Managing components

A component is a logically distinguishable part of an application. An application can be composed of several components, some of which might be optional (for example, an application might need a load balancer to function). After you have created an application, you can create new components for this application.

For example, an application with a three-tier architecture might have the following components:

• Application server
• Database
• Load balancer

In BMC Release Process Management, each component must have a unique name. You can use the same component in different applications. For each application, you can assign different versions to the components or map the component to different servers.

For some applications, it is significant to have the strict order for the application components. With BMC Release Process Management, you can control the order of components within an application.

You can use the alphabetical sorting for components and environments associated with the application. In a request that uses this application, the same order of components and environments is preserved .

To create a component

1. In BMC Release Process Management, go to Environments> Components.
2. Click Add a new component.
   The Create Component page opens.
3. In the Name field, enter the name for a new component.
4. (Optional) Select the Strict version control check box to turn on the strict version control for the component.
5. Click Create.

To create components for an application

1. In BMC Release Process Management, click the Applications tab and click the appropriate application name.
2. Click add/remove components.
   The Add/Remove Components dialog box appears.
3. Click create new component one time for each component that you want to add.
4. Enter a name for each component in the displayed fields.
5. Click Save.
   The new components are added to the list of components.

To reorder components in an application

1. From the Applications tab, click the relevant application for which you want to reorder components.
2. Click the Reorder Components link on the right.
3. In the Reorder Components page, drag and drop the component to the correct position in the order.
4. When you are finished adjusting the order, click done grouping.

To edit a component name

1. From Environment > Component, click the relevant component.
2. In the Name field, change the name of the component.
3. Click Update.
   The Components page displays the new name of the component.

To associate components with environments

1. From Dashboard > My Applications or from the Applications tab, click the relevant application name.
2. To copy all component associations from one environment to any number of target environments, perform the following steps:
   1. Click the source environment to expand it and display its list of associated components.
   2. Click Clone Environment Components under the list of components.
   3. Select the target environments (to which to copy component associations), and then click Save.
3. To associate individual components with a single environment, perform the following steps:
   1. Click the target environment to expand it and display its list of associated components.
   2. Drag each component that you want to associate from the components list on the right, and drop it on the list of environment components on the left.
4. To remove a component from the list of components associated with an environment (in the environment's expanded display), click the Remove installed component icon in the right-most column, and then click OK.

To edit properties of a component of an application

1. On the Applications tab, click an application in the list.
2. In the list of Components, click Properties next to the component that you want to edit. 
3. Enter the suitable values in the fields for the corresponding environments. 
4. Click on add properties to add properties from the existing properties list or to add new property to the component.
5. Check the Locked check box for the properties which you want to lock in the component. This will lock the selected property values of the component property.
   
6. Click Submit
   
   

To map a component to an external object

1. On the Applications tab, click an application in the list.
2. In the list of Components, click Map next to the component that you want to map with an external object. 
3. On the Map Component to an External Object dialog box, provide the following details:
   1. Select an integration server from the Select Target Server list.
       This list displays integration servers that you created previously to integrate between various external systems. You must select the integration server that you created to integrate with the external system to which you want to connect when performing this mapping.

   2. Select a resource automation script from the list of available scripts.
       This list is available only after you select an integration server. You must select the resource automation script that you created previously for the purpose of mapping. For more information on creating a resource automation script, see Creating-data-retriever-scripts.

      Notes

      • The resource automation script that you select must have its Maps to option set to Component.
      • You can use one integration server at a time to create a single mapping with an external object.

      While selecting the integration server and the resource automation script, you might see multiple objects that are generated automatically. The objects that you see and the output in which you see them (whether a tree or list of objects) depends on the resource automation script that you selected. The resource automation script retrieves data about the external objects and provides it to you so that you can select one of them for mapping with a component.

4. Click Save Mapping to save your changes.
5. To modify or delete the mapping that you already created, perform the following steps:
   1. Click Edit Map next to the component under the Actions column.
   2. On the Map Component to an External Object dialog box in the Select Target Server list, select the integration server for which you want to make changes or delete the mapping, and select the same resource automation script that you used to create the mapping.
      The current mapping is displayed.
   3. Modify your mapping and click Save Mapping.
   4. To delete the mapping, click Delete Mapping and then click OK.

For more information about mapping components with component templates of BMC Application Automation, see Mapping-components-with-component-templates.

To use the alphabetical sorting for components in an application

1. From the Applications tab, click the relevant application for which you want to reorder components.
2. On the application page:
   • To turn on the alphabetical sorting for components, make sure that the Enable Alpha sort for Components check box is selected.
   • To turn off the alphabetical sorting for components, make sure the Enable Alpha sort for Environment check box is not selected.