2.7.1. Agent Definition

In the batch scheduling system, an Agent is referred to as any computer that is available to be used for running programs/applications that are scheduled to run.

Each agent computer MUST be running the Agent Program in order to function in the scheduling system. In addition, each agent MUST have its own unique agent name.

You must define each agent computer in the database that you want to make available for running jobs by the batch scheduler system.

There can be any number (up to your specific license limit) of agent computers defined in, and attached to, the batch scheduler system.

When the controller program determines that it is time to run a particular batch, the controller assigns an available agent and then 'sends' a job run request to that agent computer to run a program. The agent computer runs and monitors the requested program until the execution of the program is complete. The agent computer then 'sends back' to the controller that the program has finished, and also reports the return code status level that was returned by the program that was run.

The programs which you want to schedule to run MUST be accessible from the agent computer the job runs on.

Shown below is the Agent Definition screen.


Use this screen to create and maintain the set of agent computers defined in the batch scheduler database.

Menu options on this screen
Below is a description of the menu options available on this screen and what they are used for.

File
New Agent Ctrl+N
Adds a new Agent Definition to the batch scheduler database. When you select this action, a new Agent will be created and the Agent Details screen will be opened for editing.
Note: Once you have added an Agent to the database, you must then install a copy of the Agent Program on the agent computer (assigning the name just created), in order to schedule and run jobs on the new agent.

Open
Choose this option to open the selected Agent shown on the screen for editing. If the Agent is not checked out, you will be prompted to check out the Agent. A Agent must be checked out into a draft file in order to edit the Agent.

Check In
Check In changes you have made to a Agent Draft file.

Check Out
Copies the Agent Definition from the scheduling database into a Draft File for editing. When changes are complete, you must Check In your changes to the batch scheduler database in order for your changes to take effect.

Lock
Locks an Agent Definition. This can be used to prevent other users from changing the Agent definition.

Unlock
Unlocks an Agent Definition.

Get
Makes a copy of the Agent Definition stored in the database in a draft file location you specify.

Delete Agent Del
Deletes the selected Agent(s) shown on the screen. You will be prompted to verify the delete request.

Print
Prints the current set of Agent Definitions defined in the batch scheduler database.

Close Agent Definition Esc
Closes this screen.

Edit
Copy Ctrl+C
Use this option to make a copy of the currently selected objects shown in the display.

State
Enable/Disable
Use this option to Enable or Disable a Agent definition. A Agent cannot run in the system unless it is Enabled.

View
Refresh F5
Refreshes the information displayed on the screen.

Select
This option allows you to set criteria to limit the number of objects that are shown on the display.

Show All Folders
This option will cause all folders to be shown on the screen. For organization purposes, each object can be placed into a Group Folder. When you double click on a folder, only the objects in that folder will be displayed. You may drag/drop any object from one folder to another. The UpArrow folder can be used to show the ROOT folder. The root folder shows all object which have not been placed in a group folder.

Show Deleted Records
This option will cause any records in the system that are marked as deleted to be shown on the screen (Marked with X). To re-use a previously deleted record, you must edit it, and then use the Save As menu option to create a new object. Deleted records are only physically removed from the database using the Manager/Utilities/Cleanup Deleted Records menu option.

Goto
This option allows you to access any of the other manager screens. Choose any of the screen options to open the selected screen.

Window
Allows you to rearrange or access the current open windows in the Manager.

Help
Contents F1
Select this menu option to open this help documentation set.


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