Overview

PlatoTracer system setup installs Plato Tracer databases and other server modules on the server. This installation needs to happen before any of the clients can be installed. This installation is done on the server machine.

Prerequisite

• PDA Professional version 4.7.1 (or better) installed on the server.
• 'sa' password if not changed from Plato's default password after PDA Professional install will be needed.
• If PDAProfessional was installed on two servers, databases on 'DB Server' and system files on 'Application Server', then this install will be done from the 'Database Server'. In that case a drive should be mapped from the 'Database Server' to the PDAProfessional system folder on the 'Application Server'.

Step by Step

1. Launch the Plato Tracer system setup.
2. From the Welcome To Plato Tracer System Setup dialog, click 'Next'.
3. From the Plato Tracer Root Directory dialog, you may accept the default installation directory or change it using the 'Browse' button. This directory has to be same as PDA Professional root directory.
1. If the system files reside on a separate 'Application Server' this should point to the drive mapped to the 'Application Server'.
4. From the Plato Data Analyzer Professional Database Setup dialog, fill in the Instance Name. The default Instance Name is 'PLATO'. If the sa password has not been changed from default password after PDA Professional install, leave the password as '(default)'. If you have your own 'sa' password, enter it in the password box. Click 'Next' to proceed.
1. The setup program will attempt to validate the instance name and the 'sa' password. If successful, it will proceed to the next dialog. If it is unsuccessful, you will again be prompted for a valid instance name.
5. At the Plato Tracer System Directory screen, you may accept the default installation directory or change it using the 'Browse' button, click 'Next'.
1. The directory displayed here will be the directory specified in the Plato Tracer Root Directory with the word ‘System’ at the end of the path. This is where the Plato Tracer System and Report files will be installed. Unless necessary, it is recommended that this should not be changed.
2. If the system files reside on a separate 'Application Server' this should point to the drive mapped to the 'Application Server'.
6. From the Start Copying Files dialog, verify that Current Settings reflects the setup options that you specified. If not, click 'Back' to change any setup options. If you are satisfied with the current settings, click 'Next' to begin copying the files to your computer.
7. When the setup program completes copying the files, it will perform the attachment of Plato Tracer databases, and installation of database users and roles. When it has completed these tasks successfully, installation will be complete.

Backup

Although not a requirement, it is highly recommended that a backup strategy be employed to ensure the ability to restore the critical Plato Tracer databases should the need arise. There is a new database 'PlatoTracer' deployed after the install, which sould be included in your backup strategy.

Alongwith SQL data backup you need to also backup all the files from the system folder. If defaults have been accepted it should be 'c:\Program Files\PDAPro\Production\System'.

Backing up and restoring is the responsibility of the customer.

Plato DBCC

Plato DBCC (Database Consistency Check) performs consistency checks on SQL database and logs results in the windows event log. Optionally it can also email you the results. This will ensure that the Plato data is in good health and there is no corruption. Once configured the application runs as a service and does not require any user intervention. The application can be scheduled to run daily, weekly, monthly or one time.

Plato DBCC needs to be installed on the same server where SQL Server is running. For details and instructions how to install Plato DBCC read 'PDA Professional Server Install'. Include the 'PlatoTracer' database in Plato DBCC.

:Assigned: