CAST Storage Service - Maintenance activities

Backing up a CAST AIP schema

CAST provides a simple command line based method for backing up any CAST AIP schema in your CAST Storage Service/PostgreSQL instance to file. This backup file can then be used to restore the CAST AIP schema to the same CAST Storage Service/PostgreSQL instance or to another CAST Storage Service/PostgreSQL instance. As such it is a fully functioning backup, i.e. you do not need to create the target CAST AIP schema when subsequently running a restore process (see below).

To backup a CAST AIP schema, locate the file CSSBackup.exe. CAST recommends running the backup process from a batch file (make sure that all commands are placed on one single line and remember to surround any paths (i.e. to the .exe, dump file or log file) with quote marks if the path contains spaces). A typical command line to backup one CAST AIP schema would be as follows:

CSSBackup.exe
-schema <schema_name>
-password <Operator_password>
-file <path_and_name_of_backup_file.cssdmp>
-log <path_and_name_of_log_file.log>

Required parameters

set CASTLOGMODE=DEBUG
CSSBackup.exe
-schema <schema_name>
-password <Operator_password>
-file <path_and_name_of_backup_file.cssdmp>
-log <path_and_name_of_log_file.log>

Additional optional parameters

-psqlexedir C:\some_folder\pg_binaries

Result

The result of a successful backup process is the creation of the .cssdmp file specified in the parameter -file. This file can then be used in the restore process (see below).

Supported data types

Ordinarily, the CSSBackup tool will backup a standard CAST AIP schema and all its data. However, if you have customized the schema (by adding new tables or adding new columns to existing tables), you may find that the customizations are not included in the backup result. This can occur when your customizations use data types that are not supported by the CSSBackup process. CAST supports only the following datatypes:

• integer
• double precision
• numeric
• varchar
• char
• timestamp
• text
• bytea

If an unsupported data type is encountered during the backup process, the table containing the unsupported data type will be excluded from the backup. A list of excluded tables is displayed in the log file, which you should check on completion of the backup process.

Backing up all CAST AIP schemas in one go

In addition to the functions provided by the CSSBackup.exe tool, CAST provides a simple command line based method for backing up ALL CAST AIP schemas in your CAST Storage Service/PostgreSQL instance in one go. This backup can then be used to restore ALL the CAST AIP schemas to the same CAST Storage Service/PostgreSQL instance or to another CAST Storage Service/PostgreSQL instance. As such it is a fully functioning backup, i.e. you do not need to create the target CAST AIP schemas when subsequently running a restore process (see below).

To backup All CAST AIP schemas in one go, locate the file CSSBackupAll.exe. CAST recommends running the backup process from a batch file (make sure that all commands are placed on one single line and remember to surround any paths (i.e. to the .exe, dump file or log file) with quote marks if the path contains spaces). A typical command line to backup all CAST schemas would be as follows:

CSSBackupAll.exe
-password <Operator_password>
-dumpdir <path_to_the_dump_folder>
-log <path_and_name_of_log_file.log>

Required parameters

set CASTLOGMODE=DEBUG
CSSBackupAll.exe
-password <Operator_password>
-dumpdir <path_to_the_dump_folder>
-log <path_and_name_of_log_file.log>

Additional optional parameters

-psqlexedir C:\some_folder\pg_binaries

Result

The result of a successful backup process is the creation of the multiple .backup files in the folder specified in the -dumpdir parameter. The contents of this folder can then be used in the "restore all" process (see below).

Restoring a backed up CAST AIP schema

CAST provides a simple command line based method for restoring any CAST AIP schema to your CAST Storage Service that has been backed up using the CSSBackup.exe tool documented above.

To restore a CAST schema, locate the file CSSRestore.exe. CAST recommends running the restore process from a batch file (make sure that all commands are placed on one single line and remember to surround any paths (i.e. to the .exe, dump file or log file) with quote marks if the path contains spaces). A typical command line to restore one CAST AIP schema would be as follows:

CSSRestore.exe
-schema <schema_name>
-password <Operator_password>
-file <path_and_name_of_backup_file.cssdmp>
-log <path_and_name_of_log_file.log>

Required parameters

set CASTLOGMODE=DEBUG
CSSRestore.exe
-schema <schema_name>
-password <Operator_password>
-file <path_and_name_of_backup_file.cssdmp>
-log <path_and_name_of_log_file.log>

Additional optional parameters

-psqlexedir C:\some_folder\pg_binaries

Result

The result of a successful restore process is a fully functioning CAST AIP schema that can be used immediately.

