Cisco Cisco Workload Automation 6.3 User Guide
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Controlling Production
Agent Lists in CWA
2.
Double-click the queue whose filters you want to view, or right-click and from the context menu select Edit Queue.
The Queue Definition dialog displays.
The Queue Definition dialog displays.
3.
Click the Filters tab. The filters associated with this queue are listed in the Filters field.
Agent Lists in CWA
About Agent Lists
An agent list is any set of licensed nodes in your network. You can assign jobs to run using agent lists similar to the way
you assign them to individual agents. With agent lists, however, you have access to useful functions not available with
individual agents. You can specify alternate agent(s) to run your jobs if the primary agent is unavailable, you can balance
the workload of many jobs among the agents in the list, or you can broadcast jobs to run on all the machines in the agent
list at the same time.
you assign them to individual agents. With agent lists, however, you have access to useful functions not available with
individual agents. You can specify alternate agent(s) to run your jobs if the primary agent is unavailable, you can balance
the workload of many jobs among the agents in the list, or you can broadcast jobs to run on all the machines in the agent
list at the same time.
The master does not pick an agent from the agent list assigned to a job until that job is ready to run. Because the agent
is not assigned to a job until the last minute, if a user looks at a Job Details dialog before the job runs (e.g., the job is in
a Waiting on Dependencies state), the Agent field on the Override tab is empty. The master does not select an agent
from the agent list displayed in the Agent List
is not assigned to a job until the last minute, if a user looks at a Job Details dialog before the job runs (e.g., the job is in
a Waiting on Dependencies state), the Agent field on the Override tab is empty. The master does not select an agent
from the agent list displayed in the Agent List
field until the job’s dependencies are met and the job is ready to run. Once
the job is submitted to run and the agent is selected, the name of the agent displays in the Agent field. If the job reruns,
the master may assign a different agent from the agent list according to the demands of the production schedule. If you
make a change to the Agent field, then the Agent List field is cleared since you, not the agent list, are selecting the agent.
the master may assign a different agent from the agent list according to the demands of the production schedule. If you
make a change to the Agent field, then the Agent List field is cleared since you, not the agent list, are selecting the agent.
CWA supports Windows, Unix, z/OS (formerly MVS or OS/390) and O/VMS agent platforms, but you cannot combine
agents of different platform types in one agent list.
agents of different platform types in one agent list.
Types of Agent Lists
Ordered Agent List —You can use an ordered agent list to provide alternative agent(s) in case the primary agent is
not available when a job is ready to run. When there is a network or machine failure on the primary agent, the job is
automatically routed to the next available alternate agent in the list. Agents are tried in the order that they appear in
the list until an operational agent is found. The primary agent is always the first in the list. Alternative agents follow
the primary agent.
not available when a job is ready to run. When there is a network or machine failure on the primary agent, the job is
automatically routed to the next available alternate agent in the list. Agents are tried in the order that they appear in
the list until an operational agent is found. The primary agent is always the first in the list. Alternative agents follow
the primary agent.
Broadcast —Simultaneously runs a job on every agent in the list. For example, you might use a broadcast list to
backup each machine’s files.
backup each machine’s files.
Workload Balancing —You can use workload balancing to distribute jobs evenly among all the agents in the list.
There are three kinds of agent lists that support workload balancing:
There are three kinds of agent lists that support workload balancing:
—
Balanced —Launches jobs on the agent which currently has the lightest load. Use this type of list with CWA
agents on platforms that provide load information.
agents on platforms that provide load information.
—
Rotation —Launches jobs by selecting agents successively. When the end of the agent list is reached, CWA
starts at the beginning of the list again.
starts at the beginning of the list again.
—
Random —Launches jobs by selecting agents randomly. Use this type of list to approximate workload balancing
with remote shell agents.
with remote shell agents.
Agent List Hierarchies
You can manage your agent lists by placing them into hierarchies of parent agent lists and child agent lists. A job using
a parent agent list uses all agents belonging to the child agent lists.
a parent agent list uses all agents belonging to the child agent lists.