1. business and industrial
2. business operations
3. management
4. business process

| Business Process Protectors |
| Business Service Management | Active Error Identification | Event Driven Automation |
| Error Handling and Escalation | Intelligent Notification | Process Reporting |
| IT Management | Business and IT Automation | Web Dashboards |
| Mobile APP | Master Slave Controller |
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AmdoSoft Systems | b4 | White Paper
Table of Contents
OVERVIEW ...................................................................................................................................................................... 3
AmdoSoft/b4 Architecture ........................................................................................................................................... 4
b4 Dashboard ................................................................................................................................................................. 6
Management Console ................................................................................................................................................... 7
Monitoring ....................................................................................................................................................................... 8
Automation (Graphical Rules Engine) ....................................................................................................................... 9
Manipulating the Object Model ............................................................................................................................ 9
Automating Client Applications ........................................................................................................................... 9
Graphical Rules Engine ....................................................................................................................................... 10
Possible Approaches ............................................................................................................................................ 10
Rule Development and Execution Cycle .......................................................................................................... 12
Rule Administration ............................................................................................................................................. 12
Rule Notation......................................................................................................................................................... 13
Example of a simple rule .................................................................................................................................... 14
Provisioning .................................................................................................................................................................. 15
Operating System Provisioning ......................................................................................................................... 16
Operating System Installation ........................................................................................................................... 17
Application Provisioning ...................................................................................................................................... 17
Patch Provisioning ................................................................................................................................................ 19
Content Provisioning............................................................................................................................................ 19
Pod Provisioning ................................................................................................................................................... 20
Remote Control ............................................................................................................................................................ 22
Desktop sharing ........................................................................................................................................................... 23
Report Designer Engine ............................................................................................................................................. 25
Maintenance Module ................................................................................................................................................... 27
Network Topology ........................................................................................................................................................ 29
b4 Software Management Modules (SMM) ............................................................................................................ 30
Antivirus SMM ....................................................................................................................................................... 31
b4MasterController SMM ..................................................................................................................................... 32
Backup SMM .......................................................................................................................................................... 33
CoreMedia Smart Content SMM ........................................................................................................................ 33
EMC Networker SMM ........................................................................................................................................... 34
Exchange SMM ...................................................................................................................................................... 34
HP SIM SMM .......................................................................................................................................................... 35
Inventory Management SMM ............................................................................................................................. 36
MSSQL/ORACLE SMM .......................................................................................................................................... 37
Nagios SMM ........................................................................................................................................................... 38
Patch Management SMM..................................................................................................................................... 38
SAP SMM ................................................................................................................................................................ 39
SchleupenEnergielogistik SMM and SchleupenMarktteilnehmer SMM ...................................................... 40
Securepoint SMM .................................................................................................................................................. 40
Security SMM ........................................................................................................................................................ 41
SNMP SMM ............................................................................................................................................................. 41
System Management SMM ................................................................................................................................. 42
Tomcat SMM .......................................................................................................................................................... 42
vSphere SMM ........................................................................................................................................................ 43
BOTTOM LINE ............................................................................................................................................................... 44
| Business Process Protectors | Business Service Management | Active Error Identification |
| Event Driven Automation | Error Handling and Escalation | Intelligent Notification | Process Reporting | IT Management |
| Business and IT Automation | Web Dashboards | Mobile APP | Master Slave Controller |
©2015 AmdoSoft Systems
AmdoSoft Systems | b4 | White Paper
OVERVIEW
Today the main challenges for deployment, operations and maintenance of Internet services continue
to fall within the following categories:



Increasing complexity,
Narrowly focused tools,
Need for scalable automation.
Therefore, complex data centers are looking for IT automation as a way to reduce costs and create
greater efficiencies in heterogeneous environments.
AmdoSoft/b4 is an innovative and patent-pending technology that allows flexible control of Internet
data center solutions no matter where the systems are located. It creates an automation platform for
managing the broad base of components in an Internet data center solution. The technology delivers a
robust and adaptive technology to meet the challenges of managing a complicated IT infrastructure.
By offering a new level of flexibility in the management of IT services, AmdoSoft/b4 represents an
excellent alternative for companies that want the benefits of outsourcing but prefer to maintain a
measure of control over their solution – both in operations management and in location. And by
enabling powerful Internet operations management of a solution hosted virtually anywhere, this
innovative technology could separate, once and for all, the decision to outsource from the decision of
where the hardware platforms will be physically located.
Supported hardware and software:


Managed Server Operating Systems
- Linux (RedHat, Suse, Ubuntu, Debian, CentOS)
- UNIX (Sun Solaris, HP-UX, IBM AIX)
- Windows 2000/XP/2003/Vista/2008/7
- Mac OS
- VMWARE ESX/vSphere
Network Elements
- Any SNMP or SYSLOG device
- Securepoint Firewall (embedded b4 Agent)
| Business Process Protectors | Business Service Management | Active Error Identification |
| Event Driven Automation | Error Handling and Escalation | Intelligent Notification | Process Reporting | IT Management |
| Business and IT Automation | Web Dashboards | Mobile APP | Master Slave Controller |
©2015 AmdoSoft Systems
AmdoSoft Systems | b4 | White Paper
AmdoSoft/b4 Architecture
AmdoSoft/b4 delivers a robust and adaptive technology to meet the challenges of managing a
complicated IT infrastructure. The AmdoSoft/b4 architecture describes a structure for managing
components of a data center service throughout the service life cycle.
It is deployed as the b4 pod, which is composed of a controller and the customer pod. Controller allows
hardware, operating system, applications, storage and network infrastructure to be managed as a
single unit - customer pod.
The technology is comprised of four elements:




“Customer pod” – utilizes number of devices to provide an internet service;
Controller – integrates and manages customer pod;
Management console – designed to accommodate the users tasks within data center;
Automation tools – tools for scripting and automation.
| Business Process Protectors | Business Service Management | Active Error Identification |
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| Business and IT Automation | Web Dashboards | Mobile APP | Master Slave Controller |
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AmdoSoft Systems | b4 | White Paper
AmdoSoft/b4 is designed to rapidly integrate with a broad base of devices, applications and services.
The following figures show the basics of b4 architecture:
Management
console
Automation
tools
Controller
Customer pod
Figure 1: Four b4 Elements
framework
pod
Device groups
 Device types:
- Linux
- Windows
- Solaris
 Installed on
every device:
- Software
- Monitors
pod
pod
Service groups
 Services:
- Exchange service
- Terminal service
- Web server
Figure 2: b4 Architecture
| Business Process Protectors | Business Service Management | Active Error Identification |
| Event Driven Automation | Error Handling and Escalation | Intelligent Notification | Process Reporting | IT Management |
| Business and IT Automation | Web Dashboards | Mobile APP | Master Slave Controller |
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b4 Dashboard
b4 Dashboard is the stating point of the software, and it is designed to provide the users with the
overall system status and report overview.
Figure 3: b4 Dashboard Screen
| Business Process Protectors | Business Service Management | Active Error Identification |
| Event Driven Automation | Error Handling and Escalation | Intelligent Notification | Process Reporting | IT Management |
| Business and IT Automation | Web Dashboards | Mobile APP | Master Slave Controller |
©2015 AmdoSoft Systems
AmdoSoft Systems | b4 | White Paper
Management Console
Management console comes with the software, and it is designed to accommodate the users tasks
within data center. Management console still requires that a user view the console and manually
respond to a state change in the model. Automation is achieved by attaching a client application, which
can perform these same tasks automatically.
Figure 4: Management Console Screen
| Business Process Protectors | Business Service Management | Active Error Identification |
| Event Driven Automation | Error Handling and Escalation | Intelligent Notification | Process Reporting | IT Management |
| Business and IT Automation | Web Dashboards | Mobile APP | Master Slave Controller |
©2015 AmdoSoft Systems
AmdoSoft Systems | b4 | White Paper
Monitoring
AmdoSoft/b4 log file provides monitoring 24/7 in real-time. Therefore, it should be possible to find out
in every moment if some event log, server log, antivirus log, etc. occurred and send out alert
notification e-mail to responsible person.
Each object model has its own state, and as soon as the object is created in AmdoSoft/b4, its
monitoring starts automatically. IT administrator‟s responsibility is to define actions for certain event
types.
Figure 5: Monitor Configuration Wizard Screen
There are several solutions offered by AmdoSoft/b4 for monitoring activity:



