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Functionality of Upload and compare agents

This topic describes how Upload and compare agents work and lists key considerations and limitations.

The main steps required for Upload and compare agents to function are:

  • Install the agent
  • Enable communication between the agent and the server

  • Trigger tasks manually or through jobs

  • Manual execution: When you run a task manually, the client application transfers the required data to the agent through the server. The agent executes the task and returns the results to the application, again through the server.

  • Scheduled jobs: The Octoplant server’s time-based scheduler evaluates each job’s configuration and dispatches the task to the appropriate agent at the defined time. The agent performs the upload and comparison, and then notifies the server when the results are ready.

Manual execution: key considerations

  • You can delegate the following task types from client applications:

    • Backup or backup comparison
    • Version comparison
    • Combined backup and version comparison
    • Working directory comparison

  • Communication between the client application and Compare agent always occurs via the server. The server must be able to access both:

    • The machine running the client application
    • The machine where the agent is installed

    As a result, comparison with agents is not supported in client applications or in the BackupClient when using local login.

Limitations

  • The system limits the number of jobs and comparisons that can run simultaneously. These limits also apply to comparisons processed by agents on behalf of client applications.

  • Client-side scripts cannot be executed when tasks are delegated to an agent. Server-side scripts, however, execute normally.

  • Comparisons involving components with assigned standard blocks (as part of versioning) cannot be delegated to an agent.

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