Creating and Fine-Tuning the Workflows

This topic describes how to fine-tune and arrange Workflows and Tasks (Actions) to perform a blue/green deployment.

Actions

To set up the Workflow infrastructure three main actions must be carried out:

1. Create the Application Workflows and Component Workflows needed to move the Package from one state to the next (Deploy, Mark_Stable, Switch, and so on).
2. Arrange the Actions and Jobs in the Component Workflows.
3. Arrange the Component Workflows in the Application Workflows.

Watch the video:

Workflow Overview

To Create the Workflows

The first Application Workflow "Trigger_Deployment" has been already created via the Application Wizard. This Workflow will be used to determine which endpoint is available at the time of deployment based on the Profile (green or blue). Let us now create the other Application Workflows:

1. Open the BLUE_GREEN_APP Application.
2. Go to Workflows > All Workflows.
3. Click the Create icon in the toolbar.
4. Name the Workflow "Deploy". This Workflow will be used to deploy the Application on a set of Targets.
5. Select the Install type.
6. Select the BLUE_GREEN_APP Application.
7. Store the Workflow in the same folder where the "Trigger_Deployment" Workflow is located. For example: BLUE_GREEN.
8. Click Create.
9. Repeat steps 3-7 to create more Application Workflows:

   Name	Type	Folder	Description
   Switch	Install	BLUE_GREEN	Switches the routed traffic to the new installation.
   Switch_Back	Install	BLUE_GREEN	Switches the routed traffic back to the previous installation.
   Mark_Stable	Install	BLUE_GREEN	Marks the Package as "stable" in the production version.
   Trigger_Undeploy	Install	BLUE_GREEN	Triggers the "Undeploy_environment" Workflow based on the current Package Profile (green or blue).
   Undeploy_Environment	Install	BLUE_GREEN	Undeploys the Application from the current set of Targets.

   These Workflows will be used to move the Package to the next state in the stateflow.

10. Let us now create the Subworkflows (Component Workflows) which will make up the different tasks of the previously defined Application Workflows. Follow the steps below:

    1. Open the Release Automation perspective and click the Workflows tab in the sidebar.
    2. Click the Create button in the toolbar. The Create Workflow dialog is displayed.
    3. Name the first Component Workflow "Database".
    4. Select the Install type.
    5. Select the BLUE_GREEN_APP Application.
    6. Save the Workflow in the same folder where you stored the Application Workflows (for example, BLUE_GREEN).
    7. Click Create.
    8. Repeat the previous steps to create the other Component Workflows which will make up the "Deploy" Application Workflow:

       Name	Type	Folder	Description
       CREATE_IMAGE	Install	BLUE_GREEN	The Docker image Component Packages the necessary infrastructure.
       DEPLOY_IMAGE	Install	BLUE_GREEN	Spins up the Docker image.
       General	Install	BLUE_GREEN	Changes the Package state and sets the variables in the Environment.

    9. Component Workflows needed for the "Trigger_Deployment" Application Workflow:

       Name	Type	Folder	Description
       General1	Install	BLUE_GREEN	Determines which Profile can be used to deploy the Application.

    10. Component Workflows needed for the "Switch" Application Workflow:

        Name	Type	Folder	Description
        Load_Balancer	Install	BLUE_GREEN	Switches the load balancer from "green" to "blue" (and vice versa).

    11. Component Workflows needed for the "Switch_Back" Application Workflow:

        Name	Type	Folder	Description
        Load_Balancer	Install	BLUE_GREEN	Switches the load balancer from "green" to "blue" (and vice versa).

    12. Component Workflows needed for the "Mark_Stable" Application Workflow:

        Name	Type	Folder	Description
        General1	Install	BLUE_GREEN	Marks the installed version as "stable". Traffic is routed. As of now, changes will be deployed to the Targets assigned to the other Profile.

    13. Component Workflows needed for the "Trigger_Undeploy" Application Workflow:

        Name	Type	Folder	Description
        General1	Install	BLUE_GREEN	Used to determine which Profile can be used to undeploy the Application.

    14. Component Workflows needed for the "Undeploy_environment" Application Workflow:

        Name	Type	Folder	Description
        Application	Install	BLUE_GREEN	Removes the Docker container from the Environment.

