SmartBatch advanced job scheduling and event automation allows you to easily setup your tasks into repeatable and manageable workflows using Operations, Steps, Jobs, Dependencies, Schedules, Parameters, Notification and much more.

SmartBatch 2009 provides an affordable, best-of-breed, integrated solution for job scheduling and management. With ease, jobs can be logically organized and executed using the simplest or most complex user defined schedules. Jobs can also be configured such that errors are recovered/logged and "on-call" operators are notified of events via email, paging, and cell phone. SmartBatch can assist you in managing programs, .bat files, and various scripts scattered across your systems by acting as a repository. SmartBatch with its clean design and impressive graphical user interface, is simple for all users. And, with advanced features like a .NET programmatic interface for even the most technical programmer, it proves to be both sophisticated and flexible. SmartBatch can support the simplest processing, or the most complicated. Standard features include: dependencies, parameters, scheduling/calendaring, reports, notification, Windows integrated security and much more.

Three editions of SmartBatch 2009 are offered: Lite, Standard and Enterprise.

• The Lite Edition offers entry level pricing while providing a complete and robust solution.
• The Standard Edition meets the need of most organizations that need a single computer solution.
• The Enterprise Edition includes all the functionality of the Standard Edition, but is designed specifically as an Enterprise solution providing the ability to distribute processing to any number of comptuers

Scalable Distributed Processing
The Enterprise Edition provides a scalable, distributed, load-balanced, fault-tolerant solution with the use of Remote Agents. With the Enterprise Edition, jobs can be executed to run on any Windows system in the network, but centrally controlled from one Executive Server. The Executive Server coordinates the activity of Remote Agents depending on the configuration. The Enterprise Edition allows for the use of Application and Computer Groups. Application Groups provide the ability to separate application processing. Computer Groups provide the ability to distribute processing amongst any number of computers running a SmartBatch Remote Agent.

Enterprise Database Support
SmartBatch 2009 now supports the most popular databases to host the SmartBatch configuration. This includes: SQL Server, Oracle, DB2, MySQL and MS Access.  

End User Scheduling
SmartBatch 2009 now provides a web forms based end user interface. This allows the non-technical users the ability to submit jobs when needed. The browser based user interface shows them only the jobs they are authorized to run. Of course they can see the status and history for their jobs. SmartBatch takes care of the rest.

Enterprise Edition Features:

• Scalability, Distributed Processing, Load-balancing and Fault-tolerance - The Enterprise Edition allows Operations (an Operation is any script or program you want to run), Steps, and Jobs to be scheduled and executed on any Windows computer in your network centrally controlled from one Executive Server.  Each Operation can specify the name of the computer or name of a Computer Group where the Operation should execute.  When the Executive Server processes the Operation, it contacts the specified computer and send the request to that computer.  If a Computer Group is specified, the Executive Server will determine which computer or computers should process the Operation.  The SmartBatch Remote Agent is sent the request to process the Operation via a message queue.  The Remote Agent monitors the Operation for completion and notifies the Executive Server indicating the success or failure.  If either the Executive Server or Remote Agent becomes unavailable after the request has been sent to the message queue, the request will be processed when the computer becomes available.
• Diagram Views - Sophisticated environments need sophisticated tools to help manage the relations amongst objects.  A Diagram View of your object makes it easier to configure and manage the simplest to the most complex environments.  The ability to display a Diagram View of Operations, Steps and Jobs along with their associated objects is provided.  In addition the ability to create a Diagram View of File Watch, File Existence and Object-To-Object dependencies is included.
• Application Groups - Application Groups provide a way to separate processing into a named group.  This provides for better manageability of your processing especially in large configurations where the number of objects can be in the hundreds or thousands.
• Computer Groups - A Computer Group is a set of computers that are assigned a type.  Three types of Computer Groups are available that help distribute processing in different ways.  Each computer in a Computer Group must have a SmartBatch Remote Agent installed.  The Executive Server will send requests to computer in a Computer Group based on the Computer Group type, processing resources of the computers and availability of the computer.  If a computer in a Round Robin or Application Grid Computer Group is not available another available computer in the Computer Group will be selected.  The All computer Group provides the ability to setup an Operation one time and have it execute on many computers simultaneously.
• Support for Major Database Products - WhileSmartBatch is not dependent on a specific database product, the Enterprise Edition allows the SmartBatch database to be placed on SQL Server, Oracle, DB2 and MySQL.  The Standard Edition can use the desktop version (Express Editions of these database products).
• Custom Programmatic Interface - The Enterprise Edition also offers an extensible .NET API that will enable users to extend the processing of the Executive Server.  For example, status messages can be sent to network management systems such as Computer Associates' Unicenter or IBM's Tivoli.

