Robot Automated Operations Solution Product Overview
Each product of the Robot Automated Operations Solution is designed to be a complete solution for its functional area and provide worry-free operation for your IBM® eServer™ iSeries™ system. The products automate a wide spectrum of iSeries operations functions. These include job scheduling and batch job management; system backup and recovery; report viewing, management, and distribution; message management; paging and e-mail; client operations management; performance monitoring and tuning; disk storage management; SNMP event and network device monitoring; network management; job accounting and chargeback; and power management.
Each product can work independently in its own operations management area, or the products can be used together to create a complete automation solution for the iSeries. Companies that use the Robot operations automation products save both time and money, and increase their productivity, because operations personnel are available to perform other tasks within the company instead of responding to common, everyday system issues.
Robot/ALERT
Robot/ALERT® sends pager, e-mail, and text messages in reaction to system events or from your programs. It allows your operators to attend to other tasks, knowing the iSeries will notify them if it needs assistance. Robot/ALERT interfaces with all the products of the Robot Automated Operations Solution. When a product needs assistance, it uses Robot/ALERT to send a message to the operator on duty. For example, when a console message requires an answer, Robot/CONSOLE sends the message to the operator. Robot/SCHEDULE sends a message when an important job fails. Robot/SAVE uses Robot/ALERT to notify the operator when it needs help to complete a backup.
Robot/ALERT works with any communications line; an IBM-compatible modem or TCP/IP. It can send messages to any device—cell phone, PDA, pager, laptop, or PC—and supports the protocols of more than 90 paging services throughout the world. You can send and receive all types of messages, including two-way messaging, or e-mail with attachments. Robot/ALERT also sends SNMP traps to a trap manager. Use a Robot/ALERT broadcast list to send the same message to all devices in the list. You also can use Robot/ALERT's Robot Browser Interface to send messages using a Web browser.
Robot/AUTOTUNE
Robot/AUTOTUNE® monitors and tunes your iSeries server for maximum performance. It monitors a single iSeries system, or an entire network, for performance problems and tunes each system according to the priorities you specify using the techniques you would use if you had the time. Robot/AUTOTUNE uses dynamic pools to isolate batch jobs in their own pool, minimizing the impact of these jobs on other users. It monitors CPU-intensive interactive jobs and converts them to batch jobs for the duration of the job. It also manages job queues so that all jobs in all queues have the opportunity to process. Robot/
AUTOTUNE monitors system performance across a network and alerts you if it identifies a performance problem. You can display network performance statistics on a Windows PC to see a system in trouble
at a glance. Robot/AUTOTUNE also provides summary and detail reports to help justify equipment upgrades.
Robot/CLIENT
Robot/CLIENT® is a client event manager that integrates Windows and UNIX servers into your iSeries procedures. Because the iSeries is the most sophisticated and reliable business computer available, using it to automate the operations of attached clients and non-iSeries servers makes sense. Robot/CLIENT provides the key two-way communication necessary for complete server automation.
Use Robot/CLIENT to initiate server tasks from iSeries programs and receive a completion status; monitor critical server applications or services; e-mail your clients; and manage upgrades from a central location. Robot/CLIENT allows client systems to pass status information to iSeries servers; send messages using Robot/ALERT; send job completion statuses to Robot/SCHEDULE, triggering a reactive job; and send a message to any iSeries message queue. It also works with Robot/SAVE to back up attached client systems to the iSeries.
Robot/CONSOLE
Robot/CONSOLE® automates message, resource, and log management for the iSeries. It monitors console messages, critical resources, FTP requests, the security audit journal, and the system history file (QHST). You create message sets that tell Robot/CONSOLE how to handle each type of message. Robot/CONSOLE suppresses useless messages that no one needs to see; forwards important messages to an expert; replies to certain messages automatically; and alerts you to conditions that require assistance, such as paper-out or tape-mount messages. Robot/CONSOLE can perform recovery procedures automatically and works with Robot/ALERT to notify an operator when necessary.
Robot/CONSOLE features OPerator Assistance Language® (OPAL®), which allows you to write procedures to process iSeries messages. You can use OPAL code to check the contents of message variables and decide on the action to perform based on those variables: execute commands, call programs, cancel a job, or call for help. In addition, Robot/CONSOLE maintains detailed message and reply history records so you always know how each message was handled. Robot/CONSOLE works closely with the other Robot products to automate product-specific messages.
