Getting started with operational rules

This section guides you through all the steps to work efficiently with Operational Rules. First there is an overview of the different stages of working with Operational Rules to establish an understanding of the whole process. After making sure that your network is ready for Operational Rules, you start by creating your first Operational Rule. An example of Operational Rule is provided which displays a message box and launches the calculator.

Subsequently you learn how to make Operational Rules more efficient: such as adding packages or dependencies, advertising them, or configuring Operational Rules to adapt to your special requirements.

If you require customized actions in addition to the predefined ones, the Adding custom operational rule steps topic describes how to add your own steps to Client Management.

The Available steps for operational rule provides an explanation of all available steps listed by category.

What is an operational rule?

An Operational Rule executes one or multiple CM functions on specific devices or device groups in the defined order.

An Operational Rule contains:

• Steps: a series of commands executed by the CM agent
• a schedule: defining the execution of the Operational Rule
• assigned objects: devices on which the Operational Rule is to be executed
• packages (optional): software to be installed via a step
• dependencies (optional): execution of the Operational Rule depends on other Operational Rules

What can I do with operational rules?

With operational rules you create dynamic scenarios that define how groups of client systems are to be managed today, and how they should automatically adapt to any changes in the future.

By applying these rules to groups of end-users, CM ensures that the users' devices are automatically provisioned with the right tools at the right time.

What is the process of working with operational rules?

The three steps of working with operational rules

Working with operational rules consists of three steps:

• Creating operational rule: adding steps, packages, dependencies
• Distributing operational rule: selecting assigned objects, defining the assignment and execution schedule
• Monitoring operational rule: following the execution progress and results, getting noticed by events that are triggered by the Operational Rule

Are there different types of operational rules?

Several different types of operational rules are differentiated on the Console by an icon:

The following topics direct you through the three steps of creating your first Operational Rule. An example is provided on launching the calculator to show you the process of working with Operational Rules. After completing the three tasks, you will be able to design even more complex Operational Rules.

• Creating an Operational Rule
• Distributing an Operational Rule
• Monitoring an Operational Rule