Use AmdoSoft/b4 existing log file monitor – it has powerful filtering possibilities, but it should
be exactly defined what to monitor (e.g. define event source or event‟s ID).
Implement new AmdoSoft/b4 log file monitoring – this way it is possible to achieve greater
possibility of filtering and log file reporting. It enables to implement exactly what needed
(detect any kind of error, warning and send alert notification e-mail with detailed log
description.
Write custom AmdoSoft/b4 driver.
| Business Process Protectors | Business Service Management | Active Error Identification |
| Event Driven Automation | Error Handling and Escalation | Intelligent Notification | Process Reporting | IT Management |
| Business and IT Automation | Web Dashboards | Mobile APP | Master Slave Controller |
©2015 AmdoSoft Systems
AmdoSoft Systems | b4 | White Paper
Automation (Graphical Rules Engine)
The current Network Monitoring Tools provide only rudimentary support for automation of
administrative processes. Usually these tools are used to detect problems with services and devices
automatically. When it comes down to an automatic response on certain events, scripts have to be
programmed to define rules for the reactions on these events. This approach leads to some serious
problems:







An administrator is not necessarily a good programmer (and vice versa).
General purpose scripting languages do not support directly methods for handling network
objects such as agents, monitors, …
The freedom of general purpose scripting languages leads to very different solutions for the
same kind of problem and also to a lot of freedom in creating errors. The patterns used by one
administrator cannot easily be recognized by another.
It is a lot of work to program rules line by line.
Usually there is no documentation for the created rules.
If the creator of a rule is on holiday, nobody really likes to or can change the rules.
The dependencies between network objects and rules and between different rules are not
explicit visible. These dependencies can cause some serious trouble.
These rules vary typically from dozens to hundreds of lines of code. In huge networks hundreds of
these rules are necessary.
Primary design goals of the AmdoSoft/b4 architecture are to allow for the automation of deployment,
operations, and maintenance tasks within the data center. The architecture defines an object model,
which virtualizes the data center. The architecture realizes the manipulation of these objects in the real
world by performing operations on actual devices. The abstraction hides the complexity of individual
service implementations.
Manipulating the Object Model
The object manager manages the object model and the object realizations. The object manager provides a Client
API, which allows various clients applications to be written that can retrieve data from the model and manipulate
the objects in the model.
Automating Client Applications
Within AmdoSoft/b4 there are intrinsic and extrinsic client applications that perform various levels of
automation. There are 3 methods of adding automation logic:
1. Coding in a procedure language
2. Parameterization of operational logic
3. Graphical Rules Engine
| Business Process Protectors | Business Service Management | Active Error Identification |
| Event Driven Automation | Error Handling and Escalation | Intelligent Notification | Process Reporting | IT Management |
| Business and IT Automation | Web Dashboards | Mobile APP | Master Slave Controller |
©2015 AmdoSoft Systems
AmdoSoft Systems | b4 | White Paper
Graphical Rules Engine
The b4 Controller hosts a Graphical Rules Engine, which allows flexible method for visualization,
modeling and ad-hoc implementation of IT processes. The management console has a Rules Editor for
a user to quickly write a rule and enable it to run with the user‟s privileges. The rule sets execute with
a given roles so access control is maintained and the rule has no more authority than the role which
created it. A set of rules, which monitor a service and, upon failure, the controller e-mails the operator
and attempts to restart the service.
Possible Approaches
Graphical General Purpose Tools
There are a variety of graphical development tools in the market that could be used to address this problem.
These tools usually use graphical notations such as UML to describe structure and behavior of software. From the
graphical description of rules the code could be generated automatically.
This approach would solve a couple of problems:
 The rules need not to be programmed line by line.
 The graphical description of the rules is also a good documentation.
 Another administrator can more easily understand the rules.
 The dependencies between network objects and rules and between different rules are explicitly
visible.
But there are still some problems left or even increased by this approach:
 An administrator still needs to be a good programmer.
 It takes weeks or even month of training and experience to be able to work with these graphical
development tools, just to make some rules.
 Graphical general purpose tools also do not support directly methods for handling network
objects such as agents, monitors, …
 The freedom of graphical general-purpose tools leads also to very different solutions for the
same kind of problem and also to a lot of freedom in creating errors. The patterns used by one
administrator cannot easily be recognized by another.
| Business Process Protectors | Business Service Management | Active Error Identification |
| Event Driven Automation | Error Handling and Escalation | Intelligent Notification | Process Reporting | IT Management |
| Business and IT Automation | Web Dashboards | Mobile APP | Master Slave Controller |
©2015 AmdoSoft Systems
AmdoSoft Systems | b4 | White Paper
Graphical Domain Specific Tools
A graphical domain specific tool is a software tool that focuses on the solution of a specific task.
Therefore this approach cannot only solve the same problems like the graphical general-purpose tools,
but can also address the remaining problems:




An administrator does not need to be a good programmer, because he only has a couple of
methods to deal with.
Since they have a clear focus on one problem it takes only a couple of hours or days of training
and experience to be able to work with these tools.
A graphical domain specific tool can support directly methods for handling network objects such
as agents and monitors because it is designed to support them.
The restricted and specific set of methods leads to similar solutions for the same kind of
problem. Hence patterns used by one administrator can easily be recognized by another.
The AmdoSoft/b4 Graphical Rules Engine (b4/GRE) is a graphical domain specific tool, which allows the
IT administrator to create and manage rules/processes to describe an automated response changes in
the IT infrastructure.
Figure 6: Graphical Rules Editor Screen
| Business Process Protectors | Business Service Management | Active Error Identification |
| Event Driven Automation | Error Handling and Escalation | Intelligent Notification | Process Reporting | IT Management |
| Business and IT Automation | Web Dashboards | Mobile APP | Master Slave Controller |
©2015 AmdoSoft Systems
AmdoSoft Systems | b4 | White Paper
Rule Development and Execution Cycle
1. The administrator describes (graphical modeling) how to react if certain events occur within the
b4 controlled IT infrastructure. The automated rule checker detects syntax and semantic errors
during the modeling process.
2. b4 Controller monitors the objects and services and changes the object state accordingly (e.g.
SQL Database state is DOWN). If a monitored event or combination of events occurs, it triggers
a specific rule to fix the problem.
3. The Rules Engine executes and controls the activated rules.
4. The rules can be configured to inform the administrator per Email or SMS about the status of
the operation.
5. Incident Management Systems can be automatically informed and incident created (ITIL).
Figure 7: Rule AmdoSoft/b4 automation process
Rule Administration
The Rule Administration is done with the Rule Hierarchy View:





Creation of rules:
Creation of groups:
Rules can be grouped hierarchically and therefore handled more easily.
Single rules or groups of rules can be activated and deactivated.
Rules and groups can be shown and hidden manually or by using filters. This is very useful in
bigger environments that require a large amount of rules.
| Business Process Protectors | Business Service Management | Active Error Identification |
| Event Driven Automation | Error Handling and Escalation | Intelligent Notification | Process Reporting | IT Management |
| Business and IT Automation | Web Dashboards | Mobile APP | Master Slave Controller |
©2015 AmdoSoft Systems
AmdoSoft Systems | b4 | White Paper
Figure 7.1: Graphical Rules Editor - Hierarchy
Rule Notation
For the description of the rules a simple notation is used.

