Datacenters experience constant change under pressure from technology and business drivers. IT systems are becoming more, not less complex as new technologies are introduced, and IT staffs are not growing to keep pace with the growth in size and complexity of the typical datacenter. Windows administrators need to radically simplify both complex and routine tasks if they are going to effectively respond to the constant pressure to deliver increasing value with limited resources. The most effective thing Windows administrators can do to address this issue is to minimize duties associated with maintaining the existing infrastructure.
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Tidal Enterprise Scheduler
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Automate to Optimize: The Foundation for Data Center EfficiencyAutomate to Optimize - The Foundation for Data Center EfficiencyTidal Enterprise Scheduler and Microsoft Windows
Introduction & Purpose One Data center Operation that Data centers experience constant change Can Be Radically Simplifiedunder pressure from technology and business Data center operations are complex largely drivers. because of application and infrastructure IT systems are becoming more, not less complex diversity, and the many locations for storing and as new technologies are introduced, and IT staffs using scripts and automation process-knowledge are not growing to keep pace with the growth in in those environments. Choosing the tasks and size and complexity of the typical data center. functions to simplify through automation must WindowsT administrators need to radically be done carefully and with the right tools. For simplify both complex and routine tasks if they example, one area of data center operations are going to effectively respond to the constant that can yield large efficiency gains through pressure to deliver increasing value with limited automation is batch processing. resources. The most effective thing Windows Almost every IT group uses some form of batch administrators can do to address this issue is to processing. Batch processes are comprised of minimize duties associated with maintaining the many tasks and touch a variety of systems as they existing infrastructure. execute. Most IT groups use multiple schedulers There are several ways Windows administrators to drive batch processing in their environment, can create greater efficiencies in their daily tasks. which inherently creates inefficiencies but is This paper describes an automation solution better than no solution at all. Therefore batch that can significantly simplify many complex and processing presents Windows experts a great routine tasks, freeing Windows experts to focus opportunity for efficiency through simplification.on overall application functionality and value to Today, to automate batch processing IT the business. This solution is actually in use today groups use everything from simple scripts and within Microsoft's own data center. rudimentary scheduling products included in particular point solutions up to more powerful job schedulers. The challenge for many organizations, and therefore the opportunity for efficiency gains, arises out of the fact that each batch processing solution requires its own expertise and each system ends up getting integrated separately and running as a silo, making it impossible for one person to manage the process from end-to-end.To get a clearer picture of this in the Windows world let us take a look at what standard approaches that most Windows administrators use today.White Paper
The Windows Administrator and Batch It is a tradeoff between the security risk of Processing Automation storing clear-text credentials, or depending on Windows administrators will be familiar with humans to run repetitive or iterative tasks.these Windows-centric ways to automate and the When steps can be automated, the tasks and inherent problems: the logic surrounding execution such as triggers, . Custom integration by branching from one conditions, and calendars must be custom coded, environment to another, such as calling often for each individual task. a SQL script from a batch file using the Furthermore, task tracking must be custom-SQL command line executable, or calling a coded into the tasks themselves, complicating batch file from a SQL script. This approach code maintenance. Tracking of run status and uses heavy custom scripting, is difficult to success or failure results are required both maintain, is difficult to document, and has for orchestration itself as well as compliance no clear best-practices. reporting. Central storage of task output, if required, must be manually coded and placed into . Using Windows Task Scheduler. This tool a file system or custom database. Encrypting this does not currently handle workflows or often-sensitive data for transit is an advanced complex calendars. Even in the "Vista" development project, so when data is retained, release it will only runs batch files, very often it is transmitted and stored insecurely.executables, or send em... [download for more]
