Application Wrapper and Remote Maintenance Agent

There are two parts of the Pearson VUE Testing System that manage the transfer of information between your test center and Pearson VUE's hub system. They are the Remote Maintenance Agent (RMA) and the Application Wrapper.

Remote Maintenance Agent

Each time a connection is made to the hub, RMA checks for information that needs to be transferred between your test center and the Pearson VUE Testing System. RMA is set up to periodically run throughout the day, and you do not normally need to intervene.

RMA performs these critical functions:

Replicating data from the hub database to your test center's database
Preparing candidate registration information (name, appointment time, exam name, and so on)
Downloading exam files
Uploading candidate exam results
Checking the hub to see if software updates are available
Transferring exam results from your test center to Pearson VUE

Application Wrapper

The Application Wrapper automates the Pearson VUE Testing System. It is a scheduler that runs in the background on the test center's administration workstation. It also performs these functions:

Launching RMA
Monitoring RMA to make sure it is working
Restarting RMA if it stops unexpectedly
Stopping RMA when a user wants to stop the service

With the Wrapper running in the background, RMA automatically connects to the Pearson VUE hub system over the Internet at scheduled intervals; no intervention is required from anyone at your test center. During these connections, files and information are exchanged between Pearson VUE and your test center. In addition, the wrapper automatically updates your Pearson VUE Testing System applications to the most recent versions. After your testing system is correctly installed, the Wrapper service runs continuously either on the file server or administration workstation (depending on your site's installation scenario setup) as long as the server (or administration workstation) is turned on. Therefore, it is critical that you do not turn off power to the server (or administration workstation) at the end of the day.

A properly configured and running Wrapper is important to help your test center success. By automating the exam preparation and results processing, the Wrapper gives test administrators more time to perform other tasks. Pearson VUE requires that the Application Wrapper service be used. If you encounter problems getting it configured and working properly, contact VSS for assistance.

How it all works

When the Application Wrapper service is first started (this normally happens automatically when the computer is started), it starts the RMA application. RMA runs in the background and continuously polls the local database to see if it needs to run one of its regular cycles. There are three RMA cycles:

Maintenance cycle: This cycle runs once per day, at approximately midnight local time, and it is a complete cycle. This means that the maintenance cycle performs all functions for which RMA is responsible. After the maintenance cycle is completed successfully, RMA checks the Pearson VUE hub to see if any program updates are available. If an update is available, the system begins the automated update process. Otherwise, RMA returns to an idle state and resumes polling the local database.
Service Delivery Results (SDR) cycle: This cycle occurs at regular intervals throughout the day. During this cycle, the local database is replicated and exam result files are uploaded to the hub. The SDR cycle runs only during a test center’s normal business hours. (These are the hours you have entered in Site Manager, indicating when your test center is open.) This cycle usually takes only a few minutes to complete.
Express-prep cycle: This cycle is activated when a test center creates a same-day registration using Registration Manager. During this cycle, only registrations for the current day are processed.

Reliability factors

In order for RMA to operate correctly, you need to ensure the following:

The Pearson VUE Application Wrapper service is properly configured and working.
The server or administration workstation (depending on your site's installation scenario setup) is left on at all times.

Because RMA runs automatically, it can be difficult to tell whether it is working. You can verify if RMA is running automatically with the RMA connection log application in the Connect portal. This application tells you when RMA was last run, whether it was a manual or automated session, and how frequently it is running. For more information about this application, see Checking RMA.

Alternative RMA methods

The RMA process can be launched manually if necessary. In this case, a complete maintenance cycle is always performed. A manual RMA process opens a command prompt window, which allows you to view the session's progress. After the cycle is completed, the command prompt window closes automatically.