Tracking Host instance on all Biztalk nodes

 In a Biztalk farm, we have 6 nodes.
we have a dedicated tracking host.
We need to see all tracking info from the 6 nodes in HAT.

I am told all tracking host does is transfer data from the tracking tables in messagebox  to DTA.

Now is it necessary to run the tracking host instance on all the 6 nodes?

reg,

You don't need to run a tracking host instance on each node in your BizTalk group - one is sufficient; however it may be prudent to run it on more than one to distribute the load if you have high throughput. From past experience, I would suggest that a Host Instance on three nodes would be sufficient.

Rgds, Nick.

 Hello
         
             I have observed the follow behaviour.

             I read files from an input folder. The Receive File adapter has a custom receive pipeline.
              The Send port subscribes to the Receive port and send(using send file adapter) the files to a output location using PassThroughTransmits pipeline.

              The Receive and Send Handlers are different host instances and they both run  on all the nodes.

             I want the Biztalk node 1 to do the receive processing and Node 2 to do the send. 
             So,I enabled the Receive Host instance on node 1( disabled Send Host instance on Node1) and enabled Send Host Instane on Node 2(disabled Receive Host on node 2).
             On nodes,3,4,5,6 i disabled both these host instances. However on Node 3 we created a dedicated host           instacne for tracking and enabled it.

            Now when an interchange happens, i do not see any info in HAT!!!!.

             However the moment , i enable the Tracking host instance on Node 1 and 2, and an interchange happens,
             HAT promptly shows up the details.

              that makes me wonder if we need to enable tracking host on all nodes? or is it that we are missing something?

             any guidance would be appreciated

Regs,   

Anon,

You are probably seeing the messages while they are in flight through the message box. Also remember that the message parts are not copied to the tracking database until the SQL Agent job TrackedMessages_Copy_BizTalkMsgBoxDb is run (which by default is every minute). Ensure that you have this job and the tracking host enabled.

Also, you will need to ensure that you are actually tracking message parts to have them appear in the Tracking Database - enable message tracking on the ports under the Tracking tab of the port configuration dialog box.

Rgds, Nick.