By default, databases get larger. Unless historical data is regularly purged disk usage will grow relentlessly.

Of course, the solution is easy. Buy more disk to hold the data. Buy more processors to cope with the increasing database size and data management overheads. But the costs involved can be, and usually are, expensive. Hardware doesn't come cheap.

In addition to the cost of new hardware, there are other, less obvious costs. For example, data needs to be saved and as the database size increases, so does the time it takes to save it. This could mean more downtime or further cost to upgrade or buy extra tape drives.

The solution is easy - install Purge-it! from Klik IT. Let our integrated and progressive purge toolkit keep your database under control. By utilising intelligent ripple-delete and summarisation techniques, Purge-it! can safely remove or compact historical data. The purging process is based upon user-defined rules so you can finely control which data is purged and which is retained.

Paul Jervis Director, Klik IT Limited "Purging is normally carried out in a hurry following pressure from operations who have been nursing a machine running at 90% disk usage for the past 12 months. This sort of reactivity will inevitably result in the premature removal of key data, and the introduction of disjointed modules. However, by gaining an understanding of the main factors and pitfalls associated with purging and data retention, coupled with the use of new fully integrated / summarisation tools, the whole process can be a lot less disruptive." Paul delivered a presentation about purging at the UK JDE User Group "Purging and Archiving" Focus Day on September 24th 2002. To download his presentation click here. Note: The presentation is in Powerpoint Show [.pps] format and downloads in a .zip archive.

How does it work?

Purge-it! is integrated with your JDEdwards World/EnterpriseOne installation. It knows the database relationships and rules and uses this knowledge to ensure safe and complete removal of related and dependent data. It is progressive because the toolkit is designed to run regularly as part of your daily or weekly housekeeping tasks. Users can continue to use the system whilst Purge-it! goes to work, although, it makes sense to run the tools during the night or at other less intensive times.

If your database is left to grow and grow, the need for additional disk space (DASD) is inevitable.

The use of occasional basic purging tools can delay the need for additional disk.

Purge-it! progressively works on your database in daily or weekly cycles to ensure maximum database reduction. Depending on the aggressiveness of the purging rules, the need for additional disk space can be delayed almost indefinitely.

How Safe is it?

Purge-it! is integrated with your JDEdwards installation. It becomes part of the daily operation of your ERP system. Records are purged only when all related and associated transactional data can also be safely purged or disconnected. No orphan records are left behind. Where files contain balancing records they cannot be purged completely but sets of records can be summarised without the loss of data integrity. Purge-it! handles all of this automatically.

What Happens to the Purged Data?

Purge-it! can optionally dump purged data into a repository from which it can be transferred to another mass data storage system or onto physical storage media. What actually happens to purged data very much depends on your specific requirements for analysis.