Platforms and Operating Systems
JobScheduler can run on Windows and Linux operating systems. Other operating systems are supported to a limited extent, e.g. for use with JobScheduler Agents and for Agentless Scheduling. For supported platforms see the article Which platforms is JobScheduler available for and what platform support is provided?
Database Management Systems
JobScheduler uses a database to store the status of jobs, job chains and orders as well as job protocols and the job history. The database allows such information to be persistent, allowing, for example a job or order to be restored to its previous state after a JobScheduler restart or in case of failover.
User Interfaces
JobScheduler comes with the following user interfaces:
- JOC Cockpit
which provides a web-based interface for starting and monitoring jobs, job chains and orders in real-time. - JOE - JobScheduler Object Editor
which is used to manage JobScheduler objects such as jobs, job chains, orders, Schedules etc. - JOC - JobScheduler Operations Center (up to release 1.10)
which provides a web-based interface for starting and monitoring jobs, job chains and orders in real time. - JID - JobScheduler Information Dashboard (up to release 1.10)
which provides information about daily work plans - what will run today, what has been executed, what executions were late, what is scheduled for tomorrow etc.
Command Line Operation
The JobScheduler can be operated from the command line, allowing a wide range of operations to be carried out by an external application. This includes The PowerShell CLI provides the whole range of operations, a smaller subset is available for the Unix shell.
Start Times
Time events are one way of starting Jobs and Orders, with Start Times being set at a particular time of day, weekday, day of month etc. Start times can be single or repeating and can be grouped together in Schedules. Job scheduling activities can also be limited to Time-slots:
Logging
The JobScheduler creates a number of logs to provide specific information about jobs, job chains, orders, tasks and JobScheduler installation and operation.
Jobs, Job Chains and Orders
The JobScheduler's unique job and order concept includes the organization of jobs into job chains and the use of dependencies.
- Jobs are the basic unit for the processing of executable files (programs, scripts, commands etc.).
- Job Chains can be seen as an assembly line on which a number of job nodes are passed sequentially.
- Orders represent triggers that will cause a job chain to be started according to calendar events.
Scripting
The JobScheduler comes with a scripting interface that allows execution of scripts in languages such as JavaScript, etc.
- Languages that are supported by the Java javax.script package (ECMAscript compatible engines such as Rhino, Nashorn).
- Languages for Windows that are provided by PowerShell Jobs and VBScript Jobs.
- Scripts can be used to extend jobs by job scripts and monitor scripts and are a lightweight solution for individual control of processing behavior.
Error Handling
The JobScheduler comes with a number of methods for error handling. These include:
- stop a job: running orders have to wait for the job to become available
- suspend an order: the order waits to be resumed later on
- setback an order: make an order repeatedly try to continue processing after a predefined time interval
- make an order leave a job chain
- make an order continue processing with a specific job node for error handling
Event Handling
JobScheduler Event handling is a mechanism for implementing complex dependencies between jobs or between jobs and external events.
High Availability & Fault Tolerance
JobScheduler can be operated for high availability and fault tolerance. A number of options are available:
- Resilience includes measures for operational robustness that are intended to cope with outages.
- Redundancy provides fail-over capabilities in case of outages:
- A Passive Cluster including the set-up of a Primary JobScheduler and redundant Backup JobScheduler.
- An Active Cluster that allows the execution of jobs on distributed server nodes.
- The dynamic assignment of JobScheduler Agents on different server nodes.
- Recovery Strategies provide a set of measures to restore the scheduling service after an outage.
Cross-Platform Scheduling
JobScheduler uses two methods for remote execution: JobScheduler Agents and Agentless Scheduling per SSH.
Central Configuration
Central configuration allows the efficient distribution of configuration files from a central source to distributed JobScheduler instances by use of a Supervisor JobScheduler. The single point of configuration ensures accurate and punctual delivery of the configuration data to all instances.
