50507 - Designing IT Process Automation with Opalis Integration Server

Course 50507

*Elements of this syllabus are subject to change.

This 300-level, three-day, instructor-led course gives students the knowledge on how to implement IT process automation using Opalis Integration Server (OIS).

Audience
This course is intended for Enterprise Systems Engineers, Administrators and System Integrators who need to implement a Dynamic Datacenter using Opalis Integration Server.

At Course Completion
After completing this course, students will be able to:

• Describe the logical architecture of an OIS infrastructure
• Articulate the functions of the components and servcies in an OIS infrastructure
• Configure error handling in OIS policies
• Troubleshoot issues with OIS components and OIS policy execution
• Explain Microsoft best practices for Policy Lifecycle Management
• Design end-to-end process automation incorporating System Center products

Prerequisites
Before attending this course, students must have:

• Experience with Windows Server 2008 Administration
• Basic understanding of Active Directory

Recommended:

• It is recommended students have achieved the following Microsoft certifications or possess equivalent knowledge
  • MCTS: System Center Operations Manager 2007, Configuring (Exam: 70-400)
  • MCTS: Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008 Configuration (Exam: 70-403)
  • MCTS: Windows Server Virtualization, Configuration (Exam: 70-652)

• An understanding of the System Center and Virtualization Stack would also be desirable, specifically:
  • Virtual Machine Manager 2008 R2
  • Operations Manager 2007 R2
  • Service Manager 2010
  • Virtualization Technologies: Hyper-V and Windows Server 2008 R2
  • Automated deployment of server technologies

Module 1: Architecture and Component Overview
This module presents an introduction to the OIS architecture and components, security and terminology. Lessons

• OIS Architecture, Components and Terminology
• Introduction to OIS
• How are Customers Using OIS
• OIS and System Center Integration
• OIS Architecture
• OIS Terminology
• Component Connectivity
• Component Security
• Services
• System Requirements
• Redundancy

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Describe the components in the OIS architecture
• Explain the functionality of the components within an OIS infrastructure

Module 2: User Interfaces and Workflow Settings
This module will discuss the interfaces available when working with OIS. Additionally, workflows and workflow settings within OIS will be introduced.

Lessons

• Overview of OIS Interfaces and Workflow Settings
• Creating Policies
• Working with the Designer Console
• Policy Testing Console
• Operator Console
• Integration Packs
• Global Settings & Configuration
• OIS Databus
• Pipeline Mode vs. Legacy Mode
• Data Passing Between Policies
• Securing Policies

Lab:

• Creating Basic Policies with Foundation Objects

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Describe the console interfaces available in OIS
• Explain the OIS settings and features that affect workflows and workflow creation

Module 3: Workflow Basics
This module will discuss the concepts and decision processes when planning and building workflows in OIS.

Lessons

• Discussion of basic concepts related to workflow design and creation
• Constructing Workflows
• Workflow Guidelines
• Policy Execution
• Action Server
• Policy Engine Rules
• Policy Audit Trail

Lab:

• Controlling Policy Execution with Advanced Functions

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Describe the concepts and decision processes related to workflow design and creation in OIS
• Understand how to use foundations objects to control workflow execution

Module 4: Advanced Workflow Concepts
This module will discuss more advanced concepts and techniques that can be employed when creating workflows in OIS.

Lessons

• Advanced Workflow Concepts and Components
• Nested Policies / Subroutines
• Looping (Object Level & Nested Policy)
• Storing Persistent Data
• Complex Link Logic
• Making Workflows Dynamic (Variables)
• Data Manipulation

Lab:

• Incorporating Advanced Logic into Your Policies

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Describe the components utilized in design and creation of more advanced policies and workflows in OIS
• Understand how to create policies incorporating looping, variables and other advanced objects and functions

Module 5: Creating Complex Workflows
This module will discuss foundation objects commonly utilized in design and creation of more advanced workflows and how to utilize them to create more sophisticated workflows in OIS.

Lessons

• Foundation objects utilized when creating complex workflows
• Query WMI Object
• Invoke Web Services Object
• Query XML Object
• Query Database Object
• Run Program Object (CLI Execution)
• Run .NET Scripting Object0

Lab:

• Building Advanced Policies

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Describe foundation objects commonly used in complex policies in OIS
• Understand how to create more complex workflows incorporating these foundation objects

Module 6: Error Handling, External Interfaces and Lifecycle Management
This module will discuss how to build error handling into OIS workflows, as well as how to manage the versioning and promotion of policies into production. Additionally, calling OIS from other products

Lessons

• Error Handling, External Internal and Lifecycle Management
• Adding Error Handling to Policies
• Lifecycle Management
• Policy Install, Upgrade and Promotion
• Interacting with OIS through External Interfaces
• Web Services
• Command Line

Lab:

• Building Error Handling into Policies

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Discuss how to build error handling into OIS workflows
• Understand proper lifecycle management processes for versioning and promotion of OIS workflows

Module 7: Integration Packs
This module will discuss the System Center Integration Packs available for OIS and how they can be leveraged to create integrated automation solutions for the data center.

Lessons

• Working with System Center Integration Packs
• Integration Packs
• Process Catalogs
• OIS 6.3 Target Scenarios
• System Center Integration Packs
• Other Integration Packs

Lab:

• Creating System Center Policies

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Review the System Center Integration Packs (IPs) for OIS
• Understand how to use the objects in the System Center IPs to deliver integrated automation solutions for the System Center Suite

Module 8: Troubleshooting and Advanced Administration
This module will discuss logging available in OIS and how to adjust logging levels for troubleshooting purposes. Additionally, advanced administration and OIS internals will be covered.

Lessons

• Policy Throttling
• Self-Monitoring
• Audit Trail
• Product Footprint
• OIS Folder Structure
• OIS Registry Keys
• Basic Troubleshooting

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Discuss advanced administrative topics related to OIS
• Understand how to adjust logging levels in OIS and troubleshoot common scenarios

Module 9: Extensibility Scenarios (QIK)
This module will discuss how to extend the off the shelf functionality of OIS using the Quick Integration Kit.

Lessons

• Quick Integration Kit
• QIK CLI
• QIK SDK
• Required Skills
• SDK Fundamentals
• Choosing the Best QIK Option

Lab:

• Creating Your Own Integration Pack with the QIK

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Describe the functionality in the OIS Quick Integration Kit (QIK)
• Understand how to create a basic integration pack using the OIS Quick Integration Kit (QIK)