To Arrange Workflows and Actions

After creating the Application and Component Workflows, add specific Actions and Jobs to the Component Workflows and arrange them in a logical order.

1. First, add and arrange the appropriate Actions within each Component Workflow:

   • Deploy Application Workflow (determines which endpoint is available at the time of deployment based on the Profile - green or blue).

     1. Database Component Workflow.

        1. Drag-and-drop the following Actions to the editor:

           Name	Title	Description
           PCK.AUTOMIC_MSSQL.PUB.ACTION.CREATE_DB	Create Database	Creates a specific database.
           PCK.AUTOMIC_TEXT.PUB.ACTION.REPLACE_TEXT	Text replace text	Replaces a selected text.
           PCK.AUTOMIC_JDBC:PUB.ACTION.EXECUTE_SQL_SCRIPT	DB Execute Script	Executes a SQL script located on the agent host.
           PCK.AUTOMIC_JDBC:PUB.ACTION.EXECUTE_SQL_SCRIPT	DB Execute Script	Executes a SQL script located on the agent host.
           PCK.AUTOMIC_JDBC:PUB.ACTION.EXECUTE_SQL_SCRIPT	DB Execute Script	Executes a SQL script located on the agent host.

        2. Arrange the Actions in the editor to resemble the screenshot below:

           

           The first component deployed by the Workflow is the Application MSSQL Database. This process is straight forward. First, a new database is created with the MSSQL Action Pack. While the database is being created, an update to one of the SQL scripts runs in parallel. After this, the scripts are executed in the correct order.

        The second component to be deployed is a Docker container to host the Application. Deploying this component is a two-step process. The first step is creating the image. The second one is deploying it.

     2. CREATE_IMAGE Component Workflow (used to make the "Docker image" Component Package the necessary infrastructure):

        1. Drag-and-drop the following Actions to the editor and name them as follows:

           Name	Title	Description
           PCK.AUTOMIC_DOCKER.PUB.ACTION.CREATE_IMAGE	Pull an image from public docker repository	This action is used to create an image by pulling it from the docker public repository. By default the Image tag value is 'latest'.
           PCK.AUTOMIC_FILESYSTEM.PUB.ACTION.CREATE_DIR	CREATE_PERSISTENT_DIR	Creates a persistent directory.
           PCK.AUTOMIC_FILESYSTEM.PUB.ACTION.CREATE_DIR	CREATE_BUILD_DIRECTORY	Creates a new build directory.
           PCK.AUTOMIC_DOCKER.PUB.ACTION.CREATE_CONTAINER	Create container from existing image	Creates a container in the docker system from an existing image.
           PCK.AUTOMIC_AGENT_2_AGENT.PUB.ACTION.TRANSFER	TRANSFER_NEW_VERSION_FILES	Transfers one or more files from one host to another host using the agent-to-agent file transfer mechanism.
           PCK.AUTOMIC_DOCKER.PUB.ACTION.START_CONTAINER	START_CONTAINER	Starts an existing container as per the specified container id.
           PCK.AUTOMIC_DOCKER.PUB.ACTION.CHANGE_CONTAINER_STATE	STOP_CONTAINER_AFTER_WAR_FILE_EXPLODED	Changes the state of an existing container to stop.
           PCK.AUTOMIC_FILESYSTEM.PUB.ACTION.COPY	COPY_CONFIG_FILE	Copies the configuration file.
           PCK.AUTOMIC_FILESYSTEM.PUB.ACTION.COPY	COPY_DRIVER	Copies the driver.
           PCK.AUTOMIC_FILESYSTEM.PUB.ACTION.COPY	COPY_APPLICATION_TAR_TO_BUILD_DIRECTORY	Copies the Application tar to the build directory.
           PCK.AUTOMIC_TEXT.PUB.ACTION.REPLACE_TEXT	EDIT_DATABASE_CONNECTION_SETTINGS	Replaces the values in database connection settings.
           PCK.AUTOMIC_TEXT.PUB.ACTION.REPLACE_TEXT	Text replace text	Replaces the text in the image index file.
           PCK.AUTOMIC_FILESYSTEM.PUB.ACTION.PACK	TAR_APPLICATION	Archives the tar Application file with all subitems.
           PCK.AUTOMIC_FILESYSTEM.PUB.ACTION.PACK	TAR_DOCKERFILE_AND_APPLICATION	Archives the docker and Application file with all subitems.
           PCK.AUTOMIC_DOCKER.PUB.ACTION.BUILD_IMAGE	Build image from Dockerfile	Creates a Docker Image from the Docker file
           PCK.AUTOMIC_FILESYSTEM.PUB.ACTION.DELETE	File Delete	Deletes the file.

