Monitoring Enterprise Systems › Outboard Automation

Outboard Automation

Two types of automation-inboard and outboard-must be implemented to monitor systems most efficiently. Inboard automation is performed locally and involves actions on the local platform. Outboard automation provides a much more comprehensive type of automation that targets exceptions and the most critical problems. Outboard automation does not replace inboard automation, but complements it. Inboard automation products such as CA OPS/MVS on the z/OS platform can manage 90% or more of all messages, leaving exceptions and critical messages that require further analysis and action for outboard automation. Outboard automation is a primary feature of CA Automation Point.

The following illustration depicts the inboard/outboard automation concept:

As you read the following sections and view the illustrations, keep in mind the following questions concerning CA Automation Point and its outboard automation capabilities.

• Can CA Automation Point connect to all of the platforms that need to be monitored? How do you make these connections?
• Can CA Automation Point control mainframe HMC (processor) consoles as well as operator consoles?
• Can CA Automation Point manage non-CPU devices such as computer room environmental systems through RS232 connections?
• How are host console images displayed and controlled by CA Automation Point?
• Can you use CA Automation Point to replace and consolidate existing consoles?
• Can CA Automation Point analyze and respond to events that occur on the hosts it is connected to?
• Can CA Automation Point read console messages, run them though automation for possible action, and issue commands to the various host systems where necessary? If so, how does it do this?
• Does CA Automation Point allow remote access so that you can monitor the various hosts from a dial-up connection or web browser?
• Can you issue remote commands to control the hosts?
• What kind of authentication is required before permitting remote access, and how is that security administered?

When you have finished reading this chapter, you not only will have learned the answers to these specific questions, but you also will be aware of a solution to the broader problem of how to simplify the complexity of your enterprise environment and meet your monitoring needs.