Installing DataExchange with No Previous Installation
The following topics cover procedures for installing DataExchange:
Before You Install DataExchange
The following topics provide information needed to successfully install DataExchange. Before you do the installation, first review the following:
• Preparing to Install DataExchange. This topic covers platform-specific notes that are relevant to your use of the product.
• Readme. These release notes may contain last-minute information that could not be included in the documentation. This document is included in your DataExchange installation files but may be updated after the release. Its latest version is always posted on the Actian website.
Windows Platform Notes
Be aware of the following conditions.
• You must have full administrator-level rights on the system where you install DataExchange.
• You may need to disable antivirus software or change its settings to allow installation.
Installing DataExchange
DataExchange requires the latest version of a Zen v15 Enterprise Server or Cloud Server engine be installed first. Be sure that the system has a database engine before trying to add DataExchange.
Note: DataExchange installation stops and restarts the Zen engine. If your business needs prohibit stopping the database engine during certain hours, install DataExchange outside those times.
DataExchange comes in two editions determined by the kind of license you purchase:
• Real-Time Backup: A two-machine, one-way replication network of a First Site and one Partner Site that serves as a backup location. Data changes are stored in a DataExchange database on the First Site and are replicated to the Partner Site on a schedule that you set.
• Data Synchronization: A two-way replication network consisting of a First Site and a Partner Site. Data changes at either site are replicated to the other site.
For both editions, DataExchange uses a single license key, which is authorized on both the First Site and Partner Site.
If you omit the license key at installation time, DataExchange provides a 30-day evaluation license, which you can later replace with a permanent one. For more information, see DataExchange Licensing.
If the installation fails before the program copies any files to the target installation directory, for more information about why the installation failed, see the %temp% directory of the current login for the installation log file DataExchange_vnn_x64_Install.log, where nn is the product version.
DataExchange offers an email notification agent on systems with Zen Enterprise Server or Cloud Server. For more information, see dxagent.
The rest of this section covers the following topics:
Installing DataExchange for Real-Time Backup
Follow these steps for the Real-Time Backup edition. To install the Data Synchronization edition, see Installing DataExchange for Data Synchronization.
To install DataExchange in a two-system configuration for Real-Time Backup
You will run the installation twice: once on the First Site and once on a Partner Site.
1. Launch the installer from your Windows system by doing one of the following:
• Run the downloaded self-extracting installer executable, or insert the DataExchange CD into the CD-ROM drive of your system.
• If you are installing from a CD and the installation does not start automatically, run the following command from the operating system: drive:\autorun\autorun where drive is the drive letter of your CD-ROM device.
2. In the Welcome window, click Next.
The installer detects your Zen version and system information. This may take a few minutes.
3. Read the Software License Agreement. To continue, click I accept and then click Next.
4. In the License field, do one of the following:
• Enter a license key.
• Leave the field blank to have the installer apply a temporary evaluation license key.
At the end of the evaluation period, the replication engine begins returning an error. You may apply a license key at any time. See To upgrade an evaluation system with a license key.
5. Click Next and do one of the following:
• If you entered a license key, it will tell the installer which edition you will use, so you can simply proceed to step 6. Be sure that your license matches the edition you plan to use.
• If you leave the license field blank, the installer asks which edition you would like to evaluate: Data Synchronization or Real-Time Backup. Choose one and click Next.
6. Choose one of the following installations:
• First Site: Design, administer, replicate
You will use a First Site to design and configure the replication network. Its components include the administrative utilities and the replication engine.
• Partner Site: Administer, replicate
A Partner Site replicates data with the First Site. Its components include the DataExchange administrative utilities and replication engine. You may install a Partner Site before installing a First Site, but you must initialize and configure the replication network from the First Site.
Caution! Do not install more than one First Site on a network, or replication conflicts may occur. To lessen the risk of unintentionally installing a First Site, the default choice in this step is Partner Site.
