What's New in Previous Versions

This page outlines the new functions and enhancements that were included in Automic Automation for all supported versions. To give you a better overview, they are grouped per component. For a full description of these features, please refer to the respective Automic Automation documentation version at docs.automic.com.

What's new in 21.0.11

This section provides information about the new features and enhancements that have been implemented in Automic Automation 21.0.11.

Agents

This version introduces the following features in the Agents:

WEBSOCKET_TIMEOUT Parameter in UC_HOSTCHAR_DEFAULT Variable

The WEBSOCKET_TIMEOUT parameter has been added to the UC_HOSTCHAR_DEFAULT variable. It allows you to specify a timeout for the connection between a TLS/SSL Agent and the Automation Engine.

When this parameter is defined in Client 0, it applies to the entire system. You can also duplicate the variable and move it to the relevant Client to define an individual interval for a specific Agent.

Important! Make sure you define the relevant timeout intervals using this new parameter.

The existing WEBSOCKET_TIMEOUT parameter in the UC_SYSTEM_SETTINGS refers only to the connection timeout of the Java API or AWI and the corresponding Java communication process.

Java-Based Linux (x64) Agent: Definite Address

You can configure the Linux (x64) Java-based Agent to use a definite address to connect to the Automation Engine. To do so, make sure you run Java runtime version 19 or higher.

Cloud Integrations

The cloud Agents listed in this section have been extended or implemented recently and can be integrated with this Automic Automation version.

  • AWS Step Functions 21.0.0

  • S3 21.2.0

  • SAP IBP 21.0.3

  • Email Integration 21.0.4

What's new in 21.0.10

This Automic Automation version introduced the functions and enhancements listed below.

Agents

This section outlines the new Agent features and functions implemented in this Automic Automation version:

Java-Based Windows and Linux (x64) Agents

Automic Automation v24 kicked-off an OS agent refresh initiative to have all OS agents use a common Java-based framework. This means that we are able to provide a consistent user experience where common functionality is implemented in the same way across all of our most used agents, such as TLS/SSL support or Secure outbound email support (SMTPS).

The first release included new agents for x64 Linux and Windows, which are now also available in v21.0.10. Other OS agents will be released with future updates.

These Java-based x64 Linux and Windows Agents are included additionally to the existing OS Unix and Windows Agents x32, x64, and x86, respectively.

Note: These Agents require a JRE on every machine in which an Agent is running; therefore you have to make sure JRE is available in the Agent's bin folder (<Agent>/bin/jre/). They require Java version 11 or higher and will not work with Java 1.8.

CAU Packages for x64 Linux and Windows Agents

This version of Automic Automation includes two different CAU packs for the x64 Linux and Windows Agents: one OS native and one Java-based. The respective pack name distinguishes them clearly.

If you want to keep using an OS native x64 Linux or Windows Agent after an upgrade, do not download and install the CAU pack for the corresponding x64 Java-based version; otherwise you would convert your OS native Agent to a Java-based one.

The same applies when downloading Agents from the Process Assembly or the Administration perspective in AWI.

Sending Secure Emails via Agents

As of this version, you can use the new Java-based x64 Linux and Windows Agents to send secure emails using SMTPS.

Please note that using TLS to secure the STMP connection requires a certificate that must be available in the UC_TRUSTEDCERTS Storage object in Client 0.

Job Execution Limits for Linux (x64) Agents

This new version of the x64 Linux agent also allows you to set job execution limits for users using the pam_limit.so library.

Note: You only require the pam_limit.so library, you do not need to install and configure PAM.

Agent Connection Status in Service Manager

You can start the new x64 Windows and Linux Java-based Agents using the Service Manager and use the -svc%port% parameter to have the ServiceManager display the connection status of the Agent along with its name.

Security Enhancement

Security was enhanced by limiting the access permissions for the files needed during the execution of a Job object, such as a shell script, report, or resource, to the user specified in the Login object. Ensure that this user has read/write permission for the Agent's temp folder. 

INI Files: New trustedCertFolderOnly Parameter

The [AUTHORIZATION] section of the INI files for all Java Agents (including the Cloud Integrations), the Proxy, the TLS Gateway and the AE Application Interface have a new trustedCertFolderOnly parameter, which enables you to pin JCP certificates.

When set, the system expects the JCP certificates to be in the trustedCertFolder. The certificate validation uses only the content of that folder and ignores other trust stores.

When it is not set (default), the certificate validation uses other OS and Java trust stores as well as the trustedCertFolder.

Automic Web Interface

This version includes the following new features and enhancements in AWI:

New Optional Connection Parameter in uc4config.xml

In some setups the AWI cannot reach the REST JCP(s). This is the case when the REST JCP(s) are behind a Load Balancer that the AWI cannot reach, or if the AWI and the AE are on different nets, and so on.

