In Informatica PowerCenter, "Stop," "Abort," and "Kill" are three distinct actions used to terminate workflow or session executions, each with varying degrees of force and impact. Here's a breakdown:
1. Stop :
- Action:
- The "Stop" command attempts to gracefully terminate a running workflow or session.
- It signals the Integration Service to complete the current processing unit (e.g., a transaction or a set of rows) and then stop.
- It allows the Integration Service to perform cleanup tasks, such as closing connections and releasing resources.
- Characteristics:
- It is a controlled shutdown.
- It aims to minimize data inconsistencies.
- It may take some time to complete, depending on the current processing state.
- It is the most preferred method of stopping a workflow.
- Use Case:
- Use "Stop" when you want to gracefully terminate a workflow or session, allowing it to complete its current processing unit.
2. Abort :
- Action:
- The "Abort" command forcefully terminates a running workflow or session.
- It immediately stops the processing, regardless of the current state.
- It may result in data inconsistencies if transactions are interrupted.
- Characteristics:
- It is a forceful shutdown.
- It may leave data in an inconsistent state.
- It is faster than "Stop."
- Use Case:
- Use "Abort" when you need to terminate a workflow or session immediately, even if it may result in data inconsistencies.
3. Kill :
- Action:
- The "Kill" command terminates the Integration Service process associated with the workflow or session at the operating system level.
- It is the most forceful termination.
- It does not allow for any cleanup tasks.
- Characteristics:
- It is an immediate and forceful termination.
- It may result in severe data inconsistencies and system instability.
- It should be used as a last resort.
- Use Case:
- Use "Kill" only when the Integration Service is unresponsive and other termination methods have failed. This is a very rare event.
Key Differences Summarized :
- Graceful Termination:
- Stop: Yes
- Abort: No
- Kill: No
- Data Consistency:
- Stop: Aims to maintain consistency
- Abort: May result in inconsistencies
- Kill: Likely to result in inconsistencies
- Forcefulness:
- Stop: Least forceful
- Abort: More forceful
- Kill: Most forceful
- Cleanup Tasks:
- Stop: Performs cleanup
- Abort: Limited cleanup
- Kill: No cleanup.
In general, "Stop" is the preferred method, "Abort" is used for immediate termination, and "Kill" is reserved for extreme situations.
