How AutoSys Job Works: A Detailed Guide

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AutoSys is a job scheduling and workload automation tool used for managing, scheduling, and monitoring jobs across various platforms. It is widely used in enterprise environments for automating repetitive tasks and ensuring jobs are executed at the right time with dependencies on other processes.

This article provides an overview of how AutoSys jobs work, from job creation to execution, and includes some key components that are essential to understanding its workflow.

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### Key Concepts in AutoSys Jobs

Before diving into how AutoSys jobs work, it is important to understand some of the key terms and concepts:

1. **Job**: A job in AutoSys is any single action such as executing a command, running a script, or transferring a file. Jobs are typically defined using Job Information Language (JIL).

2. **Scheduler**: The AutoSys Scheduler is responsible for determining when and how jobs should be executed based on the defined schedules and dependencies.

3. **Event Processor**: The event processor monitors job statuses and handles event notifications. It tracks the execution of jobs and ensures that all scheduled tasks are properly executed.

4. **Event Server (Database)**: This is the backend component that stores information about all the jobs, schedules, and their statuses. It keeps track of job definitions, history, and dependencies.

5. **Agent**: The AutoSys agent resides on the client machine where the job is executed. It communicates with the scheduler to carry out job execution and return status updates.

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### How AutoSys Jobs Work

#### 1. **Job Definition (JIL Script)**

The first step in setting up an AutoSys job is defining the job using the Job Information Language (JIL). A JIL file contains various attributes that specify how the job should be executed. Some key attributes include:

- **Job Name**: A unique identifier for the job.

- **Command**: The command or script to be executed.

- **Machine**: Specifies the machine (server) where the job will run.

- **Start Times and Run Calendar**: Defines when the job should be triggered (specific times, dates, or recurring intervals).

- **Job Dependencies**: Specifies the conditions (e.g., another job completion) required before this job can be executed.

Example JIL script:

```jil

insert_job: my_autosys_job

command: /path/to/script.sh

machine: myserver

start_times: "22:00"

condition: success(jobA)

```

In this example, the job named `my_autosys_job` will run on `myserver` at 22:00, but only after `jobA` completes successfully.

#### 2. **Scheduling**

Once the job is defined and inserted into the AutoSys database using the `jil` command, the scheduler reads this job and determines the next execution time based on the defined schedule (e.g., daily, weekly, or a specific date/time). The scheduler can also take dependencies into account to ensure the job only runs when the conditions are met.

#### 3. **Execution**

When the scheduled time arrives and all conditions for the job are met, the scheduler dispatches a message to the AutoSys agent running on the specified machine. The agent, upon receiving the command, initiates the execution of the job by running the specified command or script.

#### 4. **Monitoring and Status Updates**

During and after execution, the AutoSys agent communicates back with the scheduler and event server. It reports the current status of the job, such as:

- **STARTING**: The job is about to begin execution.

- **RUNNING**: The job is currently running.

- **SUCCESS**: The job has completed successfully.

- **FAILURE**: The job has encountered an error and has failed.

These status updates are recorded in the AutoSys event server database, which can be queried using commands like `autorep` to monitor the status of jobs in real-time.

#### 5. **Job Dependencies and Conditions**

AutoSys supports conditional job execution, meaning that jobs can be set to execute only if certain conditions are met. These conditions may depend on the status of other jobs. For instance, a job might run only if another job has successfully completed, or it may wait until a certain file exists.

Example of a dependency:

```jil

insert_job: dependent_job

command: /path/to/another_script.sh

condition: success(my_autosys_job)

```

In this example, the job `dependent_job` will only execute if `my_autosys_job` completes successfully.

#### 6. **Error Handling and Recovery**

AutoSys also supports advanced error handling features. If a job fails, you can configure it to retry a specific number of times or run a different command to handle the error. For example, you can define "exit codes" to trigger specific actions if a job fails.

Example of a failure action:

```jil

insert_job: error_handling_job

command: /path/to/script_with_error.sh

exit_code: 1, retry_count: 2

```

Here, the job will retry two times if it exits with code 1 (which might signify an error).

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### Types of AutoSys Jobs

AutoSys supports different types of jobs depending on what you want to automate:

1. **Command Job**: Executes a command or script on a specified machine.

   - Example: Running a shell script or batch file.

   

2. **File Watcher Job**: Monitors the arrival or modification of a file and triggers the job when the specified file appears.

   - Example: Starting a process when a new log file is created.

   

3. **Box Job**: A container that groups multiple jobs together and treats them as a single unit.

   - Example: Running multiple related jobs sequentially or in parallel.

   

4. **Remote Execution Job**: Runs commands on remote machines without requiring an agent on the target machine.

   - Example: Running an SSH command on a remote server.

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### Conclusion

AutoSys is a powerful job scheduling and automation tool that streamlines workflows in enterprise environments. With its robust job definitions, scheduling capabilities, and dependency handling, AutoSys ensures that critical tasks are executed efficiently and at the right time. By leveraging AutoSys, organizations can automate complex workflows, monitor execution statuses, and ensure reliable and repeatable operations.

Understanding how AutoSys jobs work, from their creation in JIL scripts to their execution and monitoring, is key to harnessing the full potential of the tool. With AutoSys, the tedious process of manual task management becomes a thing of the past, allowing you to focus on higher-value activities.