Tag: System Center Orchestrator

Forward alerts from SCOM 2007 R2 to SCOM 2012 via Orchestrator

If you are doing parallel upgrade from SCOM 2007 R2 to SCOM 2012 that means you have two SCOM environments. In such situation it will be difficult for support teams to work with two SCOM consoles. To ease that process Kelverion create a runbook from Orchestrator 2012 that will allow you to forward alerts from SCOM 2007 R2 to SCOM 2012. That way you can consolidate all alerts at one place. The best about this runbook is that Kelverion is offering it for free download. Download it from here.

Runbook Commander 2.0 released

Second version of this helpful tool is released. Here are the changes compared to version 1.0:

Support for Configuration Manager 2007 – RBC 2.0 now supports both Configuration Manager 2007 and 2012 Configuration Manager. Additionally when deploying Runbook Commander bundled with pre-created XML files the installer will determine what version on Configuration Manager Console is being used and appropriately stage the XML extensions files.

New XML Generator Tool – RBC requires custom XML files to be created for each environment. These XML files controll which Orchestrator Runbooks are available for execution from the Configuration Manager environment. The new XML Generator tool handles the XML creation for Configuration Manager 2007 and 2012 Configuration Manager. This tool now also allows saving off XML files for use in a pre-staged deployment (see next bullet point). Finally the XML GEN tool has been redesigned for an easier interactive experience.

New Installer – with RBC version 1, the installer basically staged the computer for use with RBC. It was then up to the individual to run the XML generator tool on each machine in order to create the console extension. Alternatively the XML files could have been manually (or scripted) copied to the appropriate location on the target computer. New to version 2, the console extensions XML files can be pre-created and then deployed with RBC allowing for a single and automated installation experience across many computers.

Replace XML Application – RBC 2.0 includes a new application that can be deployed to computers which will replace the console extensions XML. In the situation where new Runbooks need to be added to RBC or old Runbooks need to be removed from RBC, the custom XML would be created using the XML generator tool and then deployed to all machines with the Replace XML application. The replace XML application will appropriately replace the console extension XML and at next launch the Configuration Manager console will be loaded with the updated set of Runbooks.

Console Extensions to the Program Node – RBC Version 1 had support for consoles extensions for devices and collections. I had received a request to add programs which has been completed. I will add more console items as time permits with priority going to those requested.

Drop Down Lists – Added to version 2.0 is the ability to dynamically create drop down lists as parameter values. This will allow the Runbook administrator to provide a list of values on the actual Runbook. These values will then be available from RBC at execution time from the Configuration Manager console. I will detail the creation of these in the soon to complete full documentation.

Fixed IIS Paging Limitation – The Orchestrator Web Service contains a paging mechanism which allows only 50 Rubooks (or other objects) to be retuned at query time. With RBC V1.0 the XML Gen tool would not return all available Runbooks without making modification to the IIS Web Service application settings. The XML GEN 2.0 includes code that gets around the paging feature and will now present all Runbooks at execution time.

Removed Start Menu Shortcuts – As RBC is for the most part initiated from within the Configuration Manager console all start menu shortcuts have been removed. This does mean that if using the XML generator application you will need to navigate to the installation folder and execute directly. This process will be detail in the forthcoming configuration and deployment guide.

Download the new version from here.

Introducing SCVMM Service Templates and Datacenter Automation by Solution Accelerators Team

Update: As I wrote Microsoft is announcing two new Solution Accelerator beta programs for System Center products and now it is official at Microsoft SCVMM team blog.

Solution Accelerators Team in Microsoft is starting two new initiatives:

  • System Center Virtual Machine Manager Service Templates – Solution Accelerators Team will probably create a site where SCVMM service templates will be published and supported by Microsoft.  The first release will include templates for various Windows Server 2008 R2 and 2012 Roles – Domain Controller, DNS, DHCP, IIS and File Server. There will be also add-in for SCVMM that will be able to browse and download these service templates.
  • Datacenter Automation for the cloud  – From this initiative we will probably see scripts and runbooks for Orchestrator supported by Microsoft. The first solutions will be focused on SharePoint and Windows Server – Orchestrator Runbooks for quick SharePoint farm back-up and recovery scenario; Back up a Web application; Back up a service application; Trace logs; Checking Disk Space, CPU and RAM; Sharepoint WMI scan for perf/alerts; Scan for missing patches / WMI.

The two initiatives will start as beta programs on Microsoft Connect soon.

System Center 2012 Service Pack 1 Beta Integration Pack for FTP

New integration pack for System Center Orchestrator is being cooked. With this IP you will be able to execute activities from Orchestrator for FTP service in Windows Server 2008 R2 and 2012. The following activities are included in the IP:

  • Create Folder- the Create Folder activity is used in a runbook to create a folder on a FTP server.
  • Delete File- the Delete File activity is used in a runbook to delete a file on a FTP server.
  • Delete Folder- the Delete Folder activity is used in a runbook to delete a folder on a FTP server.
  • Download File- The Download File activity is used in a runbook to download a file from a FTP server.
  • List Folders/Files- the List Folders/Files activity is used in a runbook to list the folders and files in the specified folder path.
  • Rename File/Folder- the Rename File/Folder activity is used in a runbook to rename a file or folder on a FTP server.
  • Resume File Download- the Resume File Download activity is used in a runbook to resume a file download. This activity is only compatible with a FTP configuration.
  • Synchronize Folder/File- the Synchronize Folder/File activity is used in a runbook to perform a one way synchronization of a folder/File.
  • Upload File- The Upload File activity is used in a runbook to upload files to a FTP server.

 

You can download the IP from here.

Dell AIM Integration Pack for Microsoft System Center Orchestrator

The Integration Pack for Dell Advanced Infrastructure Manager (AIM) is an add-on for System Center Orchestrator 2012 that enables customer to automate procedures and processes in the Dell AIM environment. This version of Dell AIM IP (v2.0) supports only Orchestrator 2012 and works with AIM version.

 

Download from here.