ACE Utilities Backup & Monitoring – Tech Tip

The ACE Utilities module provides essential tools for managing system backups and monitoring services to ensure smooth operations. This guide covers key functionalities, including SERVICE.CONTROL for managing backups, BACKUP.CONTROL for configuring schedules and retention policies, and MONITOR.CONTROL for tracking system health and setting up alerts. Follow best practices to maintain reliable backups, enable system alerts, and troubleshoot issues effectively.

Backup Management Using SERVICE.CONTROL

What is SERVICE.CONTROL?

SERVICE.CONTROL is the main interface for managing system services, including backups. It allows you to:

✔ View currently running services.

✔ Start, stop, and configure backups.

✔ Filter services based on account, status, or startup type.

How to Access SERVICE.CONTROL

1. Open the ACE Utilities module.

2. Navigate to SERVICE.CONTROL.

3. Use filters to refine service views:

  • Account Field → Set to ACE (or the account you want to monitor).
  • Status → Set to Started to see active services.
  • Startup Type → Choose Automatic to list services that start automatically.

Viewing Backup Service Details

  • Highlight a service and click Properties (or right-click and select Properties).
  • Click More Settings to open BACKUP.CONTROL (detailed in the next section).

Configuring and Managing Backups in BACKUP.CONTROL

What is BACKUP.CONTROL?

BACKUP.CONTROL is the backup management interface, allowing you to:

✔ Configure multiple backup schedules (daily/weekly).

✔ Define backup locations.

✔ Define backup copy folder locations.

✔ Set retention policies for historical backups.

How to Configure Backups

1. Open SERVICE.CONTROL and select the backup service.

2. Click More Settings to access BACKUP.CONTROL.

3. Configure the following options:

  • Backup Folder → Set the destination path for saved backups.
  • Max History → Enter the number of previous backups to retain.
  • Archive Folder → Define where zipped copies of old backups are stored.

Best Practices for Backup Storage

✔ Ensure the backup drive has enough free space to store all backups.

✔ If backups are managed by an external IT team, confirm:

  • Daily backups of QM folders are performed.
  • The number of retained backups meets company policies.
    ✔ Always store offsite copies to protect against local failures.

Monitoring System Health with MONITOR.CONTROL

What is MONITOR.CONTROL?

MONITOR.CONTROL allows users to track system services and receive alerts when issues arise. It is critical for ensuring smooth system operations.

Configuring Monitoring Settings

1. Open SERVICE.CONTROL and select the monitoring service.

2. Click Properties → More Settings to open MONITOR.CONTROL.

3. Enable the following options:

✅ Services

✅ M3Services

4. Assign system managers:

  • Add M3 user IDs of responsible personnel.
  •  Ensure each user has an email in SECURITY.E or SECURITY.E2.

 Setting Up Alerts for Service Failures

✔ If a service stops responding for longer than the Alert Minutes setting, an email notification is sent.

✔ Recommended Alert Minutes:

  • If backups take 1 hour, set alert to 60-65 minutes.
    ✔ If an alert is received:
  •  Open SERVICE.CONTROL and check if the service is running.
  • Check SYSTEM.D for possible record locks.
  • If the issue persists, restart the service or contact the Zumasys helpdesk.

Summary of Best Practices

Backup Management

✔ Ensure backups run daily and weekly.

✔ Store copies offsite for disaster recovery.

✔ Monitor storage space to avoid failures.

System Monitoring

✔ Enable email alerts for service failures.

✔ Investigate alerts promptly using SYSTEM.D.

✔ Keep at least two administrators assigned for alerts.

Troubleshooting Issues

✔ Restart services in SERVICE.CONTROL when necessary.

✔ Check SYSTEM.D for record locks.

✔ Contact the Zumasys helpdesk if an issue persists.

Contact Support

For unresolved issues, reach out to:
📧 Zumasys Helpdesk – [[email protected]]