HCL Workload Automation, Version 9.4

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Defining and scheduling new and classic jobs with dynamic capabilities

This scenario describes how you can use the new workstations with dynamic capabilities to run the jobs you created for the previous HCL Workload Automation workstations. To run these jobs on the new workstations, you must change only the workstation where you want the job to run. You can also define new job types. While the classic HCL Workload Automation job is a generic script or command, you can now define specific job types, such as database or Java™ jobs. To create this type of jobs, you do not need specific skills on the applications where the job runs.

Business Goal

An insurance company runs a number of jobs at night to save the data processed during the day to the backup database. It must also gather all of the data related to the transactions completed during the day from all the workstations in the company branches. They use DB2® databases. Using the Workload Designer, they create a job to perform a database backup and another job to extract the data for the daily transactions. To perform these operations, they use the new database job type.

After gathering data from all the company workstations, they copy the resulting data on a single workstation and process it to generate a report. They choose the best available workstation dynamically by defining the requirements necessary to run the job: a workstation with Windows operating system installed, low processing workload, and the program required to generate the report.

The report highlights how many new contracts were signed and how many customers are late with their payments. A mail is sent to the chief accountant, listing the number of new contracts and late customers. A mail is also sent to the secretaries with the name of the late customers for each branch, so they can write them a letter pointing out the delay in the payment.

If the administrator does not want to modify the job stream he used in the past to run a Java job, he can, for example, modify the name of the workstation where he wants the job to run, inserting the name of a pool or dynamic pool of dynamic agents where the Java executable is installed. HCL Workload Automation translates the syntax of the job so that it can be run by the Java executable and assigns the job to the best available resource in the pool.

The company can reach this objective, by:
  • Using the new workstations with dynamic capabilities to run the jobs the administrator created for the previous HCL Workload Automation workstations, the administrator changes only the workstation where he wants the job to run. The major advantage is that he can use the workflows he previously created without additional effort.
  • Defining the job types listed without having specific skills on the applications where the job runs:
    • Database jobs
    • File transfer jobs
    • Web services jobs
    • Java jobs
These job types run on the new workstations:
dynamic agents
Workstations capable of running both classic and new job types.
pools
Groups to which you can add dynamic agents depending on your needs. Jobs are assigned dynamically to the best available dynamic agents.
dynamic pools
Groups of dynamic agents for which you specify your requirements and have HCL Workload Automation select the dynamic agents which meet your needs. Jobs are assigned dynamically to the best available dynamic agent.

Roles

This section lists the user roles needed to run the scenario:
HCL Workload Automation Administrator
Manages the workload by creating and modifying jobs.
HCL Workload Automation Job Scheduler
Manages the workload by submitting and monitoring jobs.

Software requirements

The following software must be installed and configured, before running this scenario:
  • A HCL Workload Automation network with the Dynamic Scheduling capability.
  • A Dynamic Workload Console

Setting up the environment

Complete the tasks described in Setting up your environment for dynamic scheduling.

Running the Scenario

To complete this scenario, you need to perform the following operations:

About this task

  • Create a database job
  • Create a dynamic pool with the following requirements:
    • Windows operating system installed
    • Program required to generate the report
    • Low processing workload
  • Modify an existing job stream so that it can run on an dynamic agent.
To create a database job, perform the following steps:

Procedure

Log on to the Dynamic Workload Console and launch the Workload Designer.
  • To create a database job, perform the following steps:
    1. In the Working List pane, select New ↦Job Definition ↦
    2. Select Database.
    3. Fill in the fields as necessary.
  • To modify an existing job stream so that it can run on an dynamic agent, perform the following steps:
    1. Click Search ↦ Job Stream and type the name of the job stream you want to modify.
    2. Select the job stream and click Edit. The job stream is displayed in the right pane.
    3. Click the Browse icon next to the Workstation field. The Lookup panel is displayed.
    4. Search for the workstation where you want the job to run, select it and click OK.
    5. Save the job stream. A new job stream is created in the database.
    6. Optionally delete the previous job stream.

Creating a dynamic pool

About this task

To create a create a dynamic pool with the necessary requirements, perform the following steps:

Procedure

  1. Log on to the Dynamic Workload Console.
  2. From the navigation toolbar, select the entry for Administration > Workload Environment Design > Create Workstations.
  3. Select an engine and click Create Workstation. The Workstation properties panel is displayed.
  4. In the Workstation type menu, click the Dynamic Pool item. The layout of the panel changes slightly.
  5. Fill in the fields as necessary.
  6. Click Edit Requirements. The Requirements panel is displayed.
  7. Select the Windows check box.
  8. Add a logical resource you previously created where the required product is installed.
  9. Select the Workload Balance radio button.

Expected Results

You have created a job which performs operations on a database, a second job that is dynamically assigned to the best available dynamic agent and also modified an existing job stream with minimal effort to take advantage of dynamic scheduling functions.

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