A duty can be any command or series of commands or scripts that could be
entered at the command prompt. System managers first define which operational
tasks need to be performed and when, then set up the appropriate tasks as
duties within COSduty-SSA. Duties and tasks may be:
Scheduled – the operator is prompted to perform
the task
Automatic – the duty is performed automatically
at the scheduled time
At-request – the operator must explicitly initiate the task
What is a runbook?
The
traditional datacenter runbook is a written set of procedures for
both the routine and exceptional operation of systems for use by
operators and administrators. It is effectively a repository of
skills and knowledge, expressed as a set of procedures which have
been found to be reliable and therefore documented and available for re-use.
A paper-based runbook may be conveniently automated by using COSduty-SSA
duties to store the procedures which may then be easily run at the
click of a button.
Many organizations use COSduty-SSA in this way. Sun
Microsystems offers a commercial software product called the
i-Runbook of which the Automated Edition uses COSduty-SSA to
provide the automated functionality.
Can superuser and administrator functions be delegated securely?
Yes. Even tasks requiring superuser capability can be
delegated securely without
giving root access - systems can be managed effectively and securely, without
the need for anyone to have root access.
What can COSduty-SSA do for me?
For network and system managers: COSduty-SSA's
interactive duties ensure reliable operations by presenting prioritized
lists of tasks in a consistent, easy-to-use format. It allows better allocation
of resources through scheduling and powerful delegation of tasks.
For administrators: COSduty-SSA frees
experienced staff to concentrate on high-value activities. It allows repetitive
or complex tasks to be delegated to less-experienced staff through an
easy-to-use interface.
For operations staff: COSduty-SSA provides a dynamic checklist
that shows the status of tasks in progress and reminds operators when
tasks are due for execution. Overdue tasks are flagged, and
color-coding of tasks allows
at-a-glance monitoring.
The systems and operations team is distributed nationwide; can all
the duties they perform be managed centrally?
Yes, tasks may be run locally or on another host, allowing the complete
duty schedule for a network to be centralized.
What will my help-desk or operators see when they log in?
Users of COSduty-SSA will begin a session by seeing their predefined
duty view. In effect a list of
scheduled, prioritized duties to perform. The user can then be confined
to this environment with each duty being presented for completion. In this
way, all duties that need to be carried out can be enforced.
How can I keep control of so many operations staff and their respective
duties?
Apart from using a duty view
to view all outstanding duties, all duties are fully audited. The
audit-record can be queried
at any time with SQL-like commands to answer such questions as "which
duties did not complete successfully?" and "which duties have not
been performed?"
How does COSduty-SSA help me manage my team of
system administrators and operators?
Interactive duties ensure reliable operations by presenting prioritized
lists of tasks in a consistent,
easy-to-use format.
It allows better allocation of resources through scheduling and delegation
of tasks.
Can COSduty-SSA really free up my people?
Yes. COSduty-SSA frees experienced staff to concentrate on high-value
activities. It allows routine and repetitive tasks to be delegated to less-experienced
staff by hiding the complexity of operating systems.
Do I have to use COSduty-SSA with other OSM COSMOS products?
No. Installation of other products from the COSMOS operations management
suite is not a prerequisite for installing COSduty-SSA. However, when
combined with other COSMOS products, its functionality is augmented and
enhanced to new levels of control and automation.
How do I best implement COSduty-SSA?
Knowledge of your organization’s operational business policies and procedures
is key. Armed with this information, you can set about automating tasks,
delegating duties through encapsulating commands and procedures.
I already have batch job scheduling software, why do I need COSduty-SSA?
COSduty-SSA is a management tool for scheduling tasks and duties
over a network of UNIX systems. Whereas a job scheduler, such as OSM’s
COSbatch, automates background
jobs and tasks, COSduty-SSA concentrates on the foreground, people-based
tasks.
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