Continuing to address the need for high availability, OpenEdge version 12.1 delivers a range of enhancements and functionality to the OpenEdge database. These features include:

  • Replication properties validation utility—The DSRUTIL command line utility enables database administrators to validate the properties of replication-enabled source and target databases as well as confirm the status of target database brokers.
    With this feature you can:
    • More readily identify databases within your replication environment
    • Determine the operational status of brokers within your replication environment

    For more information, see DSRUTIL utility.

  • Enhancement to replication status in virtual system tables (VSTs)—New fields have been added to the _Repl-Server field descriptions and _DbStatus VST field descriptions, exposing additional information required for managing application failover.

    These enhancements allow you to readily identify the status of databases within your replication environment.

  • Modify database parameters online—The number of parameters that can be modified while the database remains online has increased. Parameters may be changed online through new menu options in PROMON or through VSTs. Support to modify the encryption and security cache sizes (-ecsize & -secsize) online has also been added to PROUTIL INCREASETO. This feature enables you to modify database parameters online and eliminate disruption to users by ensuring continual database availability.

    For more information, see Modify database startup parameters online using PROMON.

  • Allow non-structural schema fields to be changed online—Database administrators and developers can now change non-structural schema fields online and while the database is being accessed by other users.

    This feature:

    • Does not require an exclusive schema lock to modify non-structural fields
    • Ensures the high availability of the database by enabling users to remain connected while changes are made

    For more information, see Change non-structural fields of _File and _Field online.

  • Allow Integer field to become Int64 online—You can now change the datatype of a field in an application table from Int to Int64 while the database remains online.

    With this feature you can:

    • Modify the datatype field without an exclusive schema lock
    • Ensure high availability of the database

    For more information, see Change Int to Int64 online.

  • Refresh agents in an ABL application—The refreshagents command terminates all sessions within a multi-session agent so that updates to an ABL application can be made in real-time. The refreshagents feature is available as a TCMAN command as well as a REST and OEJMX API.

    The refreshagents command allows online schema updates to an application which provides high availability for a PAS for OpenEdge instance. The command may also improve memory leaks in an ABL application.

    For more information, see Refresh agents in an ABL application.

  • Deferred logging in PAS for OpenEdge—Deferred logging in PAS for OpenEdge opens an in-memory buffer to record stack trace information immediately preceding a multi-session agent crash. It also allows system administrators to run an on-demand monitoring check on an instance via an API.

    Deferred logging helps system administrators understand the cause for an agent crash by providing additional logging information about a crash. Deferred logging also helps performance by only recording a small amount of information that is relevant to an agent crash.

    For more information, see Use deferred logging in PAS for OpenEdge.

  • Get current request information—The GET-ACTIVE-REQUESTS-ON-SERVER API now captures additional details about currently active requests. These additional details provide more visibility into the requests being processed by a PAS for OpenEdge instance. The enhancements to the API better assist system administrators and Technical Support to troubleshoot performance and availability issues with PAS for OpenEdge instances.

    For more information, see Get current request information.