Objects (monitoring of events):

Actions (execution of actions):

Logical operators (creation of more complex trigger conditions):

Control structures (control of the rule flow):

Templates (re-usage of rules or part of rules):
| Business Process Protectors | Business Service Management | Active Error Identification |
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| Business and IT Automation | Web Dashboards | Mobile APP | Master Slave Controller |
©2015 AmdoSoft Systems
AmdoSoft Systems | b4 | White Paper
Example of a simple rule

The rule is triggered if Database 1
and Database 2 are both down

Database 1 and 2 are restarted

If the restart is not successful, the
restart will be executed another time
Loop Arguments:

n:2: the restart is tried two
times

t:10: the evaluation of the up
conditions of Database 1 and 2
is evaluated after 10 seconds

If the restart succeeded a “success
mail” is sent

If the restart (after n-times) finally
fails a “failure mail” is sent
| Business Process Protectors | Business Service Management | Active Error Identification |
| Event Driven Automation | Error Handling and Escalation | Intelligent Notification | Process Reporting | IT Management |
| Business and IT Automation | Web Dashboards | Mobile APP | Master Slave Controller |
©2015 AmdoSoft Systems
AmdoSoft Systems | b4 | White Paper
Provisioning
AmdoSoft/b4 software provides a mechanism for monitoring, correlation status and controlling a
heterogeneous mix of components, which participate in delivering an Internet service. This unifies
management of providing a programmatic mechanism to create new services. Then the technology
would extend beyond managing a static set of components but also participate in the active growth
and scaling of the over system
Service
Service
Create Service
Software
Install Software
Resource
Resource
Install Operating
System
Figure 8 shows the base service delivery objects.
The service provisioning process is accomplished by
installing software on a Resource. The Resource
object is defined as a server running an operating
system.
This creates a Software Element object. The
Software Element object, in turn, creates a Service
object. Once the Service object is created, it can be
started to make that Service visible on the network.
Available Device
Figure 8: Service Provisioning
| Business Process Protectors | Business Service Management | Active Error Identification |
| Event Driven Automation | Error Handling and Escalation | Intelligent Notification | Process Reporting | IT Management |
| Business and IT Automation | Web Dashboards | Mobile APP | Master Slave Controller |
©2015 AmdoSoft Systems
AmdoSoft Systems | b4 | White Paper
Operating System Provisioning
Provisioning is the process by which objects are created. A Resource is defined as a device with an
Operating System installed. Hence, OS Provisioning is the mean by which an un-provisioned device is
transformed into a Resource. Once a Resource has been created, Software Provisioning is the mean by
which a Software Element is created on a Resource. A Software Element represents an installed
software package. A Software Element may support multiple services, just as one Resource may
support multiple software elements.
Unattended OS Provisioning provides numerous benefits:
 The first is the reduction in time taken to install an Operating System.
 Additionally OS installation is standardized and controlled through a single Management
Console.
 Moreover, provisioning can be done concurrently.
Resource
Resource
Available
Device
Unavailable
Device
Figure 9 shows the transition of the objects
through Unavailable Device and Available Device
states. When a new server is booted, it only has a
MAC address for each network card and no IP
address. This is called the Unavailable Device state.
The system is downloaded with an image, which
can be controlled by the b4 controller. Once the
image reports to the controller, the device appears
on the management console as an Available Device,
which the MAC address displayed as its name. At
this point, an OS provisioning package can be
installed on the Available devices.
Once the
installation is complete and the device rebooted, it
appears as a new Resource.
Figure 9: Unprovisioned States
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Operating System Installation
The management console displays a list of operating systems that can be installed. The user selects an
operating system and the pane refreshes with the OS installation parameters that are required to
install that OS provisioning package. Once the installation parameters are complete, the OS installation
begins. This installation should be complete without any further intervention.
Figure 10: Management Console – Available Devices Screen
Unattended OS provisioning provides numerous benefits. The first is the reduction in time taken to
install an operating system to approximately 10 minutes for Linux 7.1, less than 30 minutes for
Windows NT, and less than 60 minutes for Windows 2000. Additionally, this provisioning can be done
concurrently.
Application Provisioning
The management console displays a list of software provisioning packages that can be installed. The
user selects a software package and the pane refreshes with the software installation parameters that
are required to install the selected software-provisioning package. Parameters preceded by a star are
required parameters. Once the installation parameters are complete, the software installation begins.
This installation should be complete without any further intervention. An installed software package is
a software element.
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©2015 AmdoSoft Systems
AmdoSoft Systems | b4 | White Paper
Once the service exists, it is started
to begin execution of the software
element and enable access to the
service via the network.
Figure 11: Software Provisioning Screen
Once a software element exists, it can
create a service. This is accomplished by
selecting the software element (via the
Device pane or the Software pane) and
pressing the “Create Service” icon.
Figure 12: Create Service Screen
| Business Process Protectors | Business Service Management | Active Error Identification |
| Event Driven Automation | Error Handling and Escalation | Intelligent Notification | Process Reporting | IT Management |
| Business and IT Automation | Web Dashboards | Mobile APP | Master Slave Controller |
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Patch Provisioning
The b4 technology accommodates also patch-provisioning for enhanced security and improved
performance. The management console displays a list of software versions and patches that can be
installed. When new operating systems or application patches are released, administrators can quickly
deploy server snapshots to all servers remotely. By reducing complexity of server deployment, b4
reduces server downtime and operator errors in setting up or configuring servers.
Content Provisioning
The final step in making a service fully functional is to install its content.
From the management console, the user selects a target Service on which to install a content
provisioning package. The management console displays a list of content provisioning packages that
can be installed. The user selects a package and the pane refreshes with the installation parameters
that are required to install the selected content provisioning package. Once the installation parameters
are complete, the content installation begins. This installation should be complete without any further
intervention.
The AmdoSoft/b4 Content Provisioning
Architecture is a response to service
providers who need the connectivity,
reliability, scalability and management
required for large-scale commercial
content hosting. It delivers high
performance and availability, and
improves your responsiveness to new
market opportunities.
Figure 13: Content Provisioning Screen
| Business Process Protectors | Business Service Management | Active Error Identification |
| Event Driven Automation | Error Handling and Escalation | Intelligent Notification | Process Reporting | IT Management |
| Business and IT Automation | Web Dashboards | Mobile APP | Master Slave Controller |
©2015 AmdoSoft Systems
AmdoSoft Systems | b4 | White Paper
Pod Provisioning
The sections above discuss how different types of provisioning are accomplished but focus on the provisioning as a
singular action on an object. The management structure objects within the b4 model allow for the same operations
to be performed on a collection object, which is interpreted as having the same action performed on each member
object. These actions are handling in parallel. In addition, these operations are accessible via the Client API such
that a client application can be written to provide higher levels of functionality.
The pod provisioning application is one such client application, which reads in a file, which defines the
order in which multiple components of a pod are to be provisioned. In addition, it can create the
management hierarchy from scratch or append the newly create objects to an existing management
hierarchy.
The Provisioning System gives the controller the ability to add compute devices and services to the
customer pod. The controller recognizes a new system when it is connected into the network (and
rebooted) and displays it on the management console. The user interacts with the management
console to select the operating system and then the application, which will be installed on the device.
Once installed and started, the device and service can be added into the hierarchy. In addition,
existing devices, already managed by the controller, can have additional applications installed on them.
Questions to start with:
 Why should a customer use AmdoSoft/b4?
 What are the benefits?
 What kind of procedures is on Exchange Server?
 What is an average time to maintain Exchange server for 100, 500 or more users?
 Commercial view and economic view of AmdoSoft/b4
 Scope: IT manager manages 1000 employees and each one of them use Exchange server. What
is a standard business and procedures for IT administrator? How much time do they spend on
executing the same procedures?
 For how much can the AmdoSoft/b4 reduce the administration job? 40%? More or less?
Collected info:
 Exchange server provisioning – unattended install – 1 click for installing Exchange server
 AmdoSoft/b4 can be used when reinstalling the Exchange – reduced time period
 When using AmdoSoft/b4 in Exchange server installation, AmdoSoft/b4 software also controls
all other Exchange services, incoming and outgoing queues (Server occupancy, messages
waiting list,)
 Define „mail monitor‟ in AmdoSoft/b4 – it connects to account and checks if server receives and
sends correctly e-mail messages.
 AmdoSoft/b4 is not directly connected to Exchange – it can also be executed on any other Mail
Server (using POP3 account access)
 If one of the Exchange servers is not working, AmdoSoft/b4 automatically restarts the service.
It can also send notification e-mail or do any previously defined action (e.g. starts a script for
certain situation).
 Problem solving action can be defined also in case of monitoring problem (restarting the
service, restarting Exchange server)
 AmdoSoft/b4 can execute automatically basic troubleshooting procedures
 Exchange server depends on several services:
- Some services affect malfunctioning of some Exchange services
