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Architecture
CONTROL-M
Enterprise Controlstation supplies a GUI offering a unified interface to all platforms, eas-
ily managing cross-platform dependencies. This consolidated view of scheduling
information, active job information and exceptions enables control over the production
environment. Thus, businesses eliminate the need for platform-specific experts and
cross-training.
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CONTROL-M is part of a three-tier architecture that supports configurations driven by business requirements, not
technology limitations.
CRON
CRON is a single-tier scheduler that operates on Unix machines. The use of single-tier
technology guarantees high availability, since each exceptional situation affects only
the system experiencing the problem. Neither the network nor another system has to
run the schedule on any specific machine.
The downside of this system is that dependencies spanning more than one box cannot
be managed by the CRON scheduling tool, since each box is operating as a stand-alone
system. When an application requires a dependency, an external mechanism must be
used. Such mechanisms are usually developed and maintained by the user. Therefore,
the results of single-tier architecture are high administrative overhead and reduced system
reliability.
Additionally, with single-tier products there is no way to view and monitor the entire
environment. A box is stand-alone, and the user must log on to each box to determine
its schedule status.
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Reliability, Availability and Scalability
CONTROL-M
CRON
Data integrity relies on the availability of the machine on which CRON is running. If the
job definition files are corrupted, there is no easy method for recovery.
• The production scheduler must reside on each platform. Therefore, the configuration is
not flexible.
• Each new application must be added manually to every platform.
• There is no central repository for the information existing on the platforms.
• A box is stand-alone, and the user has to log on to each box to define and track jobs.
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The growing number of data center systems and platforms compounds the number of
critical situations encountered. CONTROL-M meets the challenge of handling all adverse
situations, scheduling modifications and execution bottlenecks.
Enterprise Controlstation automates and unifies task relationships, error and problem
correction, tracking and outcome verification. Businesses can then eliminate the cost and
impact on productivity caused by training personnel on specific platforms. Additionally,
the production workflow is not at risk when organizational changes occur or key personnel
are absent.
CRON
CRON is based on Unix command lines. It is therefore necessary to train specific staff
members about the use of various Unix operating systems.
Tasks and events on each platform have to be controlled and monitored individually.
This is a very complicated job, especially when dealing with large environments. Since
there are no common event-management tools, manual errors occur often and events
are overlooked.
In some cases, a front-end allows the user to switch between different windows displaying
various systems. However, these front-ends are no more than “face lifts”; the user still has
to move from window to window and does not receive a unified view of the entire produc-
tion environment.
Management-by-Exception
CONTROL-M
CRON
Users have to track jobs proactively, manually searching for exception events. To keep
the production environment active at all times, much time and effort must be put into
identifying and handling problems, making production slow and costly.
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Comprehensive Scheduling
CONTROL-M
The Enterprise Controlstation Windows NT GUI allows users to intuitively create and
maintain scheduling definitions. Dependencies can be drawn between relevant jobs.
Additionally, global job updates and creations can be performed and the jobs are then
arranged graphically. The Windows NT GUI allows users to view the job flow during
the definition stage. It is therefore possible to eliminate loops and verify that the correct
job flow has been created.
Scheduling capabilities
CONTROL-M can handle the most complex scheduling scenarios while reducing
maintenance resulting from constant growth and changes in the production environment.
Users can define scheduling references common to many tasks. For example, it is
possible to define calendars that represent holidays or work periods for the organization.
These calendars can then be used by several jobs.
The CONTROL-M AutoEdit feature is an automatic setup facility that handles batch
process modifications. The AutoEdit facility can handle even the most complex situations.
The AutoEdit facility can perform tasks such as simple expression and calculation assign-
ment, and comparison of values. Before CONTROL-M submits a task, the product ana-
lyzes and passes the resulting values to the AutoEdit script.
External events such as file events are coordinated using CONTROL-M tasks. Addition-
ally, CONTROL-M provides full support for ad hoc tasks. When an unplanned task is
to be submitted, the product manages the task in the same way that regularly scheduled
tasks are managed.
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Result processing
CRON
Job definitions in CRON require detailed knowledge of Unix in general and scripting
specifically. Users must employ Unix editing tools (most commonly “vi”) to create job
definitions.
There is no graphical tool to view the job definitions. Therefore, the only way to be
certain that the flow is correct is to submit a job definition and then correct the resulting
errors. Each job is defined separately. When updates need to be made, only one job
definition can be edited at a time.
Since it is not possible to perform advanced error handling through CRON, users manually
manipulate code in order to handle potential events. This causes a large amount of mainte-
nance overhead.
CRON
CRON has a single-tier architecture. Therefore, each scheduler must reside on its own
machine and contain its own database. Since there is no integration between the schedul-
ers on the various machines, it is not possible to transfer jobs from one machine to the
other, even if one machine has a heavy workload.
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About BMC Software
BMC Software is the world’s leading provider of management solutions that ensure the
availability, performance and recovery of companies’ business-critical applications. We
™
call this application service assurance , and it means the applications you and your cus-
tomers rely on most stay up and running around the clock. For more than 19 years, the
world’s leading companies have relied on BMC Software.
BMC Software is among the world’s largest independent software vendors, is a Forbes
500 company and is a member of the S&P 500, with fiscal year 1999 revenues exceeding
$1.3 billion. The company is headquartered in Houston, Texas, with offices worldwide.
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For more information visit
BMC Software on the Web at
www.bmc.com