7. After making your selection, click Next, then continue as follows:
• To install a First Site, Click Yes if you have not installed a First Site on your replication network and continue with the next step. Otherwise, click No to finish using the installer and exit.
• To install a Partner Site, continue with the next step.
8. Click Next to open a dialog to specify site information. 
Both fields default to the host name of your machine.
• The Site Name identifies your system on the replication network. The name can be whatever you want. Accept the default or enter a more descriptive name.
• The Host Name identifies this system to the DataExchange Engine. If your system has a fixed IP address and you prefer to use it, enter it here. If the IP address is assigned by DHCP, accept the default host name.
9. Click Next.
10. You may click Back to review installation settings and change them if needed. To start the installation, click Install.
11. At the end of installation, click Finish.
We recommend that you view the readme file for important release notes concerning configuration and use of the product. It is included in the installation on 64-bit systems as the file readme_dx.htm in C:\Program Files (x86)\Actian\Zen\Replication\Docs. However, since this file may be updated after the release, its latest version is always posted on the Actian website.
Installing DataExchange for Data Synchronization
Follow these steps for a Data Synchronization edition. For the steps to install a Real-Time Backup edition, see Installing DataExchange for Real-Time Backup.
To install DataExchange in a two-system configuration for data synchronization
You will run the installation twice: once on the First Site and once on a Partner Site.
1. Launch the installer from your Windows machine by doing one of the following:
• Run the downloaded self-extracting installer executable, or insert the DataExchange CD into the CD-ROM drive of your system.
• If you are installing from a CD and the installation does not start automatically, run the following command from the operating system: drive:\autorun\autorun where drive is the drive letter of your CD-ROM device.
2. In the Welcome window, click Next.
The installer detects your Zen version and system information. This may take a few minutes.
3. Read the Software License Agreement. To continue, click I accept and then click Next.
4. In the License field, do one of the following:
• Enter a license key.
• Leave the field blank to have the installer apply a temporary evaluation license key.
A First Site and a Partner Site use the same key, which is provided on the case of the DataExchange installation CD, the product registration card, and the printed license agreement.
At the end of the evaluation period, the replication engine begins returning an error. You may apply a license key at any time. See To upgrade an evaluation system with a license key.
5. Click Next and do one of the following:
• If you entered a license key, it will tell the installer which edition you will use, so you can simply proceed to step 6. Be sure that your license matches the edition you plan to use.
• If you leave the license field blank, the installer asks which edition you would like to evaluate: Data Synchronization or Real-Time Backup. Choose one and click Next.
6. Choose one of the following installations:
• First Site: Design, administer, replicate
You will use a First Site to design and configure the replication network. Its components include the administrative utilities and the replication engine.
• Partner Site: Administer, replicate
A Partner Site replicates data with the First Site. Its components include the DataExchange administrative utilities and replication engine. You may install a Partner Site before installing a First Site, but you must initialize and configure the replication network from the First Site.
Caution! Do not install more than one First Site on a network, or replication conflicts may occur. To lessen the risk of unintentionally installing a First Site, the default choice in this step is Partner Site.
7. After making your selection, click Next, then continue as follows:
• To install a First Site, click Yes if you have not installed a First Site on your replication network and continue with the next step. Otherwise, click No to finish using the installer and exit.
• To install a Partner Site, continue with the next step.
8. Click Next to open a dialog to specify site information.
Both fields default to the host name of your machine.
• The Site Name identifies your system on the replication network. The name can be whatever you want. Accept the default or enter a more descriptive site name.
• The Host Name identifies this system to the DataExchange Engine. If your system has a fixed IP address and you prefer to use it, enter it here. If the IP address is assigned by DHCP, accept the default host name.
9. Click Next.
10. You may click Back to review installation settings and change them if needed. To start the installation, click Install.
11. At the end of installation, click Finish.
We recommend that you view the readme file for important release notes concerning configuration and use of the product. It is included in the installation on 64-bit systems as the file readme_dx.htm in C:\Program Files (x86)\Actian\Zen\Replication\Docs. However, since this file may be updated after the release, its latest version is always posted on the Actian website.