- And some services cause a complete break down of the Exchange
 AmdoSoft/b4 monitors the functioning of those services:
- It restarts them automatically or executes some other predefined action that automatically
solves the problem of certain service (up to certain level)
 AmdoSoft/b4 can be used for creating mailboxes, adding servers to infrastructure
| Business Process Protectors | Business Service Management | Active Error Identification |
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| Business and IT Automation | Web Dashboards | Mobile APP | Master Slave Controller |
©2015 AmdoSoft Systems
AmdoSoft Systems | b4 | White Paper
Those actions do not happen every day
Intrusion detection, new patches, services monitoring
Administration of exchange objects
Creation and administration of access lists, administration of Public Folders, Virtual server
administration (several domains on 1 server)
- AmdoSoft/b4 could start script that automatically creates mailboxes, aliases, even define
permissions on exchange objects; user list can also be automatically processed
-
AmdoSoft/b4 automates server provisioning through a set of intelligent tools in line with actual IT
organization‟s infrastructure deployment and configuration workflow. Whether you need to deploy new
servers or re-purpose existing servers, b4 optimizes and secures your servers operations flexibly.
IT Administrator Tasks:
 E-mail set up
 Synchronization set up on the both server and remote sites
 Importing files
 Ini.files
 Troubleshooting
 Common user errors
 How to access the newsgroups for help
 Customizing toolbars
 User settings
 Adding/modifying users
 Deleting records
 Maintaining the database
 Server agents
AmdoSoft/b4:
 Increases efficiency
 Enables rapid server deployment
 Discovers and tracks server
 Re-purposes server
 Automates provisioning
Increases efficiency
With AmdoSoft/b4 customer can build, operate and optimize server infrastructure, while reducing
hardware overhead, and increase productivity.
 Build – standardization of server configuration management and rapid servers deployment with
minimum human intervention or error.
 Operate – servers‟ utilization and re-purposing based on business demands enabling customer
to perform workload management and maximize investment of hardware assets.
 Optimize – enabling planning of resource usage, consolidation, migration to new platform or
moving to a utility computing model
AmdoSoft/b4 simplifies IT management of operations across the heterogeneous environments, lowers
the total cost of ownership (TCO), improves asset management, and increases service levels.
| Business Process Protectors | Business Service Management | Active Error Identification |
| Event Driven Automation | Error Handling and Escalation | Intelligent Notification | Process Reporting | IT Management |
| Business and IT Automation | Web Dashboards | Mobile APP | Master Slave Controller |
©2015 AmdoSoft Systems
AmdoSoft Systems | b4 | White Paper
Rapid server deployment
AmdoSoft/b4 enables customer to deploy servers with different snapshots and in context of your
server to network connectivity.
Server discovery and tracking
AmdoSoft/b4 discovers new servers in the bare metal state and loads snapshots of a complete and
fully configured server in minutes. Its provisioning capability locks down each server setting in relation
to its surrounding devices, including switches and server load balancers.
Flexible server re-purposing
With AmdoSoft/b4 customer can simply move a server from one network segment into another by
loading the appropriate snapshot and personalizing its NICs to customer‟s designated network
segments or VLANs.
Automated provisioning
AmdoSoft/b4 enables customer to capture snapshots of servers with specific configurations and store
them in a central location. When new operating systems or application patches are released,
administrators can quickly deploy server snapshots to all servers remotely. By reducing complexity of
server deployment, AmdoSoft/b4 reduces server downtime and operator errors in setting up or
configuring servers.
Remote Control
AmdoSoft/b4 software offers Remote Control feature providing you with easy, fast and secure Remote
Desktop Management to all your managed computers. It is fast and secures remote access and host
remote control solution for anyone having access to AmdoSoft/b4 Console.
For providing this functionality AmdoSoft/b4 software is using third-party tools:
 RealVNC VNC (VNC Server Free Edition 4.1.2 on Windows, VNC 4.1.2 GNU GPL on Linux)
 Microsoft RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol)
Remote Control software on agent side starts in Reverse mode requiring no open ports on Agent side
which provides you with Remote Control feature even behind Firewalls and NAT.
| Business Process Protectors | Business Service Management | Active Error Identification |
| Event Driven Automation | Error Handling and Escalation | Intelligent Notification | Process Reporting | IT Management |
| Business and IT Automation | Web Dashboards | Mobile APP | Master Slave Controller |
©2015 AmdoSoft Systems
AmdoSoft Systems | b4 | White Paper
Desktop sharing
AmdoSoft/b4 software is integrated with pcvisit EasySupport to offer Desktop Sharing to all managed
computers and professional technical support via the Internet.
pcvisit Software AG offers this product as the slim-line solution for technical support with the benefits
of online support in real time, fast diagnosis, independency of location, and obvious financial benefits.
pcvisit EasySupport includes the following features:
 Showing, seeing and remote controlling functions
 Highly secure encrypted transfer of clipboard contents, files and folder
 Invitation function via session link
 Remote Comfort Functions:
o Remote UAC
o Remote Restart
o Remote User Account Change
 Uninterrupted support through reconnection mechanisms
Using Desktop Sharing feature through pcvisit EasySupport is easy and intuitive and it is integrated
within AmdoSoft/b4 Dashboard and Console.
FEATURES
BENEFITS
Centralized Management
Web-based
Console
Enables provisioning and management of servers with a
standard, easy-to-use Web-based browser interface.
Remote Server
Access
Provides secure remote access to server assets across the
network
Discovery
Server
Enables integrated auto-discovery of server assets in the
bare-metal state as well as deployed state.
Security
Encryption
Provides encryption of communication between b4 server and
managed server assets.
| Business Process Protectors | Business Service Management | Active Error Identification |
| Event Driven Automation | Error Handling and Escalation | Intelligent Notification | Process Reporting | IT Management |
| Business and IT Automation | Web Dashboards | Mobile APP | Master Slave Controller |
©2015 AmdoSoft Systems
AmdoSoft Systems | b4 | White Paper
Software Deployment
OS updates
Allows you to deploy OS patches and updates.
Software
deployment
Enables deployment of software such as applications, patches,
utilities, updates and content on an ongoing basis.
Reporting
Centralized event
logging
Enables centralized error and event logging for
troubleshooting, SLA compliance and improved customer
support.
Grouping and
Filtering
Provides logical grouping and filtering of resources based on
attributes for reporting purposes.
Usage report
Generates reports for auditing and billing purposes.
Standard reports
Provides a rich selection of detailed and summary report.
| Business Process Protectors | Business Service Management | Active Error Identification |
| Event Driven Automation | Error Handling and Escalation | Intelligent Notification | Process Reporting | IT Management |
| Business and IT Automation | Web Dashboards | Mobile APP | Master Slave Controller |
©2015 AmdoSoft Systems
AmdoSoft Systems | b4 | White Paper
Report Designer Engine
Report Designer is a standalone application that provides you with access to the AmdoSoft/b4 history
data and the possibility to generate customized reports with these data. It provides a Report Data Sets
pane to organize and individualize the data being used in your report and tabbed views for Design and
Preview so that you can design a report interactively. That gives you the opportunity and necessary
options to generate reports the way you want them to look like and whenever you need them.
Furthermore, Report Designer includes a comprehensive list of pre-designed reports that are ready to
be used. This means you can either create your own reports or edit existing reports according to your
needs and standards.
Here a short list of Report Designer features:
 Complete power to access data and generate custom reports
 Possibility to define AmdoSoft/b4 Object, Rule or User scope for custom report
 Easy layout steps with WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) design environment
 Super layout objects including labels, barcodes, lines, shapes, graphics, rich text, etc.
 Flexible sorting with group headers and footers, title and summary bands
 Export to files in your favorite spreadsheet, pdf, word, html, jpg, etc.
 Include sub-reports within reports for maximum flexibility
 Custom field expressions and aggregate calculations (Pivots, ...)
Figure 14: AmdoSoft/b4 Report Designer – Design View
| Business Process Protectors | Business Service Management | Active Error Identification |
| Event Driven Automation | Error Handling and Escalation | Intelligent Notification | Process Reporting | IT Management |
| Business and IT Automation | Web Dashboards | Mobile APP | Master Slave Controller |
©2015 AmdoSoft Systems
AmdoSoft Systems | b4 | White Paper
Report Designer comes along with a newly developed AmdoSoft/b4 tool – the Schedule Report
Manager. This tool provides you with the possibility to schedule and automate the generation of reports
that have previously been defined in the Report Designer. By using this tool you can select the exact
time and frequency when you want a specific report to be generated (one time or recurring), in which
format (pdf, xls, rtf, html, ...) and to which email address (or multiple addresses) the report should
automatically be sent to.
| Business Process Protectors | Business Service Management | Active Error Identification |
| Event Driven Automation | Error Handling and Escalation | Intelligent Notification | Process Reporting | IT Management |
| Business and IT Automation | Web Dashboards | Mobile APP | Master Slave Controller |
©2015 AmdoSoft Systems
AmdoSoft Systems | b4 | White Paper
Maintenance Module
Maintenance Module provides the possibility to define maintenance windows on objects in AmdoSoft/b4
Console, in order to avoid b4 automation mechanisms (such as status changing, rules executing,
propagating statuses to b4 reports, monitors sending emails and performing actions...), in the case
you need to perform some maintenance tasks on the monitored resources.
By setting Maintenance, object will go to Maintenance state and stay in that state regardless of any
event, such as stopping Agent, network disconnection, power outage…
During maintenance it is not possible to execute methods on objects such as editing properties,
copying objects, adding/removing members etc.
A Maintenance period option is available for any type of object including Devices, Services and
Monitors. Clicking on Start/Schedule Maintenance opens Maintenance Wizard which provides two
modes for setting Maintenance:


