CA IT Process Automation Manager
CA IT Process Automation Manager is a Run Book Automation tool from Computer Associates. It was acquired by CA when they purchased DC based Optinuity where it was known as Oasis.
Differences from other RBA tools
Unlike other Run Book Automation tools, ITPAM has a fully functional client (known as a Touchpoint). Whilst Microsoft Opalis also has an agent, but its Unix agent is not as functional as its Windows agents. The other main vendor tools only use their integrations with other tools to implement the defined processes.
The custom Operators (objects that make up Processes) can be two types; Calculations which are executed within the Orchestrator engine, these can be written in JavaScript. The other type is a TouchPoint script which can also include an inline script containing process level variables. This allows ITPAM to act as a central repository for scripts to be executed on remote systems. These scripts can be written in any scripting language.
The first change that CA made to the tool was to include eTrust Embedded Entitlements Manager. A fully functional entitlement engine for the resources defined to ITPAM allowing specific allocation of access to groups and users.
Components
ITPAM has an open architecture based upon Java Virtual Machines.
Orchestrator
The Server component is a Java Application that reads from the Process Library and executes the processes. The Orchestrators can be scaled sideways by adding more Orchestrators to handle the workload.
Process Library
The Process Library is the database containing the defined processes and operators. It can be Oracle, MS-SQL or DB2.
Process Designer
The GUI is a Java Web Start application used to define processes and create custom operators.
Operations Console
A web page containing the status of the Processes.
Bundles
ITPAM is currently bundled with CA Detacenter Automation Manager. It is expected that ITPAM will become the glue for all of CA's major software suites.
References
- IT Operations Run Book Automation, by David Williams, Gartner. May 4, 2007.