Archiving data by using BMC Server Automation jobs

Use the run_archival_from_om.nsh script to archive data by using BMC Server Automation jobs. The run_archival_from_om.nsh script uses archival settings, such as archive directory location and retention period for domains, that you configure by using the BMC Decision Support for Server Automation Console. This script is included in the Inventory-Templates.zip file, which is located in the BDSSAInstallationDirectory/Contents directory.

Before you begin

Before you archive the reports data warehouse data, ensure that the following prerequisites are met:

• Ensure that you are using database versions supported by BMC Decision Support for Server Automation. See Oracle database support and SQL Server database support for supported database versions.
• Back up your reports data warehouse to prevent data loss in case of failure during the archival process. For information about backing up your data warehouse, see your database documentation.
• Ensure that you have read/write permissions in the directory in which you want to store the archived files. For more information, see Configure Archive Settings.

• Run extract, transform, and load (ETL) for all sites and ensure that the runs are complete. 

  Note

  Run ETL just before running the archive utility to ensure that no new ETL scripts are run.

• (Oracle only) Ensure that the following privileges are assigned to the reports data warehouse user:
  • GRANT CREATE ANY DIRECTORY TO datawarehouseUser
  • GRANT DROP ANY DIRECTORY TO datawarehouseUser
    
  • GRANT EXP_FULL_DATABASE TO datawarehouseUser
    
  • GRANT IMP_FULL_DATABASE TO datawarehouseUser 
  • GRANT EXECUTE ON utl_file TO datawarehouseUser
  These privileges are required only during archival and restore processes for importing or exporting the warehouse database. The privileges can be revoked after the archival/restore process is completed.
  
• (Microsoft SQL Server only) Assign the sysadmin role to the reports data warehouse user. You can revoke this role assignment when the archival and restore operations are complete.  

• (SQL Server only) If you are running the archive utility for the first time, ensure that you have enabled the xp_cmdshell server configuration option. This option enables system administrators to control whether the xp_cmdshell extended stored procedure can be executed on a system. By default, this option is disabled. It must be enabled to perform the delete operation on archived files. To enable the option, run the xp_configure system stored procedure on the reports data warehouse as a data warehouse user with the sysadmin role, as follows:
  

  EXEC sp_configure 'show advanced options', 1
   
  GO
   
   
  -- To update the currently configured value for advanced options.
   
  RECONFIGURE
   
  GO
   
   
  -- To enable the feature.
   
  EXEC sp_configure 'xp_cmdshell', 1
   
  GO
   
   
  -- To update the currently configured value for this feature.
   
  RECONFIGURE
   
  GO

To run the archival process by using BMC Server Automation jobs 

1. Extract the contents of the content_installer.zip file to a directory of your choice on the BMC Server Automation Application Server. 
2. Run the content installer.
   The script is added to BMC Server Automation as a Network Shell script. 
3. Create a Network Shell Script Job for the run_archival_from_om.nsh script. 
   You can use this job to run the archival process on specified servers. You can execute the job for a one-time run or you can create a schedule for the job. 
4. Run the job against the target report server.

To create a Network Shell Script Job for the run_archival_from_om.nsh script

1. Log on to the BMC Server Automation Console.

2. Navigate to the Depot/BladeLogic Reports Scripts/Run BDSSA Archival folder.

3. Right-click Run BDSSA Archival Script and select the NSH Script Job option.
   The New NSH Script Job wizard starts.
4. In the Name field, enter name of the NSH Script Job.
5. In the Save in field, enter the path where you want to save the job, and click Next. 
6. In the Targets pane, select the report servers on which you want to run the archival process, and click Next.

7. In the Parameters pane, set the ETL_HOME parameter as the directory in which the ETL-related files (extract, transform, and load) are located.
   The default location is BDSSAInstallationDirectory/shared/odi/bin.

   Note

   Enter the path in NSH format.

8. Click Next. 
9. In the Default Notifications pane, configure job run notifications, and click Next.
10. In the Schedules panel, schedule the job if required, and click Finish.
    The job is created in the location that you specified in step 5.

For more information about the options available while creating an NSH Script Job, see Creating Network Shell Script Jobs in the BMC Server Automation documentation.

Related topics

Archiving data by using the console
Rerunning a failed archival or restore session 
Stopping an archival or restore process