        2. Arrange the Actions in the editor to resemble the screenshot below:

           Select the image to expand it.

           

           First, the Workflow pulls a Docker image from a public Docker repository. Then, the Workflow runs a file delete on the previous image directory. Usually this directory is located under /data/ARA/image on the container. When this action is completed, a persistent directory is created under the same path.

           After the image is ready, the Docker Action Pack is used to create a container from the existing pulled image and copy over the war file, driver, and connection string from the database to the Tomcat container. Once the files are placed correctly, the container is started up, so that the copied war file explodes. After one minute, the container is stopped. This clause is triggered with a precondition:

           

           As a next step, the Workflow edits the database connection string so that it is possible to connect to the correct database in the BLUE_GREEN Application. After the connection string has been fixed, the index.html file welcome message is changed.

           Finally, the Workflow "TARs up" the Application and Docker file after cleaning up the directories one last time.

     3. DEPLOY_IMAGE Component Workflow (used to spin up the Docker image):

        1. Drag-and-drop the following Actions to the editor and name them as follows:

           Name	Title	Description
           PCK.AUTOMIC_FILESYSTEM.PUB.ACTION.COPY	COPY_TEMPLATE_AS_TEMPORARY	Copies the template.
           PCK.AUTOMIC_FILESYSTEM.PUB.ACTION.REPLACE_TEXT	SET_IMAGE_NAME	Sets the name of the image.
           PCK.AUTOMIC_TEXT.PUB.ACTION.REPLACE_TEXT	SET_PORT_ON_HOST	Opens the port needed to connect.
           PCK.AUTOMIC_DOCKER.PUB.ACTION.CREATE_CONTAINER	Create container from existing image	Creates a new container.
           PCK.AUTOMIC_FILESYSTEM.PUB.ACTION.DELETE	DELETE_TEMPLATE_TEMPORARY	Deletes the temporary template.
           PCK.AUTOMIC_DOCKER.PUB.ACTION.START_CONTAINER	Start existing container	Starts an existing container as per the specified container id.
           PCK.AUTOMIC_DM.PUB.ACTION.SET_DYNAMIC_PROPERTY	DM Set Dynamic Property	Sets the value of a given Dynamic Property in ARA.

        2. Arrange the Actions in the editor to resemble the screenshot below:

           

           The first Action copies over the docker_template_tomcat file. After that, the second Action sets the name for the image. The third job will then open the port needed to connect. Once this is done, the container is created. The temporary template is deleted and the new container is booted. Finally, some Dynamic Properties are set on the Environment to define the current booted container ID on it.

     4. General Component Workflow. (This Workflow is used to change the Package state):

        1. Drag-and-drop the following Action to the editor and name it as follows:

           Name	Title	Description
           PCK.AUTOMIC_DM.PUB.ACTION.PackagesTATE_SET	DM Set Package State	Changes the Package State and sets Variables in the Environment.

        2. Arrange the Subworkflow in the editor to resemble the screenshot below:

           

   • Trigger_Deployment Application Workflow (deploys the Application on a set of Targets). This Workflow starts once the Package has been moved from the "Active" to the "Deploy" state. A DM job is used to trigger the Deploy Workflow once the Package states have been updated.