Robot/CPA
Robot/CPA® is Help/Systems' powerful iSeries accounting package. Use its auditing and reporting options to organize and monitor iSeries data collection, and track CPU, printer, forms, and disk space use. Robot/CPA lets you gather usage statistics, generate and customize reports from these statistics, and predict future needs using its query system. Automated pricing options allow you to establish rates for printing, batch jobs, interactive jobs, and disk usage on a one-time or recurring basis. You can tailor these rates using discounts or surcharges based on time of day, account numbers, or resources used. Complete the picture with Robot/CPA's billing options to generate invoices at regular intervals.
Robot/NETWORK
Robot/NETWORK® is network management software that monitors an iSeries network containing Host and Node systems. Host systems provide instructions to Node systems so they can operate independently and unattended. Robot/NETWORK sends statuses to the Host system from each networked product and user application to notify you of any problems on the network. You can escalate statuses from a Node through a chain of Hosts. The Robot/NETWORK Status Center allows you to monitor the entire network from a single PC. Individual systems or distribution lists of multiple systems display graphically, as icons, in a network tree, allowing you to see immediately which system requires attention and to respond quickly to problems anywhere in your network. Robot/NETWORK works with TCP/IP communications, all Help/Systems products, other applications, and enterprise monitoring packages that communicate using SNMP traps (including Tivoli Enterprise Console®, HP OpenView®, Micromuse Netcool®, BMC® PATROL® Enterprise Manager, and CA Unicenter®).
Robot/REPLAY
Robot/REPLAY®, a plug-in for Robot/SCHEDULE®, automates the interactive processes used to submit jobs. You start Robot/REPLAY and then submit your job as you always do. Robot/REPLAY records the interactive screen images and the information you enter into those screens and stores them in a Replay object. You schedule the Replay object as a Robot/SCHEDULE job. When the job runs, the Replay object mimics your keystrokes to run the application. Robot/REPLAY can handle dynamic values, such as dates, by using Robot/SCHEDULE reserved command variables. You can edit, copy, and replace values recorded in the Replay object—and even specify which device to use—so your interactive jobs run unattended, reliably, and on time.
Robot/REPORTS
Robot/REPORTS® automates report management through report bursting, bundling, distribution, and archiving, making it the complete solution to iSeries report management. Robot/REPORTS bursts reports automatically, creating report segments that contain just the information each recipient requires. It bundles reports by recipient and prints each bundle at the nearest network printer. Robot/REPORTS maintains a complete report archive based on the strategy you define. Keep reports online for instant access, in short-term archive for easy restoration, or in long-term storage for permanent records. Robot/REPORTS maintains a complete history of every report and the users who access it.
Secure online report viewing saves thousands of dollars a year in printing costs, by allowing users to customize their reports and see just the information they need. Robot/REPORTS works with Robot/CLIENT and Robot/ALERT to e-mail reports automatically, in PDF or HTML format, to recipients anywhere in the world. Users can view reports online using their choice of three interfaces: Web-based (the Robot Browser Interface), PC, or green screen. In addition, Robot/REPORTS offers OPAL (OPerator Assistance Language), allowing you to write simple procedures to execute programs and commands based on information found in the report.
Robot/SAVE
Robot/SAVE® is a comprehensive backup and recovery system for the iSeries. It automates the functions of backup, system restoration, media management, and multiple-system data center management. Robot/SAVE backs up libraries, objects, active Domino databases, IFS files, and PCs using the same easy-to-use procedures and strategies. Its customized media management procedures eliminate tape-handling errors, and data center management lets you share volume data across multiple iSeries systems.
When you need to recover from an unexpected event, Robot/SAVE guides you through the restoration. It determines the most efficient order to restore libraries to minimize tape mounts and rewinds and lets you restore your entire system with the touch of one key. Robot/SAVEʼs object archive allows you to restore individual libraries, files, objects, source members, Domino databases, or documents. If a PC needs restoring, Robot/SAVE offers the same reliable information to help you restore just a few files, or entire directories.
Robot/SAVEʼs Restricted State Utility (RSU) allows you to schedule commands to run unattended while your system is in a restricted state. Using RSU, you can run your restricted state backups (SAVSYS and NONSYS), or any command that must be run in a restricted state, unattended.
