Tivoli Maestro

Automate batch jobs on your network

If you could schedule your nightly or weekend batch-processing jobs to run automatically, would you pay a computer operator to do the job? Tivoli Systems'Tivoli Maestro is network-based job management software that supports Windows NT and several UNIX systems. The software can schedule jobs on any computerparticipating in the scheduling. Maestro's operation is simple: Each day, thesoftware automatically selects the jobs that need to run and processes themaccording to various constraints (e.g., successful completion of a prior job orexecution after a certain time).

The Installation Process
Installing and using Maestro is simple for seasoned administrators. Iinstalled Maestro on my home-built, Micronics-based dual-Pentium II server. Icompleted the preinstallation steps, which Maestro's quick-start guide outlines.First, I created a special user and a local group for the software. Second, Igranted several advanced rights to the NT domain group I created. Then I ran thesetup program on my distribution CD-ROM and answered questions about the type ofinstallation I wanted, the account name I created during preinstallation, andthe name of my CPU.

Finally, I completed several post installation steps. After I logged on, I ran the Composer GUI program, which helps you tailor your Maestro environment and create job schedules. I added my CPU to the Maestro network, and defined a schedule to run a sales report from my order entry system. Screen 1 shows the Maestro Composer dialog box you use to set up a schedule.

During my test, Maestro recognized that the job couldn't start until thesoftware closed the order entry master file. After I properly configured my jobin Maestro's job queue, the software worked without a hitch.

Features and Flexibility
Systems administrators familiar with mainframe scheduling software willbenefit from Maestro's features and flexibility. Maestro's schedules, which thequickstart guide calls calendars, let you control how your systemexecutes jobs. The software recognizes different business schedules (e.g.,holidays) and executes jobs appropriately. For example, if your business isclosed on Christmas Day, Maestro cancels the sales report for that day. Maestroalso uses time constraints to control how jobs run. For example, you can set aspecific time to execute or end a job or a time to prevent a job from executing.

Error-free batch-processing environments don't exist. When you run batchjobs, one of them eventually generates an exception or an error that affectsprocessing. Maestro has a recovery feature that detects abnormally terminatedjobs. When a job terminates abnormally, Maestro analyzes the dependency tree(e.g., to run X, A and B must run first) and searches for other scheduled jobsthat the terminating job affects. If Maestro finds dependent jobs, the softwareputs these jobs on hold and simultaneously performs a recovery action (e.g.,alerts the operator that a job has terminated, automatically runs a recoveryjob, discontinues processing, reruns the offending job, or continues with thenext job in the queue).

The Maestro Composer program includes several tools to help you customizehow the software runs. For in-stance, the Options dialog box lets you controlwhen the job executes and what priority it has. The Follows Sched/Job dialog boxlets you specify a job or schedule that must complete successfully before thenext job executes. Other tabs let you control how the software provides userinput when it answers prompts from the job and which files and resources the jobrequires before it can execute.

Reasonable Pricing
Maestro's price is reasonable, considering the software's capabilities andthe time and savings you gain from automating your nightly or weekend batchprocessing. Computer operators earn $20,000 or more per year, so Maestro savesyou money in the long run.