Using the InterMapper Database

Technology Preview: InterMapper Database

Use the InterMapper Database to collect data for use in analysis and reporting.

Configuring the Database

Use the InterMapper Database section of the InterMapper DataCenter Administration Panel to configure the InterMapper Database.

Configuring a New Installation

When configuring a new installation, follow these steps.

1. Choose a database to connect to, or use the default internal database.
2. Register your InterMapper Server with the InterMapper Database server.

Step 1: Database Configuration

1. Choose whether to use the Built-in database, or to connect to an existing external (PostgreSQL) database.
2. If you choose to use an existing database, enter a Host , Port, Database Name, Database Username, and Database Password in the appropriate boxes and click Continue. You are finished with Step 1.
   
   Note: The user you specify must have, at minimum, CREATE, TEMPORARY, and CONNECT privileges in order for InterMapper to log data to the database.
   
   
3. If you choose to use the Built-in database, you have the option to create one or more user accounts when the database is installed. An intermapper account is created automatically for InterMapper to use, so you can click Continue with out adding any accounts if you wish. You can add them later. (You'll need a user account if you want to use pgAdmin, or Perl, PHP, Crystal Reports, or some other method to retrieve information from the database.)
4. If you want to add users, click Add to add a user. An unnamed user appears in the User List at left.
5. Enter a user name in the Username box.
6. Enter a password in the Password box and in the Confirm Password box.
7. Select or clear the Write Access check box to choose whether to grant Write Access to the user.
8. To create more users, repeat steps 4 through 7.
9. Click Continue. The Data Retention Policies configuration page appears.

Step 2: Register your InterMapper Server with the InterMapper Database server

1. In InterMapper, view the Server Configuration > Database Server pane of the Server Settings panel.
2. Specify the connection settings that InterMapper Server uses to connect to the InterMapper Database.
   
   If InterMapper Database is running on the same machine as your InterMapper server, click Start to start the Database Server.
   
   If InterMapper Database is running on a different machine, click Configure and enter the Server, Port, Name, and Password to use when connecting to the Database Server.
   

Changing Settings After Installation

Once you have installed InterMapper DataCenter and have configured InterMapper Database, you can change settings as needed from the InterMapper DataCenter Administration Panel.

To change the settings in the InterMapper Database:

• From the InterMapper DataCenter Administration Panel, click Change Settings.The InterMapper Database Administration Panel appears.

To view the InterMapper Database log:

• In theInterMapper Database section of the DataCenter Administration Panel, click View the Log. The InterMapper Database log window appears.

About Data Retention Policies

You can use data retention policies to summarize and average raw data, reducing the amount of data stored. Data retention policies control how often and how much data is summarized, averaged, and reduced.

A data retention policy can be applied to a specific map, to one or more devices on a map, or all maps on an InterMapper Server.

Using Data Retention Policies

Use the Data Retention Policies section of the InterMapper Database Administration Panel to specify how often the policies are applied, and to access the Data Retention Policy editor.

Choose from the dropdown menus as follows:

• Keep original data for - Enter a number and choose Days, Weeks, Months, Years
• Keep 5/10/15/30 Minute data for - Enter a number and choose Days, Weeks, Months, Years
• Keep hourly data for - Enter a number and choose Days, Weeks, Months, Years
• Keep daily data for - Enter a number and choose Days, Weeks, Months, Years
  
  Note: To store data forever, enter a value of -1 in the number box.

To create or edit data retention policies:

• Click Retention Policies. Click Done to save the settings.

For more information on creating and editing data retention policies, see Using the Data Retention Policy Editor.

Configuring the InterMapper Database Connection

Use the Database Connection Settings page of the InterMapper DataCenter Administration panel to specify the type of database, server, and account information InterMapper needs to connect to the database. This information applies only if you are connecting to an external database.

To configure the database connection:

1. From the Database Administration panel, click Database Settings... The Database Connection Settings page appears.
2. Choose a Database Type.
3. In the Database Connection Settings section, enter a Host, Port, Database Name, Database Username, and Database Password in the appropriate boxes.
4. Click Done. The connection settings are saved.

Configuring InterMapper Database Logging Preferences

Use the Service Log File page of the InterMapper Database Administration panel to view recent log entries, to set the level of logging you want to the InterMapper Database to use, and to set preferences for the Service Log File page.

To change the settings of the Service Log File page:

• Make the changes you want, and click Save Settings.

Log levels Explained

From the Logging Level dropdown menu, choose the logging level you want to use, as follows:

• Full Debug - Log minor details such as values read from configuration files and chunks of data arriving as part of directory responses.
• Connections (default) - Log authentication attempts, connections by the InterMapper server, and outgoing data.
• Information -Log web admin panel logins, changes to configuration and scheduled server tasks.
• Errors Only - Log only serious errors, indications of future errors, and possible security problems.