Automation Server Configuration

Updated in 2022.1

Prior to starting the Automation Server you must configure its settings using the Automation Server Manager. This will register the server in your database. You can register only one Automation Server instance per database; if another Automation Server is already registered in this database, the new registration will cancel the existing one.

To configure the Automation Server:

1. Run the Automation Server Manager from the Alloy Control Panel (Start > Alloy Software > Alloy Control Panel > Automation Server Manager).

   INFO: For details, see Using the Alloy Control Panel.

2. Choose the Automation Server startup account:
   • To use the default configuration, leave the value in the Startup Account field.
   • If you need to choose another Windows account, click Change Account to open the Select Account window, select the startup account, and click OK.

   NOTE: If you choose Network Browser as your discovery option, use the Windows domain startup account for your Automation Server.

3. Under Connection, click Import Key and import the Database Access Key to the local computer. This populates the SQL Server and Database fields with the values from the imported key.
4. Fine-tune the database connection details, if needed: in the SQL Server field, enter the network address of the SQL Server, which may differ from the SQL Server name specified in the Database Access Key.

   INFO: For instructions on importing the Database Access Key, see Importing the Database Access Key.

5. Click Test Connection to make sure that the Automation Server can connect to the database using the specified settings.
6. Click Apply to save your settings and register the Automation Server in the database.

   If another Automation Server instance is already registered in this database, you will be asked to confirm that you want to replace the existing registration.

7. If you want the Automation Server to run immediately, click Start.

If the Automation Server fails to start, you can view any related errors in the Windows Event Log at Start > Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Event Viewer > Application. The service’s name is AlloyAutomationServer.

When the Automation Server is configured, the icon indicates its state:

• - the Automation Server is started;

• - the Automation Server is running with errors or stopped.

If the Automation Server cannot operate on database, you will see the Automation Server Running with Errors warning message. This message will also be displayed if you attempt to start the Automation Server that is already connected to another database. It is when you can stop the server, reconfigure its settings and start the server one more time.

High availability mode

When you need a truly-enterprise operational performance level, use a high-availability (HA) mode. This mode ensures your Alloy Navigator Enterprise system remains operational in the case the primary server becomes unavailable or has been stopped for maintenance. A high availability group consists of two Automation Server instances, installed and configured. When the primary instance becomes unavailable, the fail-over instance automatically steps in to maintain the availability of Alloy Navigator services 24/7/365.

INFO: For details, see Settings App Help: High Availability (HA).