Merge duplicate hosts
To merge duplicate hosts, you must have a local CSV copy of the Duplicate Host Analysis report. This report serves as an input to the duplicate host merging script.
Follow these recommendations before you merge duplicate hosts:
Carefully set the report scope and generate the Duplicate Host Analysis report, as its CSV export copy serves as an input for the host merge script.
Use a copy of the original CSV export as an input for the merge duplicate hosts script. The original CSV can serve as a reference in future.
Since the host merge process is irreversible, it must be executed by an administrator with comprehensive knowledge of backup solutions.
Back up the database before performing the host merge since the process is irreversible.
Since merge duplicate hosts is an advanced process, make sure you have followed all the recommendations suggested above.
The merging duplicate hosts is performed in the following order:
Generate the Duplicate Host Analysis report on the IT Analytics export it in CSV format.
Edit the CSV copy of the Duplicate Host Analysis report for the host merge script.
Run the host merge script using the CSV input.
- Access the Duplicate Host Analysis report from Reports tab > System Administration reports.
- Click the Duplicate Host Analysis report name. Use the descriptions in the table below to set the required report scope and generate the report.
Field name
Description
Host Group
Allow you to select the host groups, backup servers, or hosts for the report scope. Your selection narrows down the scope and helps find duplicates more efficiently by targeting specific host groups or host name.
Find Duplicates Using:
Host Name
Display Name
You can choose between Host Name (default) and Display Name. Both searches are case-sensitive.
For Host Name, the system compares the internal host names to find duplicates. This is the default criterion in the legacy host merge option.
For Display Name, the system uses the display or external names of the hosts to find duplicates.
Host Type for the Duplicate Host
Clients Only
All
Clients Only allows you to find duplicates only for hosts that are identified as Clients (hosts backed up by any backup system).
All detects duplicates for all types of hosts.
Surviving host Selection Criteria
Highest Job Count
Most Recently Updated
Allows you to specify the criteria to select the surviving host among the duplicates when performing a host merge.
Highest Job Count: Selects the host with most associated jobs as the surviving host. This is the default criterion of the legacy host merge option, as a higher job count suggests that the host has more data associated with it.
Most Recently Updated: Selects the most recently updated host as the surviving host. Use this option when the duplicate hosts found are no longer actively collecting new data, as it helps to retain the most current host.
Cascade into sub-groups
The scope selector default is to cascade to all child sub-groups when generating the report. If you prefer to report ONLY on the host group you selected, then uncheck Cascade into sub-groups.
Filter by Common Attributes
Select this checkbox to have the report scope display attributes using "AND" logic. By selecting this feature, the report will display those results with the intersection of the selected criteria.
If this checkbox is not selected, the report will display attributes using "OR" logic. For example, if you select attribute values, Campbell, Engineering, Cost Center 1 and select Filter by Common Attributes, the report will display only the results that contain all 3 attribute values. If you do not select Filter by Common Attributes, the report will display all results with attributes Campbell, Engineering, or Cost Center 1.
Apply Attributes to Backup Servers
Select this checkbox to apply the attributes only to the backup servers, instead of hosts.
- After generating the report, export the report in CSV format on your system.
- Create a copy of the CSV report and prepare the copy for the host merge script as described in the next step.
This Duplicate Host Analysis report displays one row each for each suspected duplicate pair. If multiple duplicate hosts are detected, the report displays one row for each duplicate pair. For example, if host A has three potential duplicates, the report displays three rows - one for each duplicate.
Update the values of the following columns in the CSV copy as suggested below:
Surviving Host: Default value of this report column is Main, which indicates that the duplicates will be merged into the Main host. To change the surviving host, change its value to Duplicate. This way, all hosts are merged into the duplicate host. Main and Duplicate are the only acceptable values in this column.
Is Duplicate Host's Merge supported: This column supports only Yes and No as values. Delete all the rows containing the value No from the report CSV that you plan to use as input for the host merge process.
None other than the above modifications must be made to the report CSV that you plan to use for the host merge process. Your report CSV is now ready to serve as an input for the host merge script.
The host merge script has a provision to perform a pre-assessment during which it evaluates errors in the CSV and suggests corrections before proceeding further. You must ensure a successful pre-assessment and only then proceed to merge the hosts. Any error in the report CSV will result in the script aborting the process. You must provide the report CSV path along with the file name, log file path, and log file name when you run the script.
Caution:
As the host merge process is irreversible, you must back up your database and follow all the recommendations suggested above before you proceed.
To merge duplicate hosts:
- Run the host_merge.sql script from the
../database/toolsdirectory.You can run the script from
SQL*PlusorSQL Developeras portal or equivalent user which has access to all the schema tables. - Enter the following details when requested by the script:
Enter 1 or 2: Enter 1 to run the pre-assessment when you run the script for the first time. You can enter 2 when the pre-assessment is successful.
Enter Duplicate Host Analysis CSV file name with full path: Enter the report CSV file path including the file name.
Enter log file path: Enter the location for log file (without the file name)
Enter log file name: Enter the name of the log file.
After your pre-assessment is successful, repeat this step with option 2 to complete the host merge.