Directory Monitoring and File Watching
JobScheduler offers two methods to start jobs and job chains automatically based on the arrival of incoming files.
- Directory Monitoring is used to automatically start jobs when a change occurs within a specified folder. Such changes include events for addition, modification and removal of files. For each event a job is executed that can handle the files associated with this event.
- File Watching is used to automatically start jobs and job chains when files arrive in a specified folder. For each file an order is created that triggers a job chain.
Managed File Transfer
JobScheduler provides two methods for managing the transfer of files: Both methods make use of the YADE implementation that comes with a number of unique features, see YADE - Features
Resource Contention Management
Process classes and locks can be used to manage the use of resources such as databases or printers:
- Process Classes:
- limit the number of jobs that are running concurrently.
- specify remote JobScheduler Workload instances and Agents on which jobs should be executed.
- Locks:
- limit the number of jobs that access common resources such as databases in parallel.
- allow mutually exclusive access, i.e. making jobs wait (without consuming any CPU) for a lock to be released.
Programming Interfaces
The JobScheduler comes with a number of powerful interfaces that are targeted at the following scenarios:
- implementing jobs and monitors that would e.g. check execution results and decide on specific actions. Such implementations often make use of the API Interface to check and manipulate JobScheduler Objects.
- developing individual programs and complex jobs, e.g. based on the Java API Interface, that would manipulate JobScheduler objects, e.g. create and submit orders from an individual application.
Notifications
JobScheduler comes with its own mail client which it can use to send notifying e-mails in the event of, for example, jobs ending in error.
Monitoring
JobScheduler can be monitored by System Monitors. Such products include e.g. HP OpenView®, Microsoft SCOM®, Nagios®, op5®, Opsview®, Zabbix® etc. As System Monitors are restricted to check the availability and performance of a monitored service the JobScheduler provides additional functionality for System Monitors to report on individual job failure and recovery. The JobScheduler Monitoring Interface can be used with any System Monitor that provides a command line tool for passive checks.
Maintenance Window Management
Maintenance Window Management ensures that for a given time slot no jobs shall be executed. JobScheduler supports a number of mechanisms to implement maintenance windows.
- Use of the
PauseandContinueoptions with the JOC GUI or the respective XML Interface commands<modify_spooler cmd="pause"/>and<modify_spooler cmd="continue"/>. - Script solution for Maintenance Window
- Use of Locks
- Use of Schedules
Localization
Language files are provided for the installation of JobScheduler and for most of its operating interfaces. The default language is English.
Reporting
The JobScheduler's reporting interface stores a configurable subset of job and order history information from any number of JobSchedulers in an open data model in a reporting database. This interface is intended to be used by users writing their own reports using pivot tables or SQL queries.
Build JobScheduler from the Sources
Our software is Open Source. Therefore users are able to compile the source code of the products. This is particularly useful if you use our products on platforms with limited support, see Which platforms is JobScheduler available for and what platform support is provided?
Migration and Integration
JobScheduler provides a number of features to map the functionality of other job scheduling systems. JobScheduler does not include any built-in capabilities for automated migration from legacy workload automation products. However, the SOS provides Migration Services for a smooth transition. There are integration scenarios that would allow JobScheduler to be operated with legacy scheduling products, e.g. by JobScheduler Agents.
GUI for Daily Work Plans - JID
The JID - JobScheduler Information Dashboard - interface provides information about daily work plans - what will run today, what has been executed, what executions were late, what is scheduled for tomorrow etc.
Operating and Monitoring GUI - JOC
The JOC web-based interface allows real time operation and monitoring of jobs, job chains and orders.
Editor for Creating and Managing JobScheduler Objects - JOE
JOE - the JobScheduler Object Editor is used to create and manage JobScheduler objects such as jobs, job chains, orders and schedules
Library of Standard Jobs - JITL
JITL - JobScheduler Integrated Template Library - is a set of standard jobs that is shipped with JobScheduler and can be easily parameterized for your environment.
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