     1. Open the DM Set Package State Workflow, drag-and-drop the following Actions to the editor and name them as follows:

        Name	Title	Description
        PCK.AUTOMIC_DM.PUB.ACTION.GET_DYNAMIC_PROPERTY	DM Get Dynamic Property	Retrieves the value of a specified Dynamic Property in CDA (blue/green).
        PCK.AUTOMIC_DM.PUB.ACTION.SET_DYNAMIC_PROPERTY	DM Set Dynamic Property	Sets the value of a given Dynamic Property in CDA (blue/green)
        PCK.AUTOMIC_DM.PUB.ACTION.SET_DYNAMIC_PROPERTY	DM Set Dynamic Property	Sets the value of a given Dynamic Property in CDA (blue/green)
        PCK.AUTOMIC_DM.PUB.ACTION.SET_DYNAMIC_PROPERTY	DM Set Dynamic Property	Sets the value of a given Dynamic Property in CDA (blue/green)
        PCK.AUTOMIC_DM.PUB.ACTION.EXECUTE_APPLICATION_WORKFLOW	DM Execute Application Workflow	Executes the deploy Application Workflow.

     2. Arrange the actions in the editor to resemble the screenshot below.

        

   • Switch Application Workflow (switches the load balancer from the "green" Profile to the "blue" one and vice versa).

     1. Load_Balancer Component Workflow.

        1. Drag-and-drop the following Actions to the editor and name them as follows:

           Name	Title	Description
           PCK.AUTOMIC_TEXT.PUB.ACTION.REPLACE_TEXT	Text replace text	Replaces the "green" text to "blue" and vice versa (jpetstore file).
           NGINX		Job used to reload Nginx, the web server software used for this scenario as load balancer.
           PCK.AUTOMIC_DM.PUB.ACTION.SET_DYNAMIC_PROPERTY	DB Set Dynamic Property	Updates the Dynamic Property.
           PCK.AUTOMIC_DM.PUB.ACTION.PackagesTATE_SET	DB Set Package State	Set the state of the Package by using its ID.

        2. Arrange the Actions in the editor to resemble the screenshot below:

           

           This Workflow changes the jpetstore file in /etc/nginx/sites-available/jpetstoreusing a text replace action. After this, Nginx is reloaded using a custom Unix action. Then, the Dynamic Properties and Package state are updated to reflect the change that the Package has gone through.

   • Switch_Back Application Workflow (switches the routed traffic back to the previous installation). The Switch_Back Workflow works in the same way as the Switch Workflow. However, its used at a different Package state.

     Once the Package has successfully gone live to the first Target using the above Switch Workflow it can be switched back to the previous Target.

     1. Load_Balancer Component Workflow.

        1. Drag-and-drop the following Actions and Jobs to the editor and name them as follows:

           Name	Title	Description
           PCK.AUTOMIC_TEXT.PUB.ACTION.REPLACE_TEXT	Text replace text	Replaces the green text to blue and vice versa (jpetstore file).
           NGINX		Job used to reload Nginx, the web server software used for this scenario as load balancer.
           PCK.AUTOMIC_DM.PUB.ACTION.SET_DYNAMIC_PROPERTY	DB Set Dynamic Property	Updates Dynamic Property.
           PCK.AUTOMIC_DM.PUB.ACTION.PackagesTATE_SET	DB Set Package State	Set the state of the Package by using its ID.

        2. Arrange the Actions in the editor to resemble the screenshot below:

           

   • Mark_Stable Workflow (marks the Package as "stable" in the production version).

     1. General Component Workflow.

        1. Drag-and-drop the following Actions to the editor and name them as follows:

           Name	Title	Description
           PCK.AUTOMIC_DM.PUB.ACTION.PackagesTATE_SET	DM Set Package State	Sets the state of a specified Package using its ID.
           PCK.AUTOMIC_DM.PUB.ACTION.PackagesTATE_SET	DM Set Package State	Sets the state of a specified Package using its ID.
           PCK.AUTOMIC_DM.PUB.ACTION.SET_DYNAMIC_PROPERTY	DM Set Dynamic Property	Sets the value of a given Dynamic Property in ARA.
           PCK.AUTOMIC_DM.PUB.ACTION.SET_DYNAMIC_PROPERTY	DM Set Dynamic Property	Sets the value of a given Dynamic Property in ARA.
           PCK.AUTOMIC_DM.PUB.ACTION.SET_DYNAMIC_PROPERTY	DM Set Dynamic Property	Sets the value of a given Dynamic Property in ARA.