Restoring all backed up CAST AIP schemas in one go

In addition to the functions provided by the CSSRestore.exe tool, CAST provides a simple command line based method for restoring ALL CAST AIP schemas to your CAST Storage Service/PostgreSQL instance that have been backed up using the CSSBackupAll.exe tool documented above.

To restore All CAST AIP schemas, locate the file CSSRestoreAll.exe. CAST recommends running the restore process from a batch file (make sure that all commands are placed on one single line and remember to surround any paths (i.e. to the .exe, dump file or log file) with quote marks if the path contains spaces). A typical command line to restore all CAST AIP schemas would be as follows:

CSSRestoreAll.exe
-password <Operator_password>
-dumpdir <path_to_the_dump_folder>
-log <path_and_name_of_log_file.log>

Required parameters

set CASTLOGMODE=DEBUG
CSSRestoreAll.exe
-password <Operator_password>
-dumpdir <path_to_the_dump_folder>
-log <path_and_name_of_log_file.log>

Additional optional parameters

-psqlexedir C:\some_folder\pg_binaries

Result

The result of a successful "restore all" process is fully functioning CAST AIP schemas that can be used immediately.

Resetting Operator and Guest passwords

Although it is possible to change the Operator and Guest user passwords for the CAST Storage Service/PostgreSQL instance using the CAST Management Studio (see the on-line Help for CAST Management Studio), inevitably these passwords may get forgotten, thus they cannot then be changed because the old password is always required to make the change.

If this is the case, the Operator and Guest passwords must be reset to their defaults (CastAIP and WelcomeToAIP respectively) using a specific tool (CSSPasswordReset.exe). To prevent unauthorised password resetting, CAST has implemented a system whereby a special "unlock code" will be provided by CAST Support BEFORE the passwords can be reset - this unlock code is generated using the two pieces of information returned by CSSPasswordReset.exe (namely the CAST license key and a random "Personal Unblocking Key" (PUK)). Once the unlock code is provided by CAST Support, the CAST tool (CSSPasswordReset.exe) can be run again to reset the passwords.

Step 1: retrieve license key and PUK

To retrieve the license key and PUK from your CAST Storage Service/PostgreSQL instance, locate the file CSSResetPassword.exe. CAST recommends running the process from a batch file (make sure that all commands are placed on one single line and remember to surround any paths (i.e. to the .exe) with quote marks if the path contains spaces). A typical command line to retrieve the license key and PUK would be as follows:

CSSResetPassword.exe
-host <CAST_Storage_Service/PostgreSQL instance_host_machine>

Result

When the CSSResetPassword.exe tool is run successfully, it will return the current CAST AIP licence key and the PUK. You should then transfer these two pieces of information to CAST Support, who will then generate an unlock code that you can use in Step 2 below.

Step 2: use the unlock code generated by CAST Support

To use the unlock code generated by CAST Support, locate the file CSSResetPassword.exe. CAST recommends running the process from a batch file (make sure that all commands are placed on one single line and remember to surround any paths (i.e. to the .exe) with quote marks if the path contains spaces). A typical command line to use the unlock code would be as follows:

CSSResetPassword.exe
-host <CAST_Storage_Service/PostgreSQL instance_host_machine>
-unlockcode <Unlock_code>

Result

When the CSSResetPassword.exe tool is run successfully with the unlock code, the Operator and Guest passwords will be reset to their defaults (CastAIP and WelcomeAIP respectively).

