Description [Click here for screen previews ...] Armored3 is the application responsible for managing the configuration of multiple Essbase servers. It’s name refers to the secure and reliable transfer of metadata between Essbase servers. To date, metadata has been confined to a single server. Armored3 liberates metadata by allowing it to move freely in the enterprise. The free flow of metadata means an organization can gain control and enforce uniformity in the Essbase enterprise. Armored3 accomplishes it’s tasks by using the services of 3Sentry. Armored3 exposes the metadata management and filter manipulation capabilities of 3Sentry.
	Propagation The act of using metadata from one Essbase server to configure another is referred to as propagating metadata.
	Metadata management Metadata management in Armored3 is expanded from a single server perspective to encompass the entire enterprise. Given metadata information from a source, the Armored3 will configure the contents of it’s target Essbase server(s) accordingly.
	Sources Configuration data (metadata) can come from the following sources:
	Essbase security dump file The definition for "security dump" given for 3Sentry is applicable here. By understanding it’s contents, Armored3 establishes the security dump as a de-facto standard format. Security dump files can now be passed between organizations as a way of specifying Essbase configurations. By providing a security dump file, Essbase VARs can greatly simplify installation.
	Current configuration of another Essbase server A running Essbase server can be used as the source configuration data. In this case, a configuration is essentially copied from one server to another.
	Contents The definition of contents given for 3Sentry applies to its use here. Server settings, applications, databases, users, groups and database filters definitions are all portable across the enterprise.
	Targets The destination of a configuration propagation can be one or more running Esssbase servers. The user is presented with a list of Essbase servers in the organization to choose from. Selecting more than one instructs Armored3 to configure multiple Essbase servers in a single run.
	Filter manipulation In the same way that Armored3 expands metadata management to the enterprise level, database filters a liberated from the confines of a single server. Filter definitions as well as access settings can come from anywhere in the enterprise.