Creating a Monitoring Blackout Script

This task describes how to create a blackout script that suspends propagation of state changes (for example, alarms and warnings) on selected application classes and instances.

Before you begin

The PATROL KM for UNIX will create the blackout script for you; you do not have to write the script before you begin this procedure. However, you must ensure that the default BMC PATROL account has read and execute permissions on the directory in which the blackout script resides.

To Create a Blackout Script for Immediate Execution

1. Access the SCHEDULER application menu as described in Accessing KM Commands and InfoBoxes.
2. Select Schedule Blackouts from the SCHEDULER application menu.
    The Schedule Blackouts dialog box is displayed.
3. Select Add New Blackout Script and click OK.
    The Blackout Script File Name dialog box is displayed.

4. Type a file name (and path, if desired) in the Blackout Script Full File Path field and click OK.

   Note

   The PATROL default account must have read and execute permissions on the directory in which the script is stored.

   The Blackout Instance Selection dialog box is displayed.

5. Use the following table to perform the actions necessary to select application instances for a blackout period.The [confluence_table-plus] macro is a standalone macro and it cannot be used inline.
   

   Note

   If you want to remove an application class or instance from the script, highlight it in the Selected Instances group box and click Select.

6. Click Done.
   The Add New Blackout Script dialog box is displayed.

   Note

   The Blackout Script Status dialog box is also displayed. This dialog box provides information about the status of the blackout script; you cannot enter data into it.

7. Use the spinner buttons or type a value in the following fields:The [confluence_table-plus] macro is a standalone macro and it cannot be used inline.
   
8. Perform one of the following actions to set monitoring blackout periods:
   1. If you want to set the same blackout period for all instances in the blackout script, click the Apply period to all remaining instances button.
   2. If you want to set different blackout periods for each application instances, do not select the Apply period to all remaining instances button. If this button is not selected, the Blackout Period dialog box will display for each instance in the script, allowing you to set different blackout time periods for each instance.
9. Click Apply.
    The Add New Blackout Script Name Summary dialog box is displayed.
10. Click Continue.
     A confirmation dialog box displays, asking if you want to schedule the script for execution now.
11. Perform one of the following actions:
    1. Click Yes if you want to schedule the blackout script for execution now.
    2. Click No if you do not want to schedule the blackout script for execution now. If you click No, you must perform the steps in Scheduling a Blackout Script for Execution before the blackout script will execute.
        If you clicked Yes, the Schedule PATROL PslExecute() Action dialog box is displayed. Proceed to step 14.
12. In the Execute Script at:group box, use the spinner buttons or type a value in the following fields to schedule the blackout script:The [confluence_table-plus] macro is a standalone macro and it cannot be used inline.
    
13. If you want to set the blackout script to occur at regularly scheduled intervals, use the spinner buttons or type values in the following fields of the Repeat Execution:group box:The [confluence_table-plus] macro is a standalone macro and it cannot be used inline.
    
14. Click Accept.
     The dialog box closes, and BMC PATROL schedules the blackout script for execution.