Start Maintenance mode now
Schedule Maintenance mode
Figure 15: Maintenance Mode Wizard
Start Maintenance mode now, the selected object and all its children go to Maintenance state instantly
(and a new One time scheduled Maintenance period with no end time appears in Maintenance View).
| Business Process Protectors | Business Service Management | Active Error Identification |
| Event Driven Automation | Error Handling and Escalation | Intelligent Notification | Process Reporting | IT Management |
| Business and IT Automation | Web Dashboards | Mobile APP | Master Slave Controller |
©2015 AmdoSoft Systems
AmdoSoft Systems | b4 | White Paper
Choosing the option Schedule Maintenance mode provides four different types of scheduling: Daily,
Weekly, Monthly and One Time scheduling. Setting these options is done in the second page of
Maintenance Wizard.
All Maintenance periods created through Maintenance Wizard can be managed from Maintenance View.
Maintenance View stores the list of all scheduled Maintenance periods.
Figure 16: Maintenance Mode View
| Business Process Protectors | Business Service Management | Active Error Identification |
| Event Driven Automation | Error Handling and Escalation | Intelligent Notification | Process Reporting | IT Management |
| Business and IT Automation | Web Dashboards | Mobile APP | Master Slave Controller |
©2015 AmdoSoft Systems
AmdoSoft Systems | b4 | White Paper
Network Topology
The Network Topology is a pre-defined perspective (module) that allows users to create network graphs – a
custom topological arrangement of the various elements of a computer network with possibility to see realtime status information.
Network graphs may include:
-
AmdoSoft/b4 Objects
AmdoSoft/b4 objects in a network topology graph are presented with default b4 icons that can be
customized. The real time status of objects is visible in the graph and it is possible to invoke standard
object methods just like in the Object Manager. In addition, it is possible to switch to the Object
Manager and locate this object directly in the Object Hierarchy.
-
Network topology elements
The network graph provides a palette of elements representing various IT network components;
Firewall, Router, Server, Printer, UPS etc.
-
Connections
Connections are elements that are used for physical or logical connections among graph elements.
Example of a network topology graph displaying a complex network infrastructure:
Figure 17: Network Topology Graph
| Business Process Protectors | Business Service Management | Active Error Identification |
| Event Driven Automation | Error Handling and Escalation | Intelligent Notification | Process Reporting | IT Management |
| Business and IT Automation | Web Dashboards | Mobile APP | Master Slave Controller |
©2015 AmdoSoft Systems
AmdoSoft Systems | b4 | White Paper
b4 Software Management Modules (SMM)
For many businesses, a problem with the core application environment (SAP, Mail, Backup/Restore,
Databases, …) would impact their core business processes, and thus result in a direct loss of revenue
and profit, as well as potentially impacting the real customer. It would also result, in today‟s Internet
services environment, in degraded customer and supplier business relationships.
Therefore, selecting the right business-centric IT service management tools for maintaining the
availability and performance of an Application-based business process environment and optimizing the
total cost of ownership and cost of maintenance is a critical decision.
The business processes a company relies upon typically involve applications, IT processes and data. All
of these applications, in turn, depend on the general IT infrastructure, the networks and servers upon
which they run. In order to monitor and maintain performance of these integrated, enterprise-critical
business processes, companies need management tools that address the complete environment from
end to end, including applications and the underlying IT infrastructure. This means management from
the business process level down to the underlying IT infrastructure and across both intra-company and
inter-company business-critical systems.
Customer value proposition
AmdoSoft/b4 software management modules (SMM) for the specific application and/or IT infrastructure
environment allow you to:
1. Reduce your costs for operating increasingly complex application environments
o
o
By managing application specific jobs from a single operations console
By applying established tools and processes to application management (see Graphical
Rules Engine)
2. Maximize availability and performance for one of the most critical business applications
3. Help ensure that your IT environment performs according to expectations (service level
management)
4. Link IT and business by understanding the impact of IT problems on business processes
5. Increase the agility of the IT environment to adapt to new or changing business requirements
o
o
By minimizing the risk of business impact stemming from changes to the IT environment
Providing tool support for up-to-date configuration information of the environment and
managing and automating the change implementation process, thus reducing the time
required to implement the change
| Business Process Protectors | Business Service Management | Active Error Identification |
| Event Driven Automation | Error Handling and Escalation | Intelligent Notification | Process Reporting | IT Management |
| Business and IT Automation | Web Dashboards | Mobile APP | Master Slave Controller |
©2015 AmdoSoft Systems
AmdoSoft Systems | b4 | White Paper
Antivirus SMM
Antivirus SMM is Software Management Module (SMM) that extends AmdoSoft/b4 functionality
providing the possibility to manage, monitor and automate operations related to various antivirus
software (Avira, CA, FSecure, G Data, Kaspersky, McAfee, NOD32, Norman, Norton, Panda, Sophos,
Symantec Endpoint Protection, Symantec Protection Suite Enterprise Edition, TrendMicro).
Key Features & Benefits:
o
o
o
Antivirus Service is used for detecting which antivirus software is installed and checks
whether antivirus service is running. It provides methods for stopping and restarting the
antivirus service.
Antivirus Update Service provides action for updating the antivirus software on the
deployed machine.
G Data Antivirus Service should be installed on and used for collecting various security
events from G Data Management Server (security threats, virus attacks, firewall events).
Collected data is available in b4 History Database and available in b4 Reports (e.g. SBS
– G Data RDE Report)
| Business Process Protectors | Business Service Management | Active Error Identification |
| Event Driven Automation | Error Handling and Escalation | Intelligent Notification | Process Reporting | IT Management |
| Business and IT Automation | Web Dashboards | Mobile APP | Master Slave Controller |
©2015 AmdoSoft Systems
AmdoSoft Systems | b4 | White Paper
b4MasterController SMM
There can be more then one b4 Controller in your environment and they can be installed and
configured to act as Master-Slave servers. Hence, we distinguish b4 Master Controller and b4 Slave
Controller. If environment consists of single b4 Controller, it is b4 Standalone Controller. The Master b4
controller is like any other b4 controller, except that it allows the operators to login into it, and be able
to access and manage all Slave b4 controllers that are connected to it.
Figure 18: Master – Slave Controller Environment
The goal of having Master-Slave b4 environment is to have distributed system that can be managed
from one location: Master Controller Concept includes having Slave Controller in each local
environment that is connected to Master Controller.
Key Features & Benefits:
o
o
o
o
o
View statuses of Object Manager, Rule Engine, and MSSQL of all b4 Slave Controllers
and manage them using Stop and Restart methods
View statuses of all Pods that exist on Slave Controller and their aggregate status. In
this manner, any status change in any of the Slave Controller Pods will propagate all the
way up to the Master Controller
Connect to each Slave Controller and work with Objects and Rules as you are logged on
it directly
Software provisioning packages created on Master Controller are automatically
distributed to Slave Controllers and available for installation
License information on Master Controller includes detailed information about Licenses
from all Slave Controllers
| Business Process Protectors | Business Service Management | Active Error Identification |
| Event Driven Automation | Error Handling and Escalation | Intelligent Notification | Process Reporting | IT Management |
| Business and IT Automation | Web Dashboards | Mobile APP | Master Slave Controller |
