This document describes new features and functions in Automic V11, including an improved installer, LDAP sync capabilities, prompt set improvements, enhanced object editing in the ECC, zero downtime upgrades, JMX monitoring, and EMI. The installer allows for single box installations in minutes, supports multiple platforms, and has three installation modes. LDAP sync keeps the automation platform in sync with Active Directory. Prompt sets now support dependent fields, multiline input, and dynamic execution data. Object editing in the ECC provides improved access to properties and content. Zero downtime upgrades allow continued production operations and monitoring during version upgrades. JMX monitoring provides notifications and statistics for integration into external monitoring.

1. Automic World 2015
One Automation Platform - V11 Features and Functions
Dave Kellermanns
Chief Automation Architect

2. New Installer

3. 3 Property of Automic Software. All rights reserved
Installer Features
• Out of the box installer for single box
installations
• Get a complete system up and running in
minutes instead of hours
• All needed binaries in one download file
• Easily test new Automic features
• Minimal dependencies on external pre-
requisites

4. 4 Property of Automic Software. All rights reserved
Installer Capabilities
• Leverage new package structures including installation of content
packs
– Includes pre-packaged external Software: Tomcat, Java, VC
Redistribution Pack
• Setting up engine processes, OS agent, Tomcat, and ECC
• Easily manage all processes in the service manager
• Multi platform support
– Windows 2008/2012
– Linux: RedHat Linux, Suse Linux
• Three installation modes
– GUI (WIN only)
– Command Line
– Unattended
• Support for MS-SQL and Oracle
• Minimal Input required

5. Objects

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6
Support for Perl, Python, etc. in the process tab
ONE Automation Platform

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Binary Store Object

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Adaptive Runtime Calculation
• Calculate the expected runtime based on any set of task properties
• When you re-use objects in multiple Workflows – these objects can
estimate thier runtime as a unique process independent of other uses
• By default it uses Parent alias, Parent name, Agent, and Start Time
• Additional parameters can be defined

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9
• LDAP over an SSL port can now be authenticated.
• Oracle Directory Server and Active Directory supported.
• Authentication of users through PAM
(Pluggable Authentication Module)
now supported on all UNIX/Linux Agents.
LDAP SSL and UNIX/Linux Login Object Support

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10
• Keep your Platform in Sync with Active Directory (AD)
• Add new users to the Platform if added in AD
• Auto-Assign to Groups according to groups
• Keep Platform Audit log by deactivating AD deleted users
• Free Tool Compatible with v9, v10, v11
LDAP Sync

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• Dependent Promptset Fields
• Multiline Input Fields
• New DataTypes
• Complex XML Data (VARA.XML)
• Dynamic Execution Data (VARA.EXEC)
PromptSet Improvements
1
1 Dependent Promptset Fields are reset when
master field changes

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Enhanced Grouping Criteria (Object level)
1

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Enhanced Grouping Criteria (Activity Window)
2

14. ECC

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New ECC Layout

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ECC – Global Search
• Always available on the top right of the UI
• Search starts as you type
• Search for all object names and description
(“Name” and “Title” fields)
• Works on all objects, including Release
Automation specific workflows
• The “*” character is allowed to extend the result of
the search

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Edit Objects in the ECC
*JOBS.WIN, JOBS.UNIX, SCRI, INCL

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Edit Objects in the ECC
Access to JOBS properties:
• General
– Sync
– Runtime
• Process
– Pre & Post
• Attributes
• Output
– Output Scan
• Variables and Prompts
– Variables
– Prompt Sets
• Rollback
• Version Management
• Documentation

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Edit Objects in the ECC
Access to more editable content :

20. Zero Downtime
Upgrades

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Zero Downtime Upgrades Goal
• An upgrade is an “IT” project, not a “Business” project
• Reliable step-by-step procedure
• Rollback reduces Risk of Upgrades
• Simply rollback if the new version does not work as expected
• “Zero Downtime” for the Business Line users
• Best user experience as a System Administrator
• No reengineering of workflows needed

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What does Zero Downtime Upgrades Mean?
“Zero Downtime”
Means
• The production plan (jobs / workflows) runs
as expected
• Monitoring (ECC) and notifications are up
and running at any given time
• Includes the ability for the operator to take
actions via the UI (start / stop / hold / rerun
jobs…)
• Includes 3rd party monitoring tools
• Upgrade can be a new version, a service
pack or a hotfix
No “reengineering of workflows”
Means
• The upgrade procedure allows workflows
to behave “as before”
• The procedure does not require Workflow
Designers to update their workflows in
order to match the new version’s behavior

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Zero Downtime Upgrades Restrictions
• For a limited period of time users might not be able to:
• Update the definition of the workflows
• Use Advanced Reporting (Forecasting / Capacity planning)
• Users might need to re-login when upgrade is completed

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Zero Downtime Upgrades

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Technical Detail: Zero Downtime Upgrade
• As a system admin, you can upgrade these components separately as today in a fixed sequence
• WPs of different versions can work in parallel. Old WPs continue completing old and currently running requests, while new WPs
carry out all new tasks. Old WPs will work as long as all tasks started by the old version are worked off.

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Technical Detail: Zero Downtime Upgrade
• Zero downtime upgrade is available starting with version 11.2
(not possible from a pre-11.2 version)
• During DB upgrade existing fields can’t neither be removed nor
modified. If DB modifications are needed (e.g. varchar to blob),
old fields remain unchanged and new fields have to be created
instead.
• Same with XREQs (which include the Automic business logic). We
introduced a version marker so that old/new XREQs can exist
parallel during upgrade.
• DB cleanup procedure cleans up old DB fields and XREQ
versions after a successful upgrade

27. Monitoring via JMX
EMI (External Monitoring Interface)

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JMX Monitoring
• Monitor the Automation Engine and the process runs
• Notifications (Active Type)
• Get notified automatically - e.g. a signal state changes or a problem is
detected
• Query statistics (Proactive Type)
• Display Automation Engine metrics in a third party monitoring console
• Standard integration into existing monitoring environments,
that support JMX Monitoring (e.g. HP OpenView, IBM Tivoli)

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JMX Monitoring Functionality
• Components from the system overview
• E.g. agents, database, cache, licenses, MQ, users, etc.
• Message Window (Console)
• Time stamp, severity, type, and internal message representation

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JMX Monitoring Architecture

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What can be monitored via JMX?

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Contact
Dave Kellermanns
Chief Automation Architect
dave.kellermanns@automic.com
+1 (720) 440-2838

33. Thank you!