How AutoSys Works: A Comprehensive Guide

 # 

## Introduction to AutoSys

AutoSys is an automated job scheduling tool used to define, schedule, and monitor jobs across various systems and platforms. It is widely used in industries where time-sensitive, critical tasks are involved, and there’s a need for consistent monitoring and management of complex workflows.

AutoSys supports multiple job types, including command jobs (executing a script or command), box jobs (grouping of jobs), and file watcher jobs (monitoring for file-related events).

## Key Components of AutoSys

1. **Job**: The primary entity in AutoSys, representing a single unit of work, such as running a script or command.

2. **Scheduler**: The engine that decides when to start a job based on defined schedules, conditions, and dependencies.

3. **Event Server**: A database that stores job definitions, statuses, and historical logs. The Event Server is essential for tracking job execution.

4. **Agent**: The component installed on the machine where jobs run. It communicates with the Scheduler to start or stop jobs.

5. **Graphical User Interface (GUI)**: While many users rely on command-line interfaces, AutoSys also offers a GUI for defining jobs, monitoring their status, and managing the schedule visually.

## Basic Workflow of AutoSys

### 1. **Defining a Job**

Jobs in AutoSys are defined using JIL (Job Information Language) scripts. A typical job definition might look like this:

```bash

insert_job: my_job

job_type: c

command: /path/to/your/script.sh

machine: hostname

owner: user@domain

start_times: "16:00"

description: "This is a sample job."

```

- `insert_job`: Inserts the job into AutoSys.

- `job_type`: Specifies the job type (e.g., command job `c`).

- `command`: The command or script to run.

- `machine`: The server where the job will execute.

- `owner`: The user responsible for the job.

- `start_times`: Specifies the job's start time.

- `description`: A brief description of the job.

After defining a job in JIL, AutoSys stores the information in the Event Server and assigns the job a unique ID for future reference.

### 2. **Scheduling a Job**

AutoSys provides flexible scheduling options. A job can be scheduled based on a specific time, or it can be triggered by events like file modifications, completion of another job, or changes in system status.

Example of setting job schedules:

```bash

start_times: "02:00"

days_of_week: "mon,tue,wed,thu,fri"

```

In this example, the job runs at 2 AM, Monday to Friday.

### 3. **Running a Job**

Once the job is defined and scheduled, AutoSys monitors the conditions for starting it. When the specified time or condition is met, the Scheduler signals the Agent to execute the job on the defined machine.

### 4. **Job Dependencies**

AutoSys allows users to define dependencies between jobs. For example, you can ensure that a job (`job_B`) only starts after another job (`job_A`) completes successfully:

```bash

condition: success(job_A)

```

This creates a dependency where `job_B` will only start if `job_A` completes successfully.

### 5. **Monitoring a Job**

AutoSys provides real-time job monitoring. Users can check job statuses using command-line tools (`autorep`), which display information like the current state of a job (e.g., running, success, failure), its dependencies, and next scheduled run time.

```bash

autorep -j my_job

```

Example output:

```

Job Name:           my_job

Status:             Running

Machine:            hostname

Start Time:         02:00:00

Next Start:         16:00:00

```

### 6. **Handling Job Failures**

In case a job fails, AutoSys can be configured to retry it based on certain rules, or trigger notifications to alert the system administrators. You can define error-handling mechanisms, like retries or execution of alternative jobs in case of failure:

```bash

max_run_alarm: 3

alarm_if_fail: 1

```

This configuration specifies that an alarm should be raised if a job fails once, and after three failed attempts, it stops trying.

### 7. **Exporting Job Definitions**

You can export job definitions for backup or replication purposes using the `autorep` command.

```bash

autorep -J my_job -q > my_job.jil

```

This exports the job definition to a JIL file.

### 8. **Complex Workflows**

AutoSys excels at handling complex workflows by combining multiple jobs into **Box Jobs**. A Box Job groups other jobs, allowing batch execution of related jobs in sequence or parallel.

Example of a Box Job definition:

```bash

insert_job: daily_box job_type: b

description: "Daily Job Group"

insert_job: job_1 job_type: c

box_name: daily_box

command: /path/to/script1.sh

insert_job: job_2 job_type: c

box_name: daily_box

command: /path/to/script2.sh

condition: success(job_1)

```

In this example, `job_1` runs first, and `job_2` only starts after `job_1` completes successfully.

## Key AutoSys Commands

1. **Start a job manually**:

   ```bash

   sendevent -E STARTJOB -J my_job

   ```

2. **Put a job on hold**:

   ```bash

   sendevent -E JOB_ON_HOLD -J my_job

   ```

3. **Remove a job from hold**:

   ```bash

   sendevent -E JOB_OFF_HOLD -J my_job

   ```

4. **Terminate a running job**:

   ```bash

   sendevent -E KILLJOB -J my_job

   ```

5. **Check job status**:

   ```bash

   autorep -j my_job

   ```

## Conclusion

AutoSys is a powerful job scheduling tool that offers flexibility, scalability, and control over job workflows. By understanding its components, job types, scheduling, and monitoring mechanisms, you can efficiently manage automated tasks across various systems, ensuring smooth and timely execution of critical processes. Its powerful JIL scripting language and event-based job management make AutoSys a key tool in environments where complex job dependencies and large-scale automation are needed.