Seven Ways to Rev Up Eclipse’s Reliability

Waiting, waiting, waiting … I could be billing a customer, generating a sales order, or picking an order. But instead I’m thinking about what’s for lunch while I yawn (again), finish off another cup of coffee, and continue staring at E-term’s spinning wheel of death. 

Has that ever happened to you? Multiply that experience by the number of users you have on your Eclipse software system, factor in the trickle down effect each user’s wait time has on other aspects of the operation, and throw in a bathroom break for good measure. It all adds up to INEFFICIENCY and LOST REVENUE. 

As you may know, Eclipse is very resource intensive. Upgrading IT hardware is a common recommendation when you’re experiencing system issues; but, this is like getting your car re-painted … it may look prettier but it doesn’t necessarily help things run better. 

My Dad always tells me that the cheapest car I’ll ever own is the one I already have. I may not always heed that advice; but, when it’s applied to the Eclipse software system in a distribution company, my Dad’s really onto something. So the question becomes, how do we make the most of what we’ve got? Just like that car, it’s all about maintenance, maintenance, maintenance. And when focused on performance, a paint job should always be the last thing on your list, rather than the first. Instead, it makes more sense to invest in things that help your car deal with everyday use, like oil changes, tires, and other preventative maintenance. 

Here are seven ways you can increase your system’s up-time: 

• Clean up your system files. The files in your Eclipse software system accumulate junk over time. These unnecessary bits of data slow down (and fill up) your server, your system and your users, just like your oil gets crud in it and slows down your car.  Eventually, if you don’t change the oil, you’ll burn up your engine and your car will come to a screeching halt. If your system has ever crashed, you know what this is like and what kind of an impact it can have on your profitability. Cleaning out those system files regularly can keep your system running like it’s supposed to.  

• Review system logs. Behind the scenes, your system has error logs. Users are oblivious to the little gems of information that are being recorded, which could help you find a problem before it shuts down your server or, worse, causes irreparable data corruption. Checking those system logs regularly could save your company a great deal of time and headache.  

• Re-start UniVerse. The UniVerse database that Eclipse runs on organizes and stores your system’s data and then retrieves it when you’re working in the system. This database is touted as being maintenance-free. While this can be true for a time, eventually the system will become unreliable, just as when you don’t check the air pressure. You will eventually have a flat, it’s just a question of when; and, depending on your speed, whether it will be a complete blow-out or a slow leak. Truth be told, this kind of database requires regular re-starts to run efficiently crash less frequently. And, these re-starts can also help expose issues before they get out of control. 

• Get printers running properly. Printing issues are almost always a result of database issues. When the print spooler is acting strangely, tickets aren’t printing as they’re supposed to, and printers are dying or running slowly, database maintenance could be all that you need. 

• Manually accommodate for file growth. Your system has to grow to accommodate more data. Eclipse is set up to automatically do this, requiring no human intervention or system downtime (i.e. someone working on the weekend). But, this convenience factor results in a loss of efficiency and performance. If accommodation for growth on your most critical files were done manually, your system’s performance could be optimized. 

• Replenish system resources. Your system’s resources get tied up, and they don’t always get released back completely on their own. This will result in your system being short on resources and it will run slower and slower as time goes on. Every so often, your system’s resources need to be replenished, just as your car’s radiator needs more fluids.  

• Refresh your training account. The data in your training account needs to be updated regularly. If a change needs to be tested in your training area, it can’t be done if the information is out of date. And, training employees using old data isn’t a good use of time. ​

Depending on your particular system make-up and needs, some or all of these seven elements can be part of a sound maintenance program to make your Eclipse software system as reliable and efficient as possible. While you can pay more attention to some of these items on your own, Zerion is available to provide you with hands-free performance optimization through out new EZ Performance program. 

As you know, we’ve always been about maximizing your investment and increasing efficiency. But, we’ve long-focused much of our effort on process improvements. We teach you the best way to drive the car so that it runs smoother; and, we tell you the best route to take. We love doing that; but, we often find that even with the best consulting and training, if your engine is failing, you’re not going to get where you’re going. Now we’re going to lift the hood and optimize system performance. With the addition of our own UniVerse Database Administrator, Zerion can reduce operational inefficiencies and employees’ lost time, and increase system reliability and up-time. 

Meet EZ Performance … where Eclipse is made easier with Zerion (much like with EZ Support). With this cost-effective monitoring program, Zerion will do a monthly inspection on your system and help make the most of your Eclipse investment. E-mail us (tony.king@zeriongroup.com) to learn more about how EZ Performance can help your systems run more effectively.