Orchestration automates simple or complex multi-system tasks on remote servers that are normally done manually. An Orchestration process can cross all management disciplines and interact with all types of infrastructure elements, such as applications, databases, and hardware. Orchestration combines the ServiceNow graphical workflow with the MID Server to run Orchestration-specific workflow activities.
Why Use Orchestration?
Orchestration enables an IT organization to automate complex tasks on remote computers quickly and reliably, with best practices every time. Orchestration workflows employ the skills and knowledge of an entire organization, while requiring less skill and labor to execute.
What Systems Can Orchestration Automate?
- VMware (through vCenter)
- Amazon EC2 instances
- Any system presenting web services
- Windows Active Directory
- Microsoft Exchange mail servers
- Puppet Labs Puppet (with configuration automation)
- Opscode Chef (with configuration automation)
- Any system accessible from the command line
How Orchestration Works
When an Orchestration activity starts within a workflow, Orchestration launches a probe and writes a probe record to the ECC Queue. The workflow pauses as the MID Server picks up the request and executes the probe. When the probe reports back, the workflow resumes as the results are analyzed. The workflow can exit or continue at this point.
The orchestration workflow
Orchestration Examples
Request the Orchestration - Examples plugin to install sample Orchestration workflows on your instance. The following Orchestration example workflows are installed in an inactive state to prevent them from running unexpectedly during routine operations:
- Request Password Reset Incident
- MySQL - Get processlist
Activating a Workflow in Version Prior to Fuji
- Navigate to Workflow > Workflow Editor.
- Select Open in the title bar and select an inactive workflow from the list.
- Click the gear icon in the title bar, and then select Set Active from the workflow menu.
Activating a Workflow in Fuji
- Navigate to Workflow > Workflow Editor.
- Select the Workflows tab in the palette and click on an inactive workflow in the list. The selected workflow opens in the workflow canvas.
- Click the menu icon and select Set Active from the context menu
Orchestration Activities in Workflow
The Orchestration plugin adds these types of activities for use with workflows:
- Basic Orchestration activities
- SSH activities
- Active Directory activities
- VMware activities
- Amazon EC2 activities
- PowerShell activities
- Puppet
- Chef activities
- Exchange activities
Source: ServiceNow