The ServiceManager Dialog Program is a graphical user interface that administrators can use to start and stop components. It allows you to monitor your Automation Engine system from a central point.
The Dialog Program shows the states of all components in your ServiceManager environment. It also provides access to ServiceManagers that run on other computers within the network. Therefore, you can access Windows and UNIX-based Automation Engine programs throughout the system. Access to remote computers requires access rights which are also checked.
You can establish a secure connection (TLS 1.2) with the ServiceManager but still support non-secure connections to legacy ServiceManagers. For secure connections, you must have CAPKI installed on the same computer in which you have installed the ServiceManager Dialog Program. If a secure connection cannot be established, a message prompts you to confirm if you want to proceed with an insecure connection or not. The ServiceManager Dialog Program displays the status of your connection which can be Secure, Not secure, or Not connected. For more information, see CAPKI - Securing the ServiceManager.
ServiceManager Window
The content of the Dialog Program is refreshed periodically. Apart from the Computer Name, all fields that are displayed in the window are empty if a ServiceManager is not active on the computer selected. The fields are also empty if you do not have the necessary access rights for the computer selected. In this case, an error message is displayed.
The window displays the following information:
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Computer Name
Input field for the name of the computer on which the ServiceManager is installed
You can also select from existing entries.
You can specify the port number of the ServiceManager (for example, PC01:8871).
Note: On UNIX, specifying the port number for the ServiceManager is mandatory. If Windows runs on the same machine as the ServiceManager, defining the port number is optional.
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Phrase
Entry field for the ServiceManager environment
This is the environment that is used in the definitions file and when executing a command.
When the computer name has been selected, the ServiceManager environment displays. You can use the dropdown list to switch between ServiceManager environments if there is more than one available.
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Service
Name of the service
You can select any name of your choice and can change it at any time.
Important! The service name of all Server Processes changes upon starting the service. The name displayed has the format UC4 <server process type>-Server [AUTOMIC#<server process type and connection order>], followed by the number of connections to other processes. The service name you assigned them is displayed again upon stopping the service.
Example
UC4 WP-Server [AUTOMIC#WP003] - 2 Connections
This is the work process that started third and has two connections to other processes.
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Status
Status of the service
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Start Time
Start time of the service
During the startup phase, the remaining waiting time is displayed in seconds.
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Runtime
Current runtime of the active service
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ProcID
Process number of the active service
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CPU Time
Currently used CPU time of the active service
The context menu allows you to start, end, move up and down, duplicate, delete and rename a service. You can also access the service's properties to change its definition. You can start the service with or without a defined method. Also, there are three options to end (stop) a service:
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Shutdown (AE system): All server processes stop.
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Immediately single process: A single process stops.
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Abnormally: The service is immediately stopped by the ServiceManager through a system call (kill).
Note: This command should only be used if the service's attempts to stop itself were not successful.
Adding Components
You must add components to this table for them to be displayed by the Dialog Program. By default, the table includes some entries such as