        2. Arrange the Actions in the editor to resemble the screenshot below:

           

   • Trigger_Undeploy Workflow. Triggers the "Undeploy_environment" Workflow based on the current Package Profile (green or blue).

     1. General Component Workflow.

        Drag-and-drop the following Actions to the editor and name them as follows:

        Name	Title	Description
        PCK.AUTOMIC_DM.PUB.ACTION.GET_DYNAMIC_PROPERTY	DM Get Dynamic Property	Retrieves the value of a specified Dynamic Property in CDA (blue/green).
        PCK.AUTOMIC_DM.PUB.ACTION.EXECUTE_APPLICATION_WORKFLOW	DM Execute Application Workflow	Executes the deploy Application Workflow.
        PCK.AUTOMIC_DM.PUB.ACTION.PackagesTATE_SET	DM Set Package State	Sets the state of a specified Package using its ID.
        PCK.AUTOMIC_DM.PUB.ACTION.PackagesTATE_SET	DM Set Package State	Sets the state of a specified Package using its ID.
        PCK.AUTOMIC_DM.PUB.ACTION.SET_DYNAMIC_PROPERTY	DM Set Dynamic Property	Sets the value of a given Dynamic Property in ARA.
        PCK.AUTOMIC_DM.PUB.ACTION.SET_DYNAMIC_PROPERTY	DM Set Dynamic Property	Sets the value of a given Dynamic Property in ARA.

     2. Arrange the Actions in the editor to resemble the screenshot below:

        

   • Undeploy_environment Workflow (undeploys the Application from the current set of Targets).

     1. Application Component Workflow.

        Drag-and-drop the following Actions to the editor and name them as follows:

        Name	Title	Description
        PCK.AUTOMIC_DOCKER.PUB.ACTION.REMOVE_CONTAINER	Remove an existing container	Removes the container from the Environment.
        PCK.AUTOMIC_DM.PUB.ACTION.SET_DYNAMIC_PROPERTY	DM Set Dynamic Property	Sets the value of a given Dynamic Property in ARA.

     2. Arrange the Actions in the editor to resemble the screenshot below:

        

        Note: The Remove an existing container task contains a precondition stating that if the Package has no Id it can be skipped. This prevents the Workflow from removing incorrect containers.

        

   You are almost there! The last step will be to arrange the Component Workflows within the Application Workflows.

2. Second, add and arrange the Component Workflows in the Application Workflows.

   1. Deploy Workflow: this Workflow is designed to deploy the Application into an Environment. It consists of four different Subworkflows. Arrange them as follows:

      

      1. Database: makes changes to the database.
      2. CREATE_IMAGE: creates a Docker image.
      3. DEPLOY_IMAGE: deploys the Docker image.
      4. General: sets the Package state.

   2. Trigger_Deployment Workflow: this Workflow will be used to determine which endpoint is available at the time of deployment based on the Profile (green or blue). It triggers the deploy Workflow and consists of only one Component Workflow (General1):

      

   3. Switch Workflow: this Workflow will be used to switch the load balancer and make the Blue or Green Endpoints live and available.

      

      • Load Balancer: switches the load balancer from "green" to "blue" (and vice versa).

   4. Switch_Back Workflow: switches the routed traffic back to the previous installation. It consists of one Component Workflow: "Load_Balancer"

      

      • Load Balancer: switches the load balancer from "green" to "blue" (and vice versa).

   5. Mark_Stable Workflow: marks the Package as stable in the production version. It consists of one Component Workflow: (General1).

      

      • General1: marks the installed version as "stable". Traffic is routed. As of now, changes will be deployed to the Targets assigned to the other Profile.

   6. Trigger_Undeploy Workflow: triggers the "Undeploy_environment" Workflow based on current Package Profile (green or blue). It consists of one Component Workflow (General1).

      

   7. Undeploy_Environment Workflow. It consists of one Component Workflow (Application):

      

      • Application Workflow: removes the Docker container from the Environment.

Next steps:

7. Assigning Workflows to Package States

Previous steps:

1. Creating a new Package Type and Defining Package States
2. Creating the Application with the Wizard
3. Defining the "Green" Profile
4. Fine-Tuning the Environment
5. Fine-Tuning the Components