Standard and Lite Edition Features:

• Lite Edition - All of the features listed below are available in the Lite and Standard Editions of SmartBatch.  The Lite Edition has the same features as the Standard Edition however the Lite Edition is limited to 20 Operations.
• Flexible Scheduling - Operations, Steps, and Jobs can be scheduled to execute:  immediately, on specific dates calendar, every "n" minutes, every day, every week, or every month.  Exception dates and "extra" dates that a process should or should not run are also supported.
• Error Detection and Recovery - Errors can be detected by exit codes, run threshold periods, and/or key word found in user specified application log files.  The matching used to indicate success or failure can be any regular expression.  Regular expression support is provided by SmartBatch  through the .NET framework.
• Reliable Notification - On-call operators can be notified by Email, Pager, etc. of start, success, and failure events.  Notification messages are formatted as either regular text or html.
• OperatorsAny number of operators along with their available hours can be configured for proper notification.  
• Hierarchical Organization - To support related processing and complex environments, Operations can be logically grouped into Steps and Steps into Jobs.  
• Sequencing - Operations, Steps, and Jobs can be executed in a specified order.  
• Dependencies - Dependencies can be configured to ensure that processing only occurs when necessary conditions are met (e.g.  file exists) or left unsatisfied (e.g.  program failed to complete).  
• Object to Object Dependencies - An Operation can be dependent on another Operation simply by putting both Operations into a Step.  The Operations will be executed in the order in which they are configured in the Step.  This same sequencing is supported for Steps in a Job.  Further, any object (Operation, Step or Job) can be dependent on any other object (Operation, Step or Job).
• Events - Events such as a file being created or change to a file attributed can trigger the start of an Operation, Step or Job.    
• History Chart - History information can be charted to get a graphical view of processing.
• Schedule Resource View - Determining what days and time your scheduled activity occurs is much easier with a the Schedule Resource View.  This shows a graphical layout of your objects, their schedules and run times.
• Parameters - Parameters are supported so that users can properly manage information that may change such as filenames and paths.
• .NET programmatic interface - Technical users can take advantage of the .NET programmatic interface (API) with SmartBatch.  For example, they can use the API to schedule an object in SmartBatchfrom their application.
• Windows Service Capability - The Executive Server is installed under Windows as a Windows Service allowing scheduling and notification to occur without the need for a user to be logged onto the system.  Users may modify the configuration so that they run in manual mode.
• Windows User Interface and Web User Interface - SmartBatch supports a clean, straightforward GUI using the latest UI Windows forms design.  A Web browser user interface is also available for monitoring and controlling the environment.  
• Application Independent - SmartBatch is not specific to any application.
• DatabaseIndependent - SmartBatch is not dependent on a specific database management system.  SmartBatch uses a Microsoft Access, SQL Server, Oracle, DB2 or MySQL for storing its configuration information.  Your applications can use any database managment system without any conflicts with SmartBatch.  The Standard Edition of SmartBatch can use MS Access or the Express Editions of the database products.  The Enterprise Edition of SmartBatch is required to use other database editions (e.g., SQL Server 2005, SQL Server 2008 or Oracle 10g).  
• Security - Windows integrated security has been implemented to provide a secure solution using concepts you are already familiar with.  SmartBatch provides for role based security based on a set of Windows roles/groups that are created when the product is installed.    
• Status - Status is provided to determine what activity is occurring at any point in time.
• History - Activity can be written to the SmartBatch history, the Windows Event Log, or both.
• Runbook - Users can enter information and instructions about processing for other operators to use and maintain the environment.

