1. Introduction Service Management Automation
Windows Masters
Event
Introduction Service Management Automation
Dennis de Roo

2. Agenda SMA? SMA architecture Comparison Installation and configuration
Runbook Authoring
Automation Roadmap

3. What is SMA? SMA=Service Management Automation
Process automation tool
An automation engine based on PowerShell workflows
The Microsoft automation stack currently contains three products
Orchestrator – Software acquired in 2011 that assists with graphical automation
Service Management Automation (SMA) – Software developed in house for automation
Azure Automation – Automation delivered in public azure (and on prem via hybrid automation runbook workers possible via Operational Insights)

4. Overview Automation PowerShell Scripts Workflows
Desired State Configuration (DSC)
System Center Orchestrator (SCORCH)
Service Management Automation (SMA)
The “new” Orchestrator
Azure Automation (AA)
Automation as a Service

5. Architecture WAP Optional layer Web Service PowerShell Module
HTTP Request
Authoring
Debugging
Operating
Optional layer
HTTP Response
Web Service
Results
PowerShell Module
Runbook service
PowerShell Modules
REST oData web service
Authorizes users
Runbooks
Jobs
Modules
Submit requests
Runbooks
Runbook Resources
Tracks runbook job state
Pickup Jobs
SMA Database
Runbook Workers

6. SMA and the Windows Azure Pack
WAP provides an GUI to SMA
Native connector between WAP
actions and SMA automation
WAP is not necessarily necessary
for SMA to function
No Administration capability from the
Wap Tenant Portal

7. SMA vs Azure Automation
Private Cloud
Public Cloud
These are essentially the same,
the only difference being the location
from which they are delivered
IT Pro
IT Pro
Service Management Automation
Microsoft Azure Automation

8. Management (SMA vs Azure Automation)
IT Pro
IT Pro
SMA Portal WAP
SMA Powershell Module
Azure Management Portal
Azure Powershell Module
REST Service
Azure Automation Service

9. SMA vs Orchestrator SMA Orchestrator 64 bit 32 bit Own infrastructure
Integration via PowerShell modules
Integration via Integration Packs
Authoring via WAP or PowerShell ISE
Authoring via Runbook designer
Unlimited job concurrency per runbook worker
Job concurrency of max 50 instances per runbook server
Interact with Rest Web service

10. SMA integrate solution with TFS

11. PowerShell Workflow Introduced with PowerShell 3.0
Code looks like a function
Executed by Windows Workflow Foundation engine (WWF)
Benefits to PS Workflow
Checkpoint / Suspend
Parallel execution across one or more systems
Well suited for long running tasks
*Native Litmited CMDLET Support (CMDLET Support use = inline script)

12. PowerShell Workflow code
Parameter Block
Assets
Inline Script

13. Administration, Authoring and Execution
WAP Portal or PowerShell ISE
Runbook Tags for organization
Potential Runbook states (Draft, Published, In –Edit)
Flexible execution methods
Job = instance of executed Runbook

14. SMA Powershell module
Provides 40 cmdlets to remotely manage SMA from any host
Talks to SMA web service
Separate install in the SMA installer
Comes out of box as an SMA integration module for use in runbooks
Cmdlets for SMA administration: - Runbook Worker Deployments
- Administration Settings
- Product License / Expiration Date

15. SMA Powershell module
import-module Microsoft.SystemCenter.ServiceManagementAutomation
Get SMA Runbooks using standard parameters
Get-SmaRunbook -WebServiceEndpoint " -Port 9090
Start SMA Runbook using Name
$connection ";"Port"=9090}
-RunbookName "My SMA Runbook" | Start-SmaRunbook @connection
Create new Schedule
$StartDate = Get-Date
$EndDate = Get-Date -Day 12 -Month 6 -Year 2023
Set-SmaSchedule -StartTime $StartDate -ExpiryTime $EndDate -Name "Schedule01" -ScheduleType "DailySchedule"

16. Demo
Introduction

17. Installation & configuration

18. Post Deployment Deploy SMA Components Deploy multiple Runbook workers
Deploy WAP (optional)
Configure WAP integration (optional)

19. Deployment Production Environment
Multiple Runbook Workers for load distribution and HA
Web services load balanced
SMA Admin portal load balanced
SQL AlwaysOn Cluster
SMA Portal WAP
SMA Portal WAP
SMA Webservice & Runbook Worker
SMA Webservice & Runbook Worker
Always ON
Always ON

20. Assets Assets: globally available combination of settings
Connections – connection information for external systems
Variable – available to all Runbooks
Credentials – PSCredential or Certificate
Schedules – Runbook execution schedule

21. CheckPoint / Suspend Checkpoint: Snapshot of current state
Checkpoint-Workflow
-PSPersist $True placed after activity
$PSPersistPreference = $True
Suspend-Workflow
Suspend: Pause Runbook job
Suspend-Workflow: Checkpoint and Suspend
Suspend-SmaJob: Suspend at next checkpoint
WAP UI: Suspend at next checkpoint
Workflow exception/Runbook worker crash

22. Nesting Runbooks Invoke Inline: starting a runbook by name
Parent and all nested compiled into one job
Output of all runbooks will be ‘rolled up’
Synchronous execution
Start-SmaRunbook: starting using PS CmdLet
Starts a second job
Output is specific to each job
Asynchronous execution

23. Inline Script Execute true PowerShell within workflow
Creates PowerShell session returning output to workflow
Check Point/Suspend not valid
Workflow variables are not visible to inline script
$Using scope modifier (Example $Using:ComputerName)

24. Demo
Runbooks

25. Transition Orchestrator -> SMA
Get rid of Orchestrator IPs / Native Actions
Use generic .NET (PS) Script actions
Integrate both worlds to save existing investments

26. Things you should avoid
Code first plan after
Creating a single, giant runbook
Using hardcoded values
Installing native consoles and tools on workers

27. Automation Roadmap for SC 2016
System Center Orchestrator
Service Management Automation (with) Windows Azure Pack
OMS Automation
Will be shipped in SC 2016
Updating Integration Packs to support latest System Center components
Continue to get Update Rollups and Hot fixes
Continue to make feature enhancements
Migration tools available to carry forward your SCO investments
Add on to System Center
Monthly releases with new capabilities
On-demand hotfixes anytime

28. Notes SMA is the future of automation
Rollbacks, Failover, Scalability are there OOB
PowerShell open endless possibilities

29. Thanks!