As of this version, a new parameter in the uc4config.xml configuration file lets you specify the REST endpoint.

Cloud Integrations

The cloud Agents listed in this section have been extended or implemented recently and can be integrated with this Automic Automation version.

  • Avaloq

  • AWS Step Functions

  • Azure Logic Apps

  • FTP

  • S3

What's New in 21.0.9

This Automic Automation version introduced the functions and enhancements listed below.

Automic Automation

This version includes the following enhancements:

  • The SMGR_LOOKUP key of the ServiceManager Parameters of the UC_SYSTEM_SETTINGS variable is set to NO by default.

  • The PostgreSQL binaries for Windows and UNIX have been updated to v15.5.

    PostgreSQL v15.5 is shipped with the Automic Automation offering and are only installed when the ONE Installer is used to set up a system.

  • The STATISTIC_TIME default key of the UC_ILM_SETTINGS system variable has changed from 15 to 0; otherwise, database maintenance tasks may take a long time and block the system.

Automic Web Interface

The behavior of Workflows that are embedded in ForEach Workflows has been improved.

ForEach Workflows execute tasks in loop iterations. As with any other Workflow execution, the tasks within the Workflow get a new RunID with each run of the ForEach Workflow as soon as a new loop starts. This means that the status of the tasks in the embedded Workflows continuously change.

To make sure that you are aware of the status changes in these tasks, the Workflow task containers in ForEach Workflows behave as follows:

  1. When you expand the embedded Workflows, their task containers show the status the current loop for the Workflows and their tasks.

  2. When a new loop starts, Automic Automation collapses the expanded embedded Workflows to signalize that the contained tasks have a new RunID.

  3. To see the new status of the tasks, click the Refresh button. This expands the task again, where the current status is shown.

New FTP Agent Integration

With this Automic Automation version, BROADCOM also releases the new FTP Agent. Going forward, new development will occur only in this new FTP Agent, although the "old" RA FTP Agent remains compatible with the newer Automic Automation versions.

The new FTP Agent installation does not require either loading files to the database (DBLoad) or creating an Agent object in Client 0, which simplifies the installation process significantly. After the new Agent is installed, you can use the existing INI file to keep the Agent's configuration.

Shipment of Standard Libraries in UNIX Systems

The standard libraries (libstdc++.so and libgcc_s.so) are no longer part of the Agent, the Service Manager nor the Utilities .tar balls. Now, they are delivered with the offering under External.Resources/unix_libraries/unix_libraries.tar.gz.

Important! If the libraries are not installed properly, the relevant component will not start properly. Therefore, you have to make sure that all standard libraries are available so that the Agent, Utility and/or ServiceManager can used them.

To do so, go to the offering bundle and get the libstdc++.so.6 and libgcc_s.so.1 libraries. Once you have untarred the .tar ball (unix_libraries.tar.gz), you can copy the libraries you got from the bundle to the bin directory of the respective component. You can then use the ln -s ./libstdc++.so.6 command to create symlinks in the bin directory.

Performance Check

Every hour, a Work Process (WP) measures the system's performance. If the performance metrics surpass the thresholds that have been defined in the UC_PERFORMANCE_THRESHOLDS variable, a warning is displayed in the Automic Web Interface. In this case, make sure you contact your database or system administrator to optimize the performance of the system.

If the performance improves, the warning disappears automatically after the next measurement.

Important! This function cannot be deactivated as these measurements are crucial for your system's performance. If a warning appears in AWI, make sure you mitigate the issue by optimizing the system, not by changing the thresholds defined here. However, if necessary, you can adapt them.

What's New in 21.0.8

This Automic Automation version introduced the functions and enhancements listed below.

Automic Automation

  • Refresh TLS Gateway List

Supported OpenSSL Version

  • Use of OpenSSL library version 3.0.

Automic Web Interface

  • AWI Connection to more than one JCP
  • Security Enhancements for AWI Response Headers

Automic Automation Kubernetes Edition

  • Secure Connections to PostgreSQL DB

What's New in 21.0.7

This Automic Automation version introduced the functions and enhancements listed below.

Automic Automation

  • TLS Gateway List Sorted by Agent's Net Area
  • New JCP_ENDPOINT_CAU_OVERRIDE System Setting
  • UC_TRUSTEDCERT Storage Object
  • JCP_CERT - Loading Certificates for Downloaded Agents

Automic Web Interface

  • Task Dependencies Displayed in the Tooltips of Workflow Tasks
  • RUN ID Displayed in the Tooltip of Workflow Tasks

What's New in 21.0.6

This Automic Automation version introduced the functions and enhancements listed below.

Automic Automation

  • Sending Secure Emails via the Automation Engine
  • FORCE_VARA_KEY_CI System Setting
  • UC_EX_JOB_MD_IP_ADDR and UC_EX_JOB_MD_IP_PORT - New Virtual Agent Variables

What's New in 21.0.5

This Automic Automation version introduced the functions and enhancements listed below.