©2015 AmdoSoft Systems
AmdoSoft Systems | b4 | White Paper
Backup SMM
Backup SMM is Software Management Module that extends AmdoSoft/b4 functionality providing the
possibility to monitor backup operations related to various backup software. The information collected
is available through Backup Report and Monthly Activity Report. It is AmdoSoft/b4 software element to
be installed on the device on which backup software is installed.
Supported backup software:
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
Acronis Backup & Recovery 11 Server for Windows
CA ARCserve Backup r12, r12.5, r15, r16
Symantec Backup Exec v9 – v12.5 and 2010, 2012
Windows Backup – Windows 2003/2008
Veeam Backup and Replication 6.5
Microsoft System Center Data Protection Manager 2010 and 2012
ShadowProtect Desktop/Server/SBS/Virtual 5.1/4.2
Key Features & Benefits:
o
o
o
o
Backup Job Service serves for monitoring the execution of backup jobs running on
Backup server
Information about job success, time taken and error description is put to History
database and serves for Backup Report and Monthly Activity Report
The service can be configured to monitor a single job, a list of jobs, or ALL backup jobs
on managed Backup server
CoreMedia Smart Content SMM
CoreMedia Smart Content SMM is Software Management Module that extends AmdoSoft/b4
functionality providing the possibility to monitor and manage CoreMedia Smart Content software; to
get information about particular CoreMedia log file appearances, to get information about availability of
CoreMedia Smart Content web page and possibility to successfully log on.
Key Features & Benefits:
o
o
o
o
o
Monitoring CoreMedia log files for error log occurrences
Monitoring CoreMedia Smart Content web page availability
Monitoring possibility to successfully log on to CoreMedia Smart Content web application
Automation of various CoreMedia system actions (restart web server, restart CoreMedia
Smart Content web application)
Monitoring can be used on both Windows and Unix AmdoSoft/b4 Agents
| Business Process Protectors | Business Service Management | Active Error Identification |
| Event Driven Automation | Error Handling and Escalation | Intelligent Notification | Process Reporting | IT Management |
| Business and IT Automation | Web Dashboards | Mobile APP | Master Slave Controller |
©2015 AmdoSoft Systems
AmdoSoft Systems | b4 | White Paper
EMC Networker SMM
EMC Networker SMM extends b4 management capabilities, enabling you to automate manual processes
around backup jobs. Automating routine maintenance procedures allows administrators to stop
spending their time on routine, mundane tasks. With EMC Networker SMM, you can execute backup
jobs in an event-driven fashion and coordinate backups with other systems tasks, such as stopping and
starting applications and system services.
With EMC Networker SMM, administrators can coordinate complex maintenance activities around
backups, such as stopping a legacy application, cleaning up temp files, initiating the EMC Legato
NetWorker job, restarting the application, notifying an operator in the event of failure and creating a
report.
Key Features & Benefits
o
o
o
o
o
Manage Networker jobs from a single operations console
Restart failed backup jobs depending on the availability of the IT infrastructure (see
Graphical Rules Engine)
Monitoring success of the backup/restore operations
Help ensure that your Networker environment performs according to expectations - SLA
reports
Maximize availability and performance of Networker
Exchange SMM
Exchange SMM is AmdoSoft/b4 Software Management Module (SMM) that extends AmdoSoft/b4
functionality providing the possibility to monitor MS Exchange Server (MS Exchange Server 2003, 2007
and 2010 supported).
In order to monitor MS Exchange Server, b4 Agent should be running on the same system and
Exchange-SMM software installed on the b4 Device.
Key Features & Benefits:
This software allows monitoring the availability of MS Exchange Server services, the occurrence of
errors in the Event Log for messages that require attention, and the amount of disk space being
consumed by various components. At the same time it allows monitoring of several MS Exchange
Server resources:
o
o
o
the size and number of messages in mailboxes and folders
the queue size and length
the status of servers, by ensuring that they can receive email messages
| Business Process Protectors | Business Service Management | Active Error Identification |
| Event Driven Automation | Error Handling and Escalation | Intelligent Notification | Process Reporting | IT Management |
| Business and IT Automation | Web Dashboards | Mobile APP | Master Slave Controller |
©2015 AmdoSoft Systems
AmdoSoft Systems | b4 | White Paper
HP SIM SMM
HP SIM-SMM is Software Management Module (SMM) that extends AmdoSoft/b4 functionality providing
the possibility to monitor Hewlett Packard Systems Insight Manager software. HP SIM is the core
component for monitoring and managing HP servers and storage devices.
In order to monitor HP SIM, b4 Agent should be installed on the same system and HP SIM-SMM should
be installed on the Device represented by this b4 Agent. In particular the Executor Service executes HP
SIM queries to generate reports of events collected by HP SIM.
Key Features & Benefits:
o
o
HP SIM Monitors will report to centralized location all events on which are set to react as
a base for the HP SIM Event Reports (Device on which Event occurred, Date/Time of
occurrence, Event Severity, Event Name, Event Description)
HP SIM Services are monitoring various system events (CPU, Disk, Drive Array, Fan,
NIC, Power Supply, Temperature,..)
| Business Process Protectors | Business Service Management | Active Error Identification |
| Event Driven Automation | Error Handling and Escalation | Intelligent Notification | Process Reporting | IT Management |
| Business and IT Automation | Web Dashboards | Mobile APP | Master Slave Controller |
©2015 AmdoSoft Systems
AmdoSoft Systems | b4 | White Paper
Inventory Management SMM
IT managers know that the first step of efficient management of IT infrastructure is information about
what computers they have, how they‟re configured, where they are and who has them. AmdoSoft/b4
Inventory provides that information.
FEATURES
BENEFITS
 Complete hardware inventory report
covering computer, CPU, hard-disk,
peripherals, ports and NIC
 Automatically
detects
hardware
changes and software installations and
un-installations
 Ability to create predefined e-mail
and/or SMS notification alerts upon
hardware and software changes
 Report is showing New and Missing
hardware and software
 Increase security and control due to
immediately notification of installed
Hard/Soft-ware components
 Enhance productivity by presenting
accurate inventory information
 Identify unauthorized user-installed
software installations
 Verify systems are up to date on the
latest patches and updates
Controller generates an inventory of hardware and software products installed on your b4 agents. Upon
completion, you‟ll not only know exactly what programs you‟re running and on what PCs, but also
where those programs can be best used and where you can perhaps save money through better
volume license program. Through this discovery process you may also find and remove any
unauthorized programs that may have been installed without permission.
AmdoSoft/b4 Inventory SMM simplifies the management of hardware and software adding the
possibility for proactive maintaining by tracking all changes and alerting responsible staff.
Figure 19: Software and Hardware Inventory Report Screen
| Business Process Protectors | Business Service Management | Active Error Identification |
| Event Driven Automation | Error Handling and Escalation | Intelligent Notification | Process Reporting | IT Management |
| Business and IT Automation | Web Dashboards | Mobile APP | Master Slave Controller |
©2015 AmdoSoft Systems
AmdoSoft Systems | b4 | White Paper
MSSQL/ORACLE SMM
Information was traditionally stored in books, periodicals, newspapers, and other types of media. We
could access to it by researching library's catalog with the assistance of contents and indexes. With
the rapid progress of telecommunication, network technology and computer science in the last two
decades also the amount of information that need to be processed is rapidly increasing.
The information technology paradigm has not only put knowledge as main economic resource before
material gods; it also develops and provide with new strategies for optimal allocation of information
resources.
Modern businesses processes rely on information stored in databases. It is important for companies to
be able to constantly access and update records stored in these information containers. In such
