Configuring Operating System Commands


Overview

Tasks

Included with

Tivoli Change Management administration

Overview

Using operating system commands in Tivoli Change Management

Operating system commands can be executed from within Tivoli Change Management. Operating system commands can run before or after a task, or as an action for a business rule. For example, as part of a change involving the installation of new computers, you could schedule the execution of a command to distribute software to the computers. Or, you could run a version control command or a customized Tivoli Script program for each asset affected by a change.

Note: Commands executed before or after a task and commands executed by business rules that are not time-dependent run on the workstation of a user. Commands executed by time-dependent rules run on the workstation which is running the TCM Scheduler.

You can add, modify, view, or delete operating system commands.


Tasks

Adding a command

You can add a command to run from Tivoli Change Management.

To add an operating system command:

  1. From the Configuration menu, choose Configure Change Management.
    Result: The List Maintenance dialog box appears.
  2. From the List Maintenance dialog box, choose the Commands tab.
  3. Choose Add.
    Result: The Commands dialog box appears.
  4. In the Name box, type a unique and descriptive name for the command.
  5. In the Do Command box, type the command you want to add.
    If the command takes parameters, add them now. See Using command parameters.
  6. Choose OK.
    Result: The List Maintenance dialog box appears.

Using command parameters

You can insert a parameter, remove a parameter, or specify that a command be executed for each instance of a selected database field.

To specify parameters for an operating system command:

  1. From the Configuration menu, choose Configure Change Management.
    Result: The List Maintenance dialog box appears.
  2. From the List Maintenance dialog box, choose the Commands tab.
  3. Select the command you want to use with command parameters.
  4. From the Table Name list, select a table name.
  5. From the Field Name list, select a field name.
  6. Select the Send List check box if you want the parameters to appear as a single comma-separated parameter. Otherwise, they appear as multiple parameters separated by spaces.
  7. Choose For Each if you want the command to execute for each instance of the field name.
    For example, if you selected the Asset_Tag field and you want to execute the command against each asset tag, you must choose For Each.
    Result: The table and field names appear in the For Each box.
  8. Choose Insert.
    Result: The parameter is added to the With Parameters box.

Note: To remove a parameter, under With Parameters, select the parameter to remove, then choose Remove.

Modifying a command

You can modify a command, even if it was already assigned to a model or change.

Note: When you modify a command, all instances of that command are affected. If you modify a command that is already in a change schedule, it could adversely affect that change. Performing a query on the command to determine its usage in active changes and models is recommended.

To modify a command:

  1. From the Configuration menu, choose Configure Change Management.
    Result: The List Maintenance dialog box appears.
  2. From the List Maintenance dialog box, choose the Commands tab.
  3. Select the command to modify.
  4. Choose Edit.
    Result: The Commands dialog box containing the command definition appears.
  5. Modify the command and its definition.
  6. Choose OK.
  7. Result: The Commands tab of the List Maintenance dialog box appears.
Viewing a command You can view a command without making changes to the command.

To view a command:

  1. From the Configuration menu, choose Configure Change Management.
    Result: The List Maintenance dialog box appears.
  2. From the List Maintenance dialog box, choose the Commands tab.
  3. Select the command to view.
  4. Choose View.
    Result: The Commands dialog box containing the data appears.
  5. View the data.
  6. Choose Close.
    Result: The Commands dialog box of the List Maintenance dialog box appears.
Deleting a command You can delete a command unless it has been used in a task or a rule action.

To delete a command:

  1. From the Configuration menu, choose Configure Change Management.
    Result: The List Maintenance dialog box appears.
  2. From the List Maintenance dialog box, choose the Commands tab.
  3. Select the command to delete.
  4. Choose Delete.
    Note: Tivoli Change Management does not display a confirmation message about the deletion.
  5. Choose Close.
    Result: The Tivoli Service Desk window appears.