Parameters

To use the CSSResetPassword.exe tool, use the following parameters:

Required parameters

Optional parameters

Managing user-defined parameters in the CAST Storage Service

When installing the CAST Storage Service, it is possible to choose various user-defined parameters, for example the port number or the data path (i.e. where the CAST schema data is stored). If these user-defined parameters require modification during the lifetime of the CAST Storage Service, or if the CAST Storage Service needs to be re-installed (thus resetting any user-defined parameters to their defaults), then it is possible to use a specific CAST tool that can:

• inject the modified parameters into the existing CAST Storage Service
• inject modified parameters from an old CAST Storage Service into a newly installed CAST Storage Service

Storage of user-defined parameters and update tool

CSS.config

Any user-defined parameters for the CAST Storage Service are stored in an XML file called CSS.config. This file is stored at the root of your CAST Storage Service installation location. Typically its format is as follows:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?>
<CastStorageSettings>
	<WindowsService name="CastStorageService3" />
	<DbData path="C:\Program Files\CAST\CASTStorageService3\db_data" />
	<Parameters>
		<Parameter name="TcpPort" value="2282" />
	</Parameters>
</CastStorageSettings>

CSSConfig.exe

The CAST Storage Service update tool is called CSSConfig.exe and is located in the <CAST_storage_service_install_location>\bin folder.

Modifying user-defined parameters

If you need to modify any of the user-defined parameters during the lifetime of the CAST Storage Service:

• Modify the CSS.config file located at the root of your CAST Storage Service installation location using a simple text editor
• Stop the CAST Storage Service using the Windows Services snap-in:

• Execute the update tool (CSSConfig.exe) from the command line. To do so, CAST recommends the use of a batch file containing the following command (adapt to your own environment) - remember to surround the path to the CSS.config file with quote marks if the path contains spaces:

C:\Program Files\CAST\CASTStorageService<version>\bin\CSSConfig.exe "C:\Program Files\CAST\CASTStorageService<version>\CSS.config"

• Start the CAST Storage Service using the Windows Services snap-in.
• The modifications you made to the CSS.config file will now be taken into account

Retaining user-defined parameters

If you have already made some modifications to the user-defined parameters but now need to to re-install the CAST Storage Service, you can retain your user-defined parameters as follows:

• Make sure you backup your existing CAST schemas - see above.
• Make a backup of the CSS.config file and move the copy to a different location on disk
• Uninstall the existing CAST Storage Service using the built-in Windows uninstaller
• Re-install the CAST Storage Service using the CAST setup
• Follow the above instructions (from point 2 onwards) to inject your existing user-defined parameters into the new CAST Storage Service

Optimizing CAST AIP schemas - CSSOptimize

Over time and through continued use, the efficiency of your Application's CAST AIP schemas may well start to degrade ("gaps" in table data, inefficient indexes etc.) - this degradation can significantly impact the performance of CAST AIP, with the most visible impact seen in the performance of the CAST Dashboards. To counter this, CAST provides a tool (known as CssOptimize) that can be run to optimize the schemas stored in your CAST Storage Service/PostgreSQL instance - i.e. to clean up defects that have appeared over time.

This tool is run automatically with the default analyze action in the following situations:

• immediately on completion of a snapshot (for the Dashboard schema)
• immediately on completion of a data upload to the Measure schema

To manually optimize a CAST AIP schema, locate the file CSSOptimize.exe in the CSSAdmin folder at the root of your AIP Core installation. CAST recommends running the optimize process from a batch file (make sure that all commands are placed on one single line). A typical command line to optimize one CAST schema would be as follows:

CSSOptimize.exe
-schema <schema_to_optimize>
-password <Operator_password>
-log <path_to_log_file> 

Required parameters

Additional optional parameters

Examples

Minimum required parameters using default Operator user and default port to perform -operation analyze on CSS2:

CSSOptimize.exe -schema LOCAL -password CastAIP -log log.txt

Minimum required parameters using default Operator user to perform -operation analyze on CSS3:

CSSOptimize.exe -schema LOCAL -port 2282 -password CastAIP -log log.txt

Minimum required parameters using default Operator user to perform -operation vacuum_analyze on CSS3:

CSSOptimize.exe -schema LOCAL -port 2282 -password CastAIP -operation vacuum_analyze -log log.txt

Minimum required parameters using custom user to perform -operation vacuum_analyze on CSS3:

CSSOptimize.exe -schema LOCAL -port 2282 -username my_custom_user -password my_custom_password -operation vacuum_analyze -log log.txt

Move CAST AIP schemas from one instance to another

See CAST Storage Service - Moving existing schemas to new hosts.