CautionMany management information queries consume large amounts of processing and take considerable time to run. Running them can have a significant impact effect on the performance of the LMS, and for this reason they are usually scheduled to run at off-peak times when the Library is closed.
An alternative to running these utilities and reports against the main LMS server is to purchase a MIS server, thereby permitting "passive" queries to be run whenever necessary without slowing-down performance of the LMS. A further advantage of this approach is that it affords greater freedom and flexibility in scheduling those "active" queries and utilities which must be run using the main database ("prod_talis").
The MIS server is a networked machine which holds a duplicate copy of the main database for processing independently from the main server.
Queries are run in the same way as described in this document.
Caution
Do not attempt to run active queries which are designed to update the database, unless this is done deliberately for testing purposes.
MIS servers can be used for a number of incidental purposes, which include:
Testing local versions of tailored reports.
Running the Library's own locally developed unix shell scripts, isql or MIS Perl reports against the MIS server (assuming these do not need to update the main database).
Providing an alternative to the "tutor_talis" database for training purposes. This copy of the "prod_talis" database may contain more meaningful data.
Testing the run-times/performance of new MIS scripts. The MIS server affords the ideal environment for experimentation, as it holds a temporary, expendable, copy of the main "prod_talis" database.