AutoMate BPA Server 7 is a revolutionary advance in the automation of systems and applications across multiple-machine networks. No other automation software has the power and range of capabilities offered by AutoMate BPA Server, while also making automation so easy and intuitive.
White Paper:
AutoMate BPA Server 7 A major advance in the automation of systems and applications across multiple-machine networks Joe Kosco Chief Operating Officer Network Automation, Inc. 654 South Western Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90005 888-786-4796 networkautomation.com ABSTRACT AutoMate BPA Server 7 is a revolutionary advance in the automation of systems and applications across multiple-machine networks. No other automation software has the power and range of capabilities offered by AutoMate BPA Server, while also making automation so easy and intuitive. This whitepaper discusses the benefits it offers, as well as a detailed perspective on the underlying technology and architecture. BENEFITS Power and simplicity - most IT managers and professionals believe these qualities are mutually exclusive when it comes to automation software. Not so with AutoMate BPA Server because of its unique architecture and focus on intuitive interfaces for design and development. AutoMate BPA Server bridges the gap between power and simplicity. This is accomplished by logically separating high-level business process design from the intricate work of developing detailed automation tasks. At the high-level, AutoMate BPA Server provides intuitive workflow tools for creating and managing automated processes. Workflows serve two very important functions. First, they visually represent business processes and information flows so that non-technical managers and IT professionals can jointly see, understand, and even design their processes. Second, workflows contain all the information - the events and schedules that trigger automation; the tasks and machines that execute automation; and the conditions which control automation flow - that is necessary for their operation and management. In addition to workflows, AutoMate BPA Server provides an extensive array of tools for creating sophisticated tasks without the need for writing code. This speeds up application development while reducing required expertise, resulting in a vast reduction of costs. Furthermore, AutoMate BPA Server reduces the hassles and expense of maintaining code over the long haul. It is this approach - enterprise automation powered by workflows coupled with intuitive, "no code" task development - that separates AutoMate BPA Server from any other software product in the market. ARCHITECTURE AutoMate BPA Server is comprised of several components for complete enterprise automation, including server, agent, and development client. Server The server component of AutoMate BPA Server is the nerve center and repository of all information necessary for the management and control of automation. Server runs as a .NET service and stores objects in XML-format in an internal database, or optionally, in a connected database server such as Microsoft SQL Server. Server objects include workflows which are comprised of reusable objects also stored in the repository. These objects include tasks (which are detailed instructions for automation processing), conditions (which enable workflow initiation and decision-making), and flow controls (which relate workflows objects and enable conditional branching). In operation, the server is the multi-threaded communication hub between connected agents which are responsible for workflow execution and processing. A given server's capacity for automating agents is dictated by the number of client access licenses which can range from one to thousands of machines. To upgrade a server's capacity for automating more machines, additional client access licenses can easily be added. For development and management, clients connect to server over TCP/IP. These clients provide complete functionality for creating and editing workflows and tasks, managing users and agents, and accessing reports vital for administration of the automation network. Server Management Console The Server Management Console (or SMC) is the one-stop resource for centralized management and administration. User-Based Roles and Rights Users must log into SMC, and administrators can specify a given user's credentials, role, and rights. Options for roles include Developer (who create workflows, tasks, and conditions, as well as access objects from the Repository), Manager (who has the same rights as Developer plus the ability to promote objects from testing environments to production), ... [download for more]
