Following a successful MMS event a few weeks ago, where we demonstrated the process automation and integration capabilities of Opalis, we are pleased to announce the availability of Opalis Integration server 6.2.2 Service Pack 1 (SP1).  This latest service pack demonstrates our commitment to maintaining and delivering cross platform and cross vendor tool integration and includes an enhanced Integration Pack for Unix, improvements to ease of use with out of the box best practices, and a comprehensive library of pre-built workflows that plug into Opalis Integration Server 6.2.2 SP1.

Opalis provides a script-free environment to standardize and automate IT management best practices such as incident testing and triage, change control and approval, pre-and-post patch coordination and virtual lifecycle management, by integrating your System Center tools with 3rd party infrastructure and management systems.  Read more about the capabilities of Opalis here.  

Don’t forget, as a Server Management Suite Enterprise or Datacenter (SMSE/D) customer with active software assurance, you are eligible to the Opalis grant, which includes Opalis Integration Server 6.2.2 and over 25 integration packs.  If you do not already own Opalis, you can download a 180 day trial key.

The key enhancements delivered in SP1 include:

  • Operator Console Installer Script - expedites installation and configuration of the web-based Operator Console
  • Hotfix rollup - improves reliability and performance of the workflow activities that ship with Opalis Integration server as well in the HP OpenView Operations Integration Packs
  • Unix Integration Pack - a set of workflow activities to run programs as well as monitor and manipulate files in Unix systems (supports HP/UX, Solaris, and RedHat Linux)
  • Authoring & Workflow Examples - a library of pre-built and documented workflows for Opalis Integration Server

Operator Console Installer Script

This has been a highly requested item since the Operator Console currently provides no installer in 6.2.2. The script provided in SP1 allows users to go through a command-line wizard to install the operator console. Customers will still be required to download the pre-requisite components but will not have to find the nested folder locations for copying the files to the right folders. The wizard also configures all XML elements in the Operator Console for connecting to the Opalis Database and to Active Directory. The Operator Console Installer script also provides useful File, Computer, and Active Directory browsers for easily finding the locations of the components required to install the Operator Console.

Hotfix rollup

SP1 includes a set of hotfixes for issues experienced by customers in production. The following changes are in the rollup.          

  • FIXED: Monitor File and Monitor Folder may lose events when large sets of files (5,000+) are dropped into a folder at the same time.
  • FIXED: Monitor File and Monitor Folder objects do detect changes after losing connectivity to the monitored computer.
  • FIXED: Monitor File object does not detect files when using wildcards for two file name patterns.
  • FIXED: Published Data File Name is not present in the Monitor File object.
  • FIXED: Operator Console URL Trigger always returns an error when being called from a remote or local system.
  • FIXED: Integration Pack for HP OpenView Operations (Windows) causes a memory leak in java.exe.
  • FIXED: Integration Pack for HP OpenView Operations (UNIX) is not compatible with the Solaris agent.

Unix Integration Pack

The Unix Integration Pack includes a set of Activities that allow you to run programs as well as monitor and manipulate files in Unix systems. The Unix Integration Pack supports HP/UX, Solaris, and RedHat Linux. Added to the Unix Integration Pack for this release is the ability to securely connect to the daemon that runs on Unix computers.

Authoring & Workflow Examples

This release includes the first version of a library of pre-built and documented workflows for Opalis Integration Server called the Opalis Workflow Catalog.  These workflows (and their supporting documentation) are designed to help the community of Opalis users understand the basics of Workflow Authoring and solution design.  The workflows are available on the TechNet Blog for Opalis (http://blogs.technet.com/opalis) under the link “Workflow Authoring Examples & Samples” (http://blogs.technet.com/opalis/pages/workflow-authoring-examples-and-samples.aspx). Community blogging, incremental sample improvements, and periodic additions to the catalog are all expected as part of this exciting expansion of TechNet content.

There are two types of workflows provided in the Workflow Catalog: Authoring Examples and Workflow Samples. 

  • Authoring Examples are sample policies that demonstrate how to solve basic problems with the Foundation Activity Library and, where appropriate, Integration Packs. 
  • Workflow Samples are prototype starting-point solutions built from Foundation Activities and Integration Packs.

Included in this category are examples of interoperating with Microsoft System Center.  The Authoring Examples can generally be run by a user with little or no pre-configuration, many interactively in the Opalis Testing Console.  Documentation for each use-case describes workflow itself, what is required to make it functional as well as identifying aspects of its design that are important.  Many of these workflows can be used as a starting-point solution or simply as a “cut and paste” library of workflow structures to provide an easier workflow authoring experience.  Taken as a whole, the Opalis Workflow Catalog will improve the Customer and Partner Experience for authoring workflows because it provides easy to leverage examples of how to use Opalis to solve real problems.

Links to the Samples are in the lists below:

Workflow Samples (complex)

Authoring Examples (simple)

The Workflow Catalog examples can be found on the Opalis Team Blog at http://blogs.technet.com/opalis/pages/workflow-authoring-examples-and-samples.aspx and the import files for the Workflow Catalog can be downloaded from CodePlex at http://opalis.codeplex.com

Download Opalis Integration Server 6.2.2 SP1: http://www.opalis.com/download.asp-id=188

Download Opalis Operator Console Installer Script 1.0: http://www.opalis.com/download.asp-id=189