circumstances it is important for IT administrators to know the status of their databases.
AmdoSoft/b4 MSSQL Software Management Module (SMM) extends AmdoSoft/b4 functionality
providing possibility to manage, monitor and automate operation related to Microsoft SQL Server
software. It is AmdoSoft/b4 software element and should be installed on device on which MSSQL
Server MSSQL Server 2000 or MSSQL Server 2005 software is installed.
AmdoSoft/b4 ORACLE SMM is Software Management Module (SMM) that extends AmdoSoft/b4
functionality providing possibility to manage, monitor and automate operation related to Oracle DBMS
software. It is AmdoSoft/b4 software element and should be installed on device on which Oracle
(Oracle 8.x) DBMS software is installed.
Key Features & Benefits
o
o
o
Monitoring the MSSQL Jobs
Monitoring the MSSQL Tablespace usage
Monitoring the ORACLE Tablespace usage
| Business Process Protectors | Business Service Management | Active Error Identification |
| Event Driven Automation | Error Handling and Escalation | Intelligent Notification | Process Reporting | IT Management |
| Business and IT Automation | Web Dashboards | Mobile APP | Master Slave Controller |
©2015 AmdoSoft Systems
AmdoSoft Systems | b4 | White Paper
Nagios SMM
Nagios SMM is Software Management Module that extends AmdoSoft/b4 functionality providing the
possibility to replicate Nagios monitors and have it available in AmdoSoft/b4 Console. Nagios objects in
AmdoSoft/b4 will be presented with basic properties and will have status as they have in Nagios
Server. Once Nagios object change the status on Nagios Server, it will change the status in
AmdoSoft/b4 Console as well. It provides you with possibility to reuse current monitoring Nagios
solution and use AmdoSoft/b4 for automation and advanced management scenarios.
Supported Nagios products:
o
Nagios 3.x
Key Features & Benefits:
o
o
o
o
Replicate Nagios objects and Nagios hierarchy in AmdoSoft/b4 Console based on input
filter criteria (name, hierarchy position)
Once Nagios object change its status in Nagios Server, corresponding object in
AmdoSoft/b4 Console will change its value as well
Possibility to get basic Nagios object properties visible in AmdoSoft/b4 Console
Possibility to use Nagios monitoring solution and provide with AmdoSoft/b4 advanced
automation and management features
Patch Management SMM
PatchManagement SMM is Software Management Module that extends AmdoSoft/b4 functionality
providing the possibility to monitor and manage Windows Updates on managed machine; to get
information about missing and installed Windows Updates, to automate and schedule an installation of
missing Windows Updates on managed system.
Supported Windows OS systems:
o
Windows XP and Windows 2000 Professional SP3, or newer
Key Features & Benefits:
o
o
o
o
o
o
Monitoring installed and missing Windows Updates on managed system
Possibility to limit monitoring alert and warnings to particular Windows Update Severity
(Critical, Important, Moderate, Low)
Possibility to exclude particular Windows Update from alerts and warnings
The list of all missing and installed Windows updates are stored to History database and
available in AmdoSoft/b4 reports
Possibility to schedule and automate installation of missing Windows Updates on
managed system
Possibility to automate managed system restart as Windows Update installation
requirement
| Business Process Protectors | Business Service Management | Active Error Identification |
| Event Driven Automation | Error Handling and Escalation | Intelligent Notification | Process Reporting | IT Management |
| Business and IT Automation | Web Dashboards | Mobile APP | Master Slave Controller |
©2015 AmdoSoft Systems
AmdoSoft Systems | b4 | White Paper
SAP SMM
SAP users expect a powerful computing infrastructure that will help them control all business processes
regardless of location. SAP users are also looking to speed their return on investment to maximize their
SAP investment. SAP systems, however, are inherently complex. They affect each department and
process, so they must be managed effectively to keep the business running smoothly.
Business Need
Maintain SAP system availability 24x7
Manage systems with limited resources
Discover the root cause of problems, proactively and quickly
Leverage administrator expertise wherever possible
Support both IT environments and legacy systems to manage service levels
Our Solution
The b4 SAP SMM offering provides monitoring and automation at the resource level to ensure SAP
availability and more security. Clients can more effectively manage applications to enable critical
business processes, such as ERP, CRM and SCM transactions.
This solution helps:
Assure reliable customer transactions worldwide
Provide security management so that customers and partners can access the right systems
when they need to
Deliver superior end-to-end performance optimization
Key Features & Benefits
o
o
o
o
o
o
Enables service level reporting for users or transactions by response time
Improves availability by monitoring the critical components of the SAP applications
Provides recovery actions to restart critical components if they go down and restore
availability (see Graphical Rules Engine)
Contains users' access to resources so no one user can take down the SAP system
Diagnoses problems faster using the root-cause problem analysis capabilities
Maximize availability and performance of your SAP application
| Business Process Protectors | Business Service Management | Active Error Identification |
| Event Driven Automation | Error Handling and Escalation | Intelligent Notification | Process Reporting | IT Management |
| Business and IT Automation | Web Dashboards | Mobile APP | Master Slave Controller |
©2015 AmdoSoft Systems
AmdoSoft Systems | b4 | White Paper
SchleupenEnergielogistik SMM and SchleupenMarktteilnehmer SMM
SchleupenEnergielogistik SMM and SchleupenMarktteilnehmer SMM are Software Management Modules
(SMM) that extend AmdoSoft/b4 functionalities providing possibility to monitor and manage complex
productive processes related to Schleupen Energielogistik (managing Electricity and Gas allocation) and
Marktteilnehmer (managing changing of Electricity provider) procedures. It is AmdoSoft/b4 software
element and should be installed on devices on which Schleupen software is installed.
Key Features & Benefits:
o
o
o
Monitoring of all processes and steps of executed procedures
Dedicated AmdoSoft/b4 Rules (GRE) that follow complete business logic and results of each
step in complex processes and performs appropriate resolving actions
Complete process management includes various process Reporting and alert/warning
Notifications
Securepoint SMM
Securepoint-SMM Software is AmdoSoft/b4 software package providing AmdoSoft/b4 with possibility to
perform various system management and monitoring operations on Securepoint firewalls. In order to
be able to use Securepoint services on particular AmdoSoft/b4 device.
AmdoSoft/b4 Agent is already installed on Securepoint firewall. However it is necessary to enable the
monitoring agent on the firewall, by providing the IP address of b4 Controller.
Key Features & Benefits:
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
Monitoring
Monitoring
Monitoring
Monitoring
Monitoring
Monitoring
Monitoring
Monitoring
Monitoring
Memory usage
network interfaces and network routes
VPN connections
various application services (NTP, ) running on firewall or cluster
SecurePoint software updates
virus update signature time
mail queue
firewall cluster status
Securepoint license expiration period
| Business Process Protectors | Business Service Management | Active Error Identification |
| Event Driven Automation | Error Handling and Escalation | Intelligent Notification | Process Reporting | IT Management |
| Business and IT Automation | Web Dashboards | Mobile APP | Master Slave Controller |
©2015 AmdoSoft Systems
AmdoSoft Systems | b4 | White Paper
Security SMM
Company‟s servers provide an access to wide variety of resources and services to internal and external
users. Many of these servers are storing or processing sensitive information and thus are frequently
targeted by intruders because of the value of their data and services.
Security administrator knows that securing server on a daily basis is an essential aspect
of server security. As a first step in building secure environment for company servers is ensuring
the security of underlying operating system and the supporting network infrastructure. Next step would
be maintaining this security zone by determining and monitoring the possible threats.
AmdoSoft/b4 Security SMM is Software Management Module (SMM) that extends AmdoSoft/b4
functionality providing possibility to monitor various security threats related to Windows, Unix or SNMP
