Runbook Properties

The following configuration steps provide general information about Orchestrator runbook properties. In each runbook that you create, you have to configure the runbook settings described in this topic.

When you plan a new runbook, it is helpful to start with a defined procedure that you want to automate. Specifically, you should determine the following:

When the runbook runs
What actions the runbook takes
What data are generated from each action

For an example of how to configure a runbook by using a specific activity, see How to Configure a Runbook.

For additional help, please refer to the on-line documentation for System Center 2012 - Orchestrator.

To define the properties of a runbook

Right-click the Runbook tab and then click Properties to open the Runbook Properties dialog box.
Configure the settings on the General tab. The following tables provide the configuration instructions.
Click Finish to save your settings.

General Tab

Settings	Configuration instructions
Name	Type a descriptive name for the runbook.
Description	Type a detailed description of the runbook.
Schedule	Click the ellipsis (...) button to browse for a Schedule to assign to the runbook. The runbook only runs on the dates and times specified on the Schedule. For more information, see Using Schedules.

Runbook Servers Tab

Settings	Configuration instructions
Runbook Servers	The Runbook Servers tab displays the list of runbook servers that are assigned to run this runbook. If the list is blank, the default primary runbook server runs the runbook.

Logging Tab

Settings	Configuration instructions
Store Activity-Specific Published Data Store Common Published Data	Select either one of these items to the runbook log and the data store. You can also exclude them by leaving them clear.

Settings

Configuration instructions

Store Activity-Specific Published Data

Store Common Published Data

Select either one of these items to the runbook log and the data store. You can also exclude them by leaving them clear.

Event Notifications Tab

Settings	Configuration instructions
Seconds	If you want to be notified when this runbook runs for more than a specified number of seconds, enter a value in the seconds box.
Runbook fails to run	Select the check box if you want to be notified when the Runbook fails to run.

Job Concurrency Tab

Settings	Configuration instructions
Maximum number of simultaneous jobs	To configure the maximum number of simultaneous jobs for a runbook, type a value in the Maximum number of simultaneous jobs box. The following limitations apply: You cannot run multiple, simultaneous jobs for runbooks that start with “Monitor” activities. If you try to change the maximum number of simultaneous jobs for these runbooks, the Runbook Properties resets the number to 1 and displays an error message. Orchestrator runs simultaneous jobs for runbooks up to the maximum runbook processing limit set by the Runbook Server Runbook Throttling tool. If you are using non-Microsoft applications, such as ticketing or system monitoring tools, and you are not sure whether the application can handle parallel processing, you might want to keep the maximum number of simultaneous jobs at a value of 1 for these runbooks. Before you change the maximum number of simultaneous runbook jobs, verify that each runbook instance can finish successfully. For example, file and folder operations can be sensitive when multiple, simultaneous instances of the runbook are running. If your runbook creates a folder, places files into it, and then deletes the folder when it is finished, one instance of the runbook might delete the folder before other instances are finished with it. In this case, if you are not sure whether your runbook instance succeeds, leave the maximum number of simultaneous jobs for these runbooks at a value of 1.

Settings

Configuration instructions

Maximum number of simultaneous jobs

To configure the maximum number of simultaneous jobs for a runbook, type a value in the Maximum number of simultaneous jobs box. The following limitations apply:

You cannot run multiple, simultaneous jobs for runbooks that start with “Monitor” activities. If you try to change the maximum number of simultaneous jobs for these runbooks, the Runbook Properties resets the number to 1 and displays an error message.
Orchestrator runs simultaneous jobs for runbooks up to the maximum runbook processing limit set by the Runbook Server Runbook Throttling tool.
If you are using non-Microsoft applications, such as ticketing or system monitoring tools, and you are not sure whether the application can handle parallel processing, you might want to keep the maximum number of simultaneous jobs at a value of 1 for these runbooks.
Before you change the maximum number of simultaneous runbook jobs, verify that each runbook instance can finish successfully. For example, file and folder operations can be sensitive when multiple, simultaneous instances of the runbook are running. If your runbook creates a folder, places files into it, and then deletes the folder when it is finished, one instance of the runbook might delete the folder before other instances are finished with it. In this case, if you are not sure whether your runbook instance succeeds, leave the maximum number of simultaneous jobs for these runbooks at a value of 1.

Returned Data Tab

Settings	Configuration instructions
Returned Data	When creating nested runbooks, you can set output data of a child runbook. On the Runbook Data tab, you can create the schema for the data that this runbook returns when the Invoke Runbook activity runs it.
Add Modify Remove	Use Add, Modify, and Remove to create and edit each named runbook data item that will be returned, or to remove that named runbook data. Use the Return Data activity to set values for the returned data when the runbook is run. The runbook data is used when you use the Invoke Runbook activity to invoke a runbook and the Wait for completion setting is selected.

Settings

Configuration instructions

Returned Data

When creating nested runbooks, you can set output data of a child runbook. On the Runbook Data tab, you can create the schema for the data that this runbook returns when the Invoke Runbook activity runs it.

Add

Modify

Remove

Use Add, Modify, and Remove to create and edit each named runbook data item that will be returned, or to remove that named runbook data. Use the Return Data activity to set values for the returned data when the runbook is run. The runbook data is used when you use the Invoke Runbook activity to invoke a runbook and the Wait for completion setting is selected.