ActiveBatch V9 Workload Automation Solution Combines Virtual/Cloud Provisioning With Historical, Predictive Analytics
New features address evolving needs for SLA management; helps IT satisfy business policies automatically.
Note: ESJ’s editors carefully choose vendor-issued press releases about new or upgraded products and services. We have edited and/or condensed this release to highlight key features but make no claims as to the accuracy of the vendor's statements.
Advanced Systems Concepts, Inc. (ASCI) has released Version 9 of its ActiveBatch Workload Automation and Job Scheduling software that addresses the rise in both cloud computing and in service-level agreement (SLA) management by automatically and intelligently provisioning systems in advance of critical workflow execution, using an optimal mix of virtual and cloud resources.
IT organizations must be able to automate and manage both simple and complex workflows based on business policies in which virtual and cloud resources are automatically provisioned due to either a SLA-sensitive workflow or based on peak demand requirements in which many workflows are executing. ActiveBatch V9 delivers this by providing new functionality to allow users to set policies governing both the execution of workflows and the provisioning of workflow resources to ensure SLAs are being met. Finally, ActiveBatch V9 enables IT to deliver cost savings by allowing resources to be provisioned and de-provisioned based around workflow execution and completion.
ActiveBatch V9 delivers two new concepts to IT workload automation: automated server provisioning (the ability to provision virtual and cloud resources “on the fly” in real time) and scheduling analytics (merging historical and predictive analysis to ensure that the correct amount and combination of resources are available for executing SLA-critical workflows). Together, these concepts move job scheduling and workload automation forward from an era of static scheduling of jobs to one where workflows are managed based on business policies, operating demands, and resource availability.
Version 9 introduces several new capabilities:
- Smart queue: Allows ActiveBatch users to set business policies governing the allocation and use of workflow resources, then automatically set and utilize those resources as needed as workflows require
- Critical path analysis: For the most essential SLA-driven jobs and workflows, critical path delivers real-time analysis of such jobs as they are executing to ensure they have priority in the event of a delayp
- Compensating alerts and monitoring: This new class of system monitoring and alerts allows for alternative or compensating alerts and actions when workflows transition from failure to success, quickly notifies staff of an impending SLA breach, and notifies users of the appropriate action
- SLA reporting: A new, easy-to-read, graphical dashboard in Version 9 provides several reports that measure whether individual SLA requirements are being met
ActiveBatch Version 9 measures behavioral insight such as historical workflow performance, resource availability, and capacity to govern the execution of workflows and processes. First, it analyzes behaviors, triggers appropriate actions, and performs predictive analysis based on anticipated needs to manage, provision, and schedule jobs in real time, leveraging both cloud and virtual resources. As a result, enterprises can configure their virtual environments and/or public clouds minute-by-minute in an ever-changing, completely tailored environment.
To support its new virtual orientation, Version 9 also provides new Smart Queues to support cloud computing initiatives (Amazon EC2), virtualization (e.g., Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager and VMware).
ActiveBatch Version 9 is now available for licensing, as well as by automatic upgrade for companies participating in ASCI’s ActiveBatch Version Upgrade program. More information about ActiveBatch V9 is available at www.advsyscon.com.