Viewing tasks at runtime for integration with BMC BladeLogic Client Automation

This example explains how you can launch tasks at runtime from a parent object, which is the BMC Helix ITSM: Change Management application. This section focuses exclusively on tasks used in the BMC BladeLogic Client Automation integration.

Before you begin

To make the following procedure work as expected, you must properly configure the integration between Change Management and BMC BladeLogic Client Automation. For more information, see Integrating-with-BMC-BladeLogic-Client-Automation.

To view and launch tasks at runtime

1. Open the parent application object, for example, Change Management, and then create a record.
    Although you can add tasks or task groups to a change during any state, for example, Initiate, they can only be worked on during the Implement state.
2. Use the process flow accelerators to step through the states of your change request until you reach the Implement state.
3. From the Request Type list on the Tasks tab, select Task Group Template, and then click Relate.

4. On the Select Template dialog box, select a task group, for example, Create and Modify Policy with Closed Loop Verification, and then click Relate.

   Recommendation

   This recommended task group template is available for adding CIs and storage locations (previously known as Software License Items) and verifying task completion. The task group is then added to the change request.

5. (Optional) Click View Flow to see a read-only view of the tasks in the task group.

   Important

   The Task Flow viewer is compatible only with HTML 5 compatible browsers, such as, Microsoft Internet Explorer 9, Firefox 3.6.28, Safari 4 or greater.

   The Task Flow Viewer uses color codes to illustrate the different stages of the tasks. For example, a blue stage indicates that its status is Closed, but a yellow stage shows its status is Staged. The Viewer also shows you the flow between tasks. You can perform the following functions in the Task Flow Viewer:

   • Zoom in to focus the view.
   • Zoom out to expand the view.
   • Use the scroll bar to move the flow around.
   • Use the Show All option to view the complete task flow within the viewer.
6. In the Children of Selected Task Group table, select the task to work on and then click View.
7. On the task form, click the Relationships tab.
8. Select the Software Library Item from the search list and search for the storage locations. 
   This displays the Software Library Item Search dialog box. The storage location contains the location of the software being deployed. The storage location can be either a physical repository (for example, Fred's top drawer) or an electronic repository (a folder on your network).

9. In the search results, select the appropriate storage location, and then click Relate.
    The Relationship Attributes dialog box appears.
    On the Relationship Attributes dialog box, you can only set the following values with storage locations and CIs; otherwise, the relationships created do not work as expected.

   Relationship item	Relationship attribute	Action attribute
   Configuration Item	TARGET	Not applicable
   LDAP	TARGET	Not applicable
   Software Library Item	SOURCE	INSTALL
   Software Library Item	SOURCE	UNINSTALL

10. Define the relationship attribute, for example, SOURCE.
11. Define the action attribute, for example, INSTALL.
12. Click Apply.
     The storage location is added to the change request.
13. Perform a search for a Configuration item.
14. In the search results on the CI Relationships Search dialog box, select the appropriate CI, and then click Relate.
     The Relationship Attributes dialog box appears.
15. On the Relationship Attributes dialog box, define the relationship attribute, for example, TARGET.

16. Define the action attribute, for example, INSTALL, and then click Apply.
     The CI is added to the Relationships table in the Task form.

    Important

    When the storage location and the CI are related to the task, the relationships are carried over to the change. If a task user wants to select storage locations or CIs related to the change to relate them to the change, use the Get Related Relationships quick action on the Relationships tab on the Task form. A similar quick action is found on the Task tab on the Change form to allow the change to relate storage locations or CIs to a task related to the change entry.

17. On the Task form, click the General tab.

18. Click Launch to display the BMC BladeLogic Client Automation Policy Manager.

    Important

    If you have deployed the integrated CCM solution with seamless authentication, the task user can launch the task from Change Management or BMC BladeLogic Client Automation without having to retype your user ID and password.

19. After you have performed the policy changes, click Save.
20. Close the Policy Manager window to return to the Task form.
21. (Optional) Review the work information about the task.
     The work information about the task is updated with the changes performed by the task.
    1. Click the Work Info tab.
    2. In the Work Info History area, select the Policy Manager entry, and then click View.
    3. Close the Work Info dialog box dialog box when you are finished viewing the information.
    4. Click Report to view an ASCII-format report of the task changes.
        The report lists the software installed, whether the policy was successful, and so on.
22. In the Status field, set the task status to Closed.
     The status reason is set to Success automatically. You can select a different status reason, for example, Failed or Canceled.
23. After you make all your modifications and enter all required information, save and close the task.
24. On the Change form, refresh the children of the task group table.
     The status of the first task is marked as Closed and the status of the second task is now Waiting.
25. Open the second task:
    1. Select the Check Compliance task and then click View.
    2. On the Task form, click Details to view the target and package compliance.
    3. Verify the compliance in Policy Manager.
    4. Close the Viewer window when you are finished to return to the Task form.
26. In the Status field, set the task status to Closed.
     You can view the work information for the task as needed. The task record is updated with the changes performed by the task.
27. After you make all your modifications, save and close the task.
28. On the Change form, refresh the children of the task group and the task and task groups tables.
     All tasks and the task group are marked as Closed.
29. Click Save.