Entertainment media distributor Cinram Logistics UK has been road-testing a new high availability monitoring solution from Gillingham-based CCSS.

CCSS has developed monitors for its QSystem Monitor (QSM) software designed to work specifically with Vision Solution's MIMIX offering. Cinram Logistics is Europe's biggest operator of its kind and operates a MIMIX-based replication environment between two distribution centres in the UK, each housing a model 520.

Cinram Logistic's main Aylesbury site covers four acres and employs over 400 people. Its i-powered global distribution system supplies order processing, warehousing, shipping, invoicing and returns processing services to film studios, music labels, publishers and software companies. It distributes DVDs, CDs (and other formats) to around 18,000 outlets throughout the UK and Eire.

QSystem Monitor’s new MONCHKMXS command allows users to create and manage up to 46 different dedicated MIMIX monitors for the specific needs of replication environments.

Cinram midrange technical specialist Gary Makel says: "Should the live system fail whilst MIMIX is showing an error, it could have a serious impact on the running of the HA system. For example, if there are problems with the remote journal links, it is vital that these errors are corrected immediately. Otherwise journal entries will not replicate to the HA machine."

One of the primary benefits of QSM’s MIMIX Monitors is that the user no longer needs to manually log into the MIMIX software at regular points during the day to check if there are any problems. CCSS says that any issues are identified immediately via QSM's online console and users have full visibility of the MIMIX environment without accessing the software.

Of the four key MIMIX components that Cinram monitors, those that fall into the audit and replication categories are among the most important. Cinram cites its top four monitors under this category as group status, remote journal link status (whereby if the links between these two machines are down, nothing will be replicated between the live and HA machines), database apply thresholds (which provides vital information on the amount of journal entries being applied to the HA system and if it has exceeded its threshold, or not – in this case 100k journal entries), and objects in error. According to Makel, group status is one of the most important monitors.

"With the new MIMIX monitoring functionality, we can now concentrate on those data groups that are showing an error rather than having to check them all," he says. "As these monitors are constantly available on our central console, we can react to potential problems quicker than when we first implemented the MIMIX software."