Version 1.1 User's Guide
Auto-Restart: Crash Avoidance And Recovery	Previous | Next Contents

As described earlier in this guide, Web proxies include Web client software, server software, databases, and more. Because of the complex nature of the product, Maxum recognizes that some problems may occur under unexpected conditions due to a variety of potential problems. We are, of course, committed to making WebDoubler as robust and stable as possible, but it would be unrealistic to suggest that no WebDoubler proxy will ever fail. Besides, many potential points of failure, for example Open Transport and the Mac OS file system, are simply outside the scope of WebDoubler's control.

The most serious of these potential problems are, of course, server crashes. The Auto-Restart plug-in is designed to reduce the likelihood of crashes, minimize their impact, and help our support staff identify problems in your environment, should trouble arise.

The AutoRestart plug-in, once installed, will automatically restart the WebDoubler Macintosh when it detects a crash. By immediately restarting the server, WebDoubler minimizes the impact of crashing problems. In most cases, when a crash occurs, your proxy should be active again in just a couple of minutes, without any action required on the part of the administrator.

When the server is automatically restarted, a log file is updated which details where the crash occurred. This log file, called "WDPIRestart.log", can be sent to "support@maxum.com", along with as much detail as you have about the nature of the crash. These logs will hopefully provide information that will allow Maxum to diagnose problems on your network or in your setup.

Note that automatic restarts and logging crash information are always performed when the Auto-Restart plug-in is installed, and these features can not be disabled except by removing the plug-in. In addition, the Auto-Restart plug-in can also restart your server every day at a time you specify. When enabled, this daily restart will reboot the entire computer, not just WebDoubler, resetting Open Transport, the Mac OS file system, and every other component of your server. Periodic restarts help to avoid memory fragmentation and reduce the effects of many memory-related problems that may exist.

Setting A Schedule

Server restarts can be scheduled for any time of the day or night, allowing you to have WebDoubler perform the system restart when the lapse of service won't be noticed. Setting the schedule can be performed using either Web administration or the WebDoubler application GUI. To configure restarts using the WebDoubler application, choose "Auto-Restart..." from the "Plug-Ins" menu.

Figure 51: The Auto-Restart Plug-In Window

Once this window is open, check the "Auto-Restart Server Every Day" checkbox to enable the server restarts. Selecting a time for the restart is done by simply clicking the up or down arrows next to the hour, minute, and "a.m./p.m." displays. Again, be sure to choose a time when your network is typically idle. When complete, click "Save Changes" and close the window.

To use remote Web administration to set a restart schedule, open a Web browser and access the WebDoubler Administration home page as described in the "Plug-In Administration" section earlier in this guide. Click the "WebDoubler AutoRestart Administration" link to open the AutoRestart Administration page.

Configuration consists of selecting "Enabled" from the "Daily Restart is" pop-up menu and selecting a time. Choose the hour and the minute of the restart, and click "Save Changes". Your server will now automatically restart every day.

Important Note! WebDoubler will restart the server on the defined schedule, but can't automatically restart itself when the Macintosh reboots. You must create an alias to the WebDoubler application, and put the alias in the "Startup Items" folder of your Mac OS System Folder. When the system restarts, the Mac OS will then automatically start WebDoubler.