Executing a job with BMC Remedy ITSM approval

The BMC Server Automation administrator may have specified that a given job type requires BMC Remedy ITSM approval prior to execution. When you create a job requiring approval, you are prompted to select the approval type and enter the approval parameters when you configure the schedule.

For information about configuring the connection to BMC Atrium Orchestrator and BMC Remedy ITSM, see Enabling BMC Remedy ITSM integration for job approval.

You can specify an approval type when you execute a job or when you schedule a job. In addition to specifying the approval type, you must specify values for several approval parameters that determine the values of the corresponding BMC Remedy ITSM change ticket parameters that are created when the job definition is completed.

This topic describes how:

To specify approval type for BMC Remedy ITSM

1. Access the appropriate dialog box box or panel for specifying approval type. This happens in the following scenarios:
   • When triggering immediate execution of a job, regardless of how you choose to execute the job (for example, by selecting the Execute Now check box in a job creation wizard or by right-clicking an existing job and selecting Execute), if BMC Remedy ITSM approval is required, the*Enter approval information* dialog box box is displayed.
   • When defining a schedule for a job, either through a wizard for creation of a new job or while editing an existing job, if BMC Remedy ITSM approval is required, the Approval Information tab is displayed.

2. On the Enter approval information dialog box or the Approval Information tab, choose the Approval typefrom the list of pre-defined options, as described in the table below.

   Note

   Approval types are available to you based on your role. For example, the BLOperator role might be configured with authorization for manual approval, while the BLAdmins role might be authorized for all approval types. The Job Approval type defines what values must be populated in the change request by the BMC Remedy ITSM user.

   Option	Use when
   Manual approval	Use this option for jobs that require a BMC Remedy ITSM administrator to review the job details and impact level prior to approving execution. By default, this option generates a change request with a Change Timing value of Normal and an Urgency value of Medium. Note Approving a job may take some time. The administrator that approves the job may not be available for some time (on manual approval), so submit the approval request as early as possible.
   Automatic approval	Use this option for change requests that use an Approval Process Configuration form to automatically approve the request. By default, this option generates a change request with a Change Timing value of No impact and an Urgency value of Medium.
   Emergency approval	Use this option for jobs that need immediate attention and must be run immediately. By default, this option generates a change request with a Change Timing value of Emergency and an Urgency value of High.
   No approval	If you select No approval, you are not required to enter the additional BMC Remedy ITSM parameters. If a job type requires approval and you select No approval, the approval mechanism is bypassed and the job executes either immediately (Execute now) or as scheduled. This option enables users with the authorization to select No approval to bypass the approval process for special circumstances.

3. Enter the additional information that is used in the change request.

   Field	Enter
   Change type	Enter the type of change being requested. The default value is Change.
   Comments	Enter any additional comments that would be helpful to the BMC Remedy ITSM user approving the request.
   Impact	Enter the impact level of the requested change. For example, is the job targeted for one server, or for a large number of servers? The default value is Minor/Localized.

4. Do one of the following:
   • Select Create new Change Ticket.

   • Select Use existing Change Ticket, and enter the IDs for the existing change request and task in BMC Remedy ITSM. In this case BMC Server Automation does not create a new change request, but rather updates the specified change request and task.

     Note

     When using an existing change ID, the change ID can be from:

     • An approved but unused change ticket
     • A change ticket with a task that contains the required operational categorizations and is approved in BMC Remedy ITSM . In this case, ensure that the task has the following organizational tiers:
       • Organizational tier 1: Operator Initiated Change
       • Organizational tier 2: BMC BladeLogic
         These categorizations are required for BMC Atrium Orchestrator to process the alert generated by the ticket. If you are using the default change and task templates that are installed by the BMC Atrium Orchestrator Content Installer or as part of the BMC Continuous Compliance for Server Automation solution, the categorization tiers are set automatically.

5. Click OK.

   Note

   If the job requires BMC Remedy ITSM approval (Automatic, Manual or Emergency) then you are not allowed to configure a recurring schedule on the Schedule tab.

To verify a job configured for BMC Remedy ITSM approval

After the definition of a job with BMC Remedy ITSM approval is completed, BMC Server Automation schedules the job and requests that a new change request be created in BMC Remedy ITSM. The new change request is created using a specific change template and includes one task, even if the job has multiple targets. The change request ID and task ID are sent to the BMC Server Automation system and the values are attached to the job schedule. The servers that have been specified as targets are associated to the change and task requests as configuration items (CIs).

• You can check to see if the interaction with the change management system was successful by reviewing the job schedule log, which is displayed under the job until the job starts running.

• You can also check the job schedule log through the Schedule tab within job definitions:

1. 1. Right-click the job in the Jobs folder, and select Open.
   2. Click the Schedule tab.
   3. Review the job schedule log to see:
   • • When the job has been approved and is waiting to run
     • If the attempt to schedule the job has failed (for example, failed to create or update the change ticket)