After You Install DataExchange
Your next step depends on which edition of DataExchange you have installed.
After Installing Real-Time Backup Edition
After you install DataExchange Real-Time Backup Edition on both sites, we recommend that you set up a sample replication deployment between the first and partner sites. Using this example is optional, but it may be helpful to step through a hands-on deployment with a sample database.
To use the example, see Replication Deployment.
After Installing Data Synchronization Edition
DataExchange Data Synchronization Edition provides several ways to design and deploy a database for replication. These methods involve a variety of decisions, which are under Data Synchronization Deployment Models.
Zen Security with DataExchange
Zen provides security models for Btrieve applications. However, an activated database created by DXdeploy does not automatically use security, even if its source database does. You can add security to a replication database. For an example using the Demodata sample database, see Replicating a Database with Zen Security. To learn more about Zen database security, see those topics in the Zen Advanced Operations Guide.
Common Questions After Installing DataExchange
You may have the following questions after installation.
Do I Have to Configure Anything in Control Center (ZenCC) for DataExchange?
No. DataExchange requires no special settings in ZenCC.
Does DataExchange Create Any Log Files?
Yes. See Log Files.
How Do I Automate a Scheduled Replication?
See Schedule Tasks.
How Do I Get Notified by Email for a Replication Failure?
See DataExchange Agent.
Where are the DataExchange files installed?
You will find new installations of DataExchange in the following locations:
Platform | File Types | Default Installation Location |
|---|---|---|
Windows 7 and later1 (64-bit) | Application Data | C:\ProgramData\Actian\Zen\Replication |
Program Files (64-bit) (Event Handler) | C:\Program Files\Actian\Zen\bin | |
Program Files (32-bit) | C:\Program Files (x86)\Actian\Zen\Replication C:\Program Files (x86)\Actian\Zen\bin | |
1 Windows 7 and later refers to Windows 7 and any Windows operating system released after Windows 7 that is currently supported by Actian Zen and DataExchange. | ||
Uninstalling DataExchange
The uninstall program removes all DataExchange components from your system. Uninstalling removes databases registered by Zen that are located under C:\ProgramData\Actian\Zen\Replication or C:\Program Files (x86)\Actian\Zen\Replication. For locations other than these, uninstalling leaves databases untouched. It also does not remove DSNs and database names associated with databases in other locations.
If you have activated databases located under C:\ProgramData\Actian\Zen\Replication or C:\Program Files (x86)\Actian\Zen\Replication, you must perform the following actions before you uninstall DataExchange:
• Deactivate each database with the dxdeact utility. See dxdeact. For an example of deactivating a database, see Removing the Example Deployed Database.
• Remove the template with Template Remover wizard. See trwizard. For an example of using the wizard, see Removing the Example Deployed Database.
• Optionally, if you no longer need the data, delete the source database or specific tables using the Drop Database wizard or the Drop Table wizard in Control Center (ZenCC).
If you do not deactivate the database before you remove the template, uninstalling leaves the database files and associated replication files. The replication files do not cause any problems, but you may prefer to reclaim physical storage by deleting them.
Note: The Zen database engine must be stopped and restarted during DataExchange removal. If your business requirements prohibit stopping the database engine during certain hours, uninstall DataExchange during an acceptable period.
To uninstall DataExchange
Note: You can upgrade DataExchange without uninstalling it. To do so, use the steps under Upgrading Your DataExchange Installation. Completely removing DataExchange removes all design and activated database information from your system, as well as any databases created under the Replication directory. Since uninstalling would require you to redesign any replication databases after installing the new version, it is preferable to upgrade without this step.
If you need to uninstall DataExchange, use the following standard steps:
1. In the Windows Control Panel, open Programs and Features.
2. Click DataExchange in the list and select Uninstall.
3. When the installer has finished, restart your system if prompted to do so.
Last modified date: 12/01/2023