: http://www.resaleworld.com/forums/showthread.php?p=5295#post5295.
Keep in mind, if you install the Server version over an existing database it will be over written and you will not be able to retrieve the data. You will need to restore from backup. Regarding restoring the database, always run the update after the restore.
A little more on Tag Printers (Eltron & TSC/BCP):
Two issues with printers are getting the correct driver installed and configured (see above) and alignment. This alignment issue has already been addressed. Please see the following articles: How To: Do a Line/Page Mode Change on a Eltron/Zebra Printer - http://resaleworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1375 and How To: Do a Memory Dump on Eltron/Zebra Printer - http://resaleworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1275
I'd like to address a few miscellaneous things. Firewalls, please see this article: http://www.resaleworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1577.
Support & Contact Numbers: http://www.resaleworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1783.
This information should enable you to competently and confidently provide essential support.
I trust you have found this information informative.
Keywords: Tech, technician, Liberty support, new tech, support.