Siebel Remote and Replication Manager Administration Guide > About Siebel Remote > Local Database Creation and Synchronization >

Local Database Creation, Extraction, and Initialization

This topic describes how Siebel Remote creates, extracts, and initializes the local database.

Local Database Creation

When you configure a Siebel Server for the first time you must create a new database template, which is a database that contains no user data but that contains the structure that Siebel Remote requires to work with a Siebel application. To create a new database template, you run the Generate New Database server component. This server component creates a template and places it in the dbtempl directory on the Siebel Server. For more information, see Running the Generate New Database Server Component.

Before Siebel Remote can register a user, that person must exist in Siebel CRM as a user. For information on adding a user to Siebel CRM, see Siebel Applications Administration Guide.

Local Database Extraction

The first step in creating a local database for a new user is to extract the server database on the Siebel Server. To extract a remote client, you run the Database Extract server component. This component extracts visible data for the user to a snapshot file in the Mobile outbox directory of the Web client on the Siebel Server.

The extract for the server database retrieves data according to the routing rules that define the level of access to information for each remote client. It creates compressed files that contain data that Siebel Remote loads to a local database when the remote client starts a synchronization with the server database.

Each local database is unique. A user cannot use multiple computers with the same remote client.

Figure 4 illustrates how Siebel Remote extracts a local database.

Figure 4. How Siebel Remote Extracts a Local Database

Explanation of Callouts

To extract a local database, Siebel Remote does the following work:

1. Prompt for connect information. Prompts the user to enter the user ID, the name of the remote client, and a confirmation password. A given user might possess multiple clients, such as two clients on two separate computers. If the user starts the remote client to initialize the database, then Siebel Remote sets the user ID by default to the value that the user provides.
2. Connect. Siebel Remote does the following:
   • If the user specifies to use a modem, then the Synchronization Client dials the modem and connects to the Siebel Server.
   • If the user possesses access to the Siebel Server, and if the port for the Synchronization Manager is open, then the Synchronization Client connects to the Siebel Server.
   • Siebel Remote starts a new synchronization thread for the remote client. For example, a VPN setup might require the user to enter a special PIN (personal identification number) and security number, such as an RSA key (Rivest, Shamir and Adleman).
3. Validate remote client. The Synchronization Manager does the following:
   1. Validates the node name of the remote client with the list of valid users that exist in the server database.
   2. Makes sure that the remote client is connected to the correct Siebel Server.
   3. If authentication for Siebel Remote is turned on, then it authenticates the remote client credentials.
4. Confirm status of database extract. The Synchronization Manager does the following work:
   1. Verifies that a database extract is pending in the outbox for the Siebel Server.
   2. Determines if uaf files or toc files exist in the outbox directory of the user. If it does not find uaf or toc files, then the Synchronization Client prompts the user to contact the Siebel administrator to perform a database extract.
5. Download snapshot and file attachments. Prompts the user to download a new database. The Synchronization Client downloads the extract and file attachments to the inbox directory of the remote client.
6. Disconnect. The Synchronization Client closes the connection with the Synchronization Manager. The user can disconnect from the network.
7. Create and load database. The Synchronization Client shuts down the remote client or Siebel Remote program and then starts the Siebel Upgrade Wizard. This wizard does the following:
   • Creates a new local database
   • Loads data from the extract file to the local database
   • Applies file attachments to the local file system

For more information, see Initializing the Local Database, and Configuring Siebel Remote to Use Siebel QuickStart to Start the Remote Client.

Local Database Initialization

If Siebel Remote detects that all of the following items are true, then it performs an initialization:

• A user logs in for the first time.
• A local database does not exist.
• The user specifies the local database as the data source.

Initialization is the process of configuring a remote client. This work includes making sure connect information is correct, validating that the remote client is connected to the correct server, extracting a database to a new local database, and so on.