Remote Agent:
The SmartBatch 2009 Remote Agent provides the ability to distribute processing amongst many computers.  This off loads the work from the computer where the Enterprise Edition is installed providing flexibility, scalability, distributed processing, load-balancing and fault-tolerance to the Windows Automation processing environment.

The Remote Agent is an small efficient software component that must reside on each computer that requires this functionality. The Remote Agent accepts requests from the Executive Server via a message queue to process Operations. This may be a single Operation, an Operation that is being run as part of a Step or an Operation that is part of a Step in a Job. The Operation is monitored until it completes. Once completed the Remote Agent determines if the Operation ran successfully based on the Exit Code expression value, Key word expression value and Application Log File. The Remote Agent then reports back to the Executive Server via a message queue. The Executive Server provides status, control and history for all Remote Agents centrally.

The Remote Agent runs as a Windows service and optionally can be run on the desktop.

The Remote Agent responds to the requests it receives via a message queue and responds to the Executive Server via a message queue.  All processing done by a Remote Agent is based on requests from the Executive Server.

SmartApplets
SmartAppLets are included with all editions of SmartBatch. SmartApplets are small application programs that provide various functionality for your environment.  They help you better manage your computer systems. SmartAppLets can be configured as Operations in the SmartBatch Administrator or run by another application.

Smart Database Operation
Provides the ability to run activity against any database such as SQL Server, DB2 and Oracle.  You can query a database, update a database, extract information in a variety of formats such as XML, etc.  A wizard is provided to help setup these Operations.

SmartBackup
The SmartBackup SmartAppLet provides a way to backup the SmartBatch database.  As with any important data it is prudent to maintain a backup.  SmartBackup can be configured as an Operation in SmartBatch so that a backup of the SmartBatch database occurs on a regular basis.

SmartDeleteHistory
The SmartDeleteHistory SmartAppLet allows you to delete records from the SmartBatch History on a scheduled basis. If you specify to write to History on Start, Success or Failure on the Operation Properties window and write to  SmartBatch History, records are written to the database. The size of the database will then grow over time. You need to decide how long you want to maintain this information.   

SmartNotify
The SmartNotify SmartAppLet allows you to notify an Alert List with the message specified. This is can be used as an Operation or within your own scripts when you decide someone needs to be notified of an event. It can also be combined with a program like the NT Performance Monitor as described below.  For more information see the example in the directory where the SmartAppLet was installed.

SmartProcessMonitor
The SmaratProcessMonitor SmartAppLet provides the ability to determine if a process is running or not running. It can also start or stop a process and create notification events. If the process is running and you don't want it running you can specify a ProcessAction to stop the process, create a notification event or execute an object on demand. If a process is not running and you want to start it, SmartProcessMonitor will start the process.  

SmartRestore
The SmartRestore SmartAppLet provides the ability to restore a backup of the SmartBatch database.  The backup must have been created using SmartBackup.  If the SmartBatch is inadvertently deleted or some how becomes corrupt, the SmartRestore SmartAppLet can be used from a command prompt to restore a previous backup.  If you have not previously run SmartBackup and have not backed up the SmartBatch using any of the SQL Server tools, you will not be able to restore the database.   

SmartSendMail
The SmartSendMail SmartAppLet provides the capability to send Email messages with attachments. The body of the message is identified by a file name and any number of attachments can be added. The SmartSendMail capability supports the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP).  

SmartServiceMonitor
The SmartServiceMonitor SmartAppLet provides the ability to determine the state of a service and to control a service. It can start, stop, pause or continue a service, create a notification event or execute an object on demand. You can control services using this program or create a notification event if a service is in a specific state. By specifying the Computer you can monitor and control the state of any service on your network.  

SmartSetParameter
The SmartSetParameter SmartAppLet provides the ability to change the value of a SmartBatch Parameter . This is useful is situation where you want to update the value of a Parameter within your own script/processing.  

SmartWait
The SmartWait SmartAppLet provides the ability to setup an Operation that simply waits. This may be useful in a Step where you want to wait a certain amount of time before the next Operation in the Step is processed. SmartWait provides an efficient way to wait. All other objects configured will process as desired. It is only the Step with the SmartWait Operation that waits the amount of time you specify.

For example, suppose you have a Step with 3 Operations that do the following: Shutdown database service - Backup database - Start database service