Robot/SCHEDULE
Robot/SCHEDULE® automates the operator duties of job scheduling and batch management. With Robot/SCHEDULE, you can schedule jobs based on time patterns or react to events on any system in a network. Robot/SCHEDULE can run jobs on specific dates, at specified intervals, or according to calendars youʼve defined. Even if you donʼt know exactly when a job should run, Robot/SCHEDULE can follow a checklist and run the job when all prerequisites are met. When your schedule has eccentricities, Robot/SCHEDULE lets you set up special schedules that override other scheduling options. In addition, Robot/SCHEDULE offers OPAL (OPerator Assistance Language) so that you can create your own advanced scheduling options that exactly fit your needs. You also can group jobs so that they run as a procedure. Robot/SCHEDULE is a powerful job scheduler that provides reliability and consistency to your iSeries—whether you have just one or an entire network. Robot/SCHEDULE also interfaces with Robot/CLIENT to provide enterprise scheduling for your Windows and UNIX servers.
Robot/SPACE
Robot/SPACE® monitors system objects that grow quickly, such as database files, access paths, directories, and journal receivers. It collects total disk used by each ASP, and temporary storage used by each job. If an ASP or job exceeds its specified threshold, Robot/SPACE notifies you. The Critical Storage Investigator (CSI) is a problem-solving tool that helps you quickly identify rapidly growing objects and jobs that devour temporary storage, which can cause storage levels to spike. Robot/SPACE also provides over 20 powerful storage audits that can clean up your system automatically. Its collected object and ASP statistics predict future object size and disk needs, based on growth history, saving you valuable analysis time.
Robot/TRANSFORM
Robot/TRANSFORM® converts OS/400 spooled files and IFS files to Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). It preserves—in full color—all logos, images, fonts, and barcodes created by spooled file forms packages that generate ASCII, PCL, AFP, and SCS output. Robot/TRANSFORM converts OS/400 and forms package output natively on the iSeries so a separate server for file conversions is not necessary. Attach the PDFs to e-mail and display them on any laptop, PC, or PDA running the free Adobe Acrobat Reader software. Using Adobe Acrobat, all files converted by Robot/TRANSFORM can be indexed and allow for full text searches.
Robot/TRAPPER
Robot/TRAPPER® converts Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) event notifications, called traps, into iSeries messages and allows users to check the status of (ping) their network devices at regular intervals. Robot/TRAPPER displays SNMP trap messages and network device status messages via Robot/CONSOLE, which escalates messages according to your protocol. If a network device or application sends a critical trap or a device does not respond to a ping, you can react quickly to prevent operational crises. You can automate the response to a converted SNMP trap message by creating a Robot/CONSOLE message set using OPerator Assistance Language (OPAL).
Robot/TRAPPER works with Robot/NETWORK and Robot/CONSOLE to allow two-way SNMP traffic between the iSeries and an enterprise monitoring package (for example, Tivoli, HP OpenView, Micromuse Netcool, BMC PATROL Enterprise Manager, or CA Unicenter).
Robot/UPS
Robot/UPS® monitors and reacts to power events that occur at your site. UPS hardware can protect your iSeries, but if the battery power runs out before power is restored, your system can go down and stay down for a long time. Robot/UPS is designed to take over as soon your iSeries switches to UPS battery power. It follows the schedule you've set up to power down your system gracefully. Robot/UPS sends warning messages, holds job queues, ends subsystems, and executes any other procedures you've specified. With plenty of battery time remaining on the UPS, it does a quick powerdown of the iSeries. When power is restored, Robot/UPS again takes over and reverses the actions it took during powerdown. It releases held job queues, restarts subsystems, and follows any other procedures necessary to restore your system to normal.
Robot/SCHEDULE EnterpriseOne Interface
The Robot/SCHEDULE EnterpriseOne Interface™ works with Robot/SCHEDULE, the automatic computer operator, job scheduler, and batch management system, to bring iSeries automation to EnterpriseOne jobs. The Interface allows you to schedule an EnterpriseOne Universal Batch Engine (UBE) job on the iSeries using Robot/SCHEDULE, see the true completion status of EnterpriseOne jobs, use Robot/SCHEDULE reactivity, and turn on logging for individual jobs. The EnterpriseOne Interface provides dynamic data selection, encrypts user profile and password information for increased security, interfaces with Robot/ALERT to notify an operator if a job fails, and copies log files to the iSeries to ease troubleshooting.
Easy View
Easy View™ offers programmers an easy way to view and change the contents of database files. Instead of using DFU or queries to access your database files, Easy View gives you a number of options that allow you to work with your data. If you're a programmer, Easy View makes it easy to check the changes a program has made, helping you debug your code. Easy View displays hex records in various formats, complete with field headings. You can exclude records you don't want to see, delete records, or modify records using relational operators to replace field values (including null values).
Updated March 20, 2006