devices. It is AmdoSoft/b4 software element and should be installed on device on which security
threats wants to be monitored.
Key Features & Benefits
o
o
o
Windows Security Service
Network Security Service
Unix Security Service
SNMP SMM
SNMP SMM is Software Management Module (SMM) serving for various advanced SNMP Trap and
Management monitoring. In general, SNMP is the protocol that allows an SNMP manager to control an
SNMP agent (network device) by exchanging SNMP messages. The main purpose of an SNMP message
is to control (set) or monitor (get) parameters on an SNMP agent.
Key Features & Benefits:
o
o
o
o
o
Automated monitors creation over Configuration Wizard based on object templates
SNMP Monitor is used to query single measured value from SNMP Agent. It evaluates
query return value and updates its status accordingly
SNMP Monitor also is used to query multiple measured values (range) from SNMP Agent
(network device). It should be used in cases when need to set large number of values
which differs only in last digits (e.g. for Network Interfaces)
SNMP Trap Service reads SNMP trap logs and sets status based on whether critical traps
have been received according to set criteria; it converts traps to names in case MIB files
are available
Possibility to perform SNMP monitoring (querying) either from AmdoSoft/b4 Controller
(default) or from AmdoSoft/b4 Agent (using Network Management Provider option on
Agent)
| Business Process Protectors | Business Service Management | Active Error Identification |
| Event Driven Automation | Error Handling and Escalation | Intelligent Notification | Process Reporting | IT Management |
| Business and IT Automation | Web Dashboards | Mobile APP | Master Slave Controller |
©2015 AmdoSoft Systems
AmdoSoft Systems | b4 | White Paper
System Management SMM
System Management SMM extends b4 management capabilities, enabling you to automate manual
processes around management and administration of Windows Desktops and Servers. Automating
routine maintenance procedures allows administrators to stop spending their time on routine, mundane
tasks.
With System Management SMM, administrators can coordinate complex maintenance activities around
management of disk space, backup, windows updates, antispyware, such as stopping a legacy
application, cleaning up temp files, defragmenting disk space, restarting the application, notifying an
operator in the event of failure and creating a report.
Key Features & Benefits
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
Manage Recycle Bin
Remove temporary files
Monitoring security status using Spybot antispyware tool
Monitor disk drive fragmentation and perform automatic defragmentation
Monitoring success of the Symantec Backup Exec backup/restore operations
Maximize availability and performance of your IT infrastructure by performing preventive
maintenance activities
Monitoring various Unix/Linux system settings (interfaces, mounts, updates, cron jobs,..)
Monitoring and managing Windows Automatic Update settings on managed system
Monitoring missing Windows Updates on managed system
Tomcat SMM
Tomcat SMM is Software Management Module (SMM) that extends AmdoSoft/b4 functionality providing
the possibility to manage, monitor and automate operations related to Apache Tomcat software.
It is AmdoSoft/b4 software element and it is recommended to be installed on the device on which
Apache Tomcat software is running. You can also use it to monitor Tomcat applications running on
remote server.
Key Features & Benefits:
o
o
Application Monitor Service allows monitoring and management of Tomcat applications
Application Monitor Service provides methods to perform Start, Stop and Reload
operations on the monitored applications
| Business Process Protectors | Business Service Management | Active Error Identification |
| Event Driven Automation | Error Handling and Escalation | Intelligent Notification | Process Reporting | IT Management |
| Business and IT Automation | Web Dashboards | Mobile APP | Master Slave Controller |
©2015 AmdoSoft Systems
AmdoSoft Systems | b4 | White Paper
vSphere SMM
vSphere SMM is Software Management Module that extends AmdoSoft/b4 functionality providing the
possibility to monitor and manage VMware vSphere Hosts (ESX/ESXi Servers) and its Virtual Machines.
Each vSphere Host is represented in AmdoSoft/b4 Console as new Object – Virtualization Host and can
be managed directly or via VMware vCenter Server. It is AmdoSoft/b4 software element which can be
installed on any Windows machine that has network access to vSphere Host or vCenter management
interfaces (Web Services).
Supported VMware products:
o
o
o
o
VMware
VMware
VMware
VMware
ESX/ESXi 4.0, 4.1, 5.0, 5.1
ESX Server 3.5, 3i
vCenter Server 4.0, 4.1, 5.0, 5.1
VirtualCenter Server 2.5
Key Features & Benefits:
o
o
o
o
Monitoring vSphere Host (CPU, Memory, Disk, Disk I/O, vSphere Performance Counters,
number of running Virtual Machines, Virtual Machine Power Status)
AmdoSoft/b4 software will provide automation of following tasks:
- Virtual Machine power on
- Virtual Machine shutdown
- Virtual Machine reboot
- Virtual Machine suspend
- Virtual Machine reset
User will be automatically notified via E-Mail or SMS about any of monitoring alerts or
warnings
User will be able to generate Measurement Report related to Host CPU, Memory, Disk,
Disk I/O, Performance Counters, number of running Virtual Machines
| Business Process Protectors | Business Service Management | Active Error Identification |
| Event Driven Automation | Error Handling and Escalation | Intelligent Notification | Process Reporting | IT Management |
| Business and IT Automation | Web Dashboards | Mobile APP | Master Slave Controller |
©2015 AmdoSoft Systems
AmdoSoft Systems | b4 | White Paper
BOTTOM LINE
Automation is the cornerstone of today‟s enterprise and is seen as a mean to align IT with Business
processes, reduce human error caused by labor intensive workflows, as well as streamline overall IT
administration. AmdoSoft helps companies to gain efficiency and effectiveness by consistently execute
the best solutions for their IT processes.
What the organizations need is to become more fluid by employing enterprise-class server provisioning
software that considerably reduces manually intensive tasks.
By offering a new level of flexibility in the management of IT services, AmdoSoft/b4 represents an
excellent alternative for companies that want the benefits of outsourcing but prefer to maintain a
measure of control over their solution – both in operations management and in location. And by
enabling powerful IT operations management of a solution hosted virtually anywhere, this innovative
technology could separate, once and for all, the decision to outsource from the decision of where the
hardware platforms will be physically located.
AmdoSoft/b4 gives customers more choice and flexibility through its benefits:
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Flexible control
Standard hardware and software
Dedicated and/or shared components
Time to market
Security and quality via automation
Lower TCO
Standardized solutions
Visualization, modeling and implementation of custom IT processes
AmdoSoft® provides Infrastructure Automation Services. To find out how our services can be tailored to meet your needs,
please visit www.amdosoft.com.
Information in this non-binding document is provided for reference only in connection with services offered by AmdoSoft ®
Systems Inc. AmdoSoft reserves the right to change its service descriptions and specifications at any time. Availability of
services described in this document should be confirmed with local representatives of AmdoSoft. AmdoSoft assumes no liability
whatsoever, and disclaims any express or implied warranty, relating to fitness for a particular purpose, merchantability, title or
any intellectual property rights with respect to this document. For the most current services information, please visit
www.amdosoft.com. Third-party trademarks are the property of their respective owners. AmdoSoft is a trademark or
registered trademark of AmdoSoft® Systems Inc. in the United States and other countries.
Notice: This document hardcopy must be used for reference purpose only. The online copy must be used as the current
documentation level. Do not remove any pages from this printed copy.
Copyright © 2002-2012 AmdoSoft® Systems Inc. All rights reserved.
| Business Process Protectors | Business Service Management | Active Error Identification |
| Event Driven Automation | Error Handling and Escalation | Intelligent Notification | Process Reporting | IT Management |
| Business and IT Automation | Web Dashboards | Mobile APP | Master Slave Controller |
©2015 AmdoSoft Systems