Automic Automation

  • Telemetry - Product SKU / Metric Details
  • SAML (Security Assertion Markup Language) Configuration
  • LDAP - Customized User Search
  • Separation of Privileges for TLS/SSL UNIX Agents
  • Restriction of UNIX Agent Capabilities
  • UC_SYSTEM_SETTINGS - MAX_VARIABLE_SIZE
  • SSO for SAP Agent
  • Support of Oracle 21C
  • Support of PostgreSQL 13 and 14

What's New in 21.0.4

This Automic Automation version introduced the functions and enhancements listed below.

Containerized Agents

As of this version, we support running agents as containers running on Kubernetes. This applies to UNIX, Java-based (including Rapid Automation) and Windows agents. Containerized agents can be used either with a standard Automic Automation deployment or with Automic Automation Kubernetes Edition.

Automic Automation

  • GSS_COMPATIBILITY Variable - Low Entropy Authentication
  • JCP Certificate Renewal
  • Automatic JCP Restart after Renewing Certificate
  • TLS/SSL - Reject Client Initiated Renegotiation
  • Non-TLS Java-APIs Connect to AE v21+
  • Telemetry - Product Usage Collector
  • Telemetry Enhancements
  • Azure AD - SAML Provider and New *CONFIG Parameter
  • Additional Privilege required for Oracle Databases
  • EXECUTION_TRIGGER - New UC_SYSTEM_SETTING

Automic Automation Kubernetes Edition

  • AWI Improvements for AAKE
  • Automatic Pod Restart after Configuration Changes

Automic Web Interface

  • Enhanced Security

What's New in 21.0.3

This Automic Automation version introduced the functions and enhancements listed below.

Agents

  • Avaloq Agent

Automic Automation Kubernetes Edition

  • Resource Limits for Customization Pods
  • Improved Tracing/Debugging Capabilities of AAKE

Automic Automation

  • Telemetry - PUC REST API Endpoint
  • Telemetry - Usage Data View
  • CyberArk - New Configuration Options to Retrieve Passwords

Automic Web Interface

  • Cleaned-Up AWI Logs
  • AWI Theming

What's New in 21.0.2

This version of Automic Automation did not include new features.

What's New in 21.0.1

This version of Automic Automation did not include new features.

What's New in 21.0.0

This Automic Automation version introduced the functions and enhancements listed below.

Automic Automation Kubernetes Edition

This release introduces the Automic Automation Kubernetes Edition (AAKE).

This Automic Automation container-based model uses Kubernetes and Helm charts and can be used for deployments on self-hosted Kubernetes clusters as well as managed Kubernetes services provided by, for example, AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud Platform.

Automation Engine

  • TLS/SSL Implementation
  • New REST Process and Java Communication Process (JCP)
  • New TLS Gateway Component
  • INI File Changes
    • AE INI File
    • TLS/SSL Agents INI Files
    • TLS Gateway INI File
    • DB Service Agent
  • Proxy Client INI File
  • New Server Roles for the Java Work Process
  • Availability Check for JCP and JWP
  • User Passwords Storage
  • LDAP Service Availability for Login
  • Separation of Privileges for UNIX Agents
  • Extension of the Automation Engine REST API
  • z/OS Event Monitor
  • UC_VAULT_CYBERARK - Password Vault Configuration

Automic Web Interface

  • Modern Platform
  • Straightforward AWI Installation
  • Visual Changes
    • Menu Bar
    • Left Navigation Panes
    • Back Button
    • Default Welcome Dashboard Always Accessible
  • Stored User Settings
    • List Layout
    • List of Tasks in Schedules
    • List of Tasks in the Process Monitoring perspective
    • Workflow Monitor
    • Workflow Editor
    • Schedule Monitor
  • Drag and Drop to Add Tasks to Schedules
  • VARA Object Enhancements
    • Copy Content of STATIC VARA Objects
    • Export VARA Object Preview Results
    • Copy VARA Preview Results
  • Interactive Traffic Lights for Tasks in the Process Monitoring perspective
  • Bulk Operations
  • Task Tooltips in Workflows
  • Log Level Configuration Through the Automic Web Interface
  • New JWP Roles Page in Administration Perspective

Analytics

  • Auto Refresh Function for Analytics Widgets

Action Builder

  • Browser Functions
  • Consistent Naming
  • Bulk Operations

Infrastructure Manager

  • Encrypted Password Support

Documentation and Education

  • Documentation
    • Branding
    • TLS/SSL v Non-TLS-SSL Communication
    • Container-Based Installation and Upgrade - AAKE
    • Upgrade Section
    • Third-Party Licenses
  • Education
    • This year has seen the launch of the Broadcom Software Academy, Broadcom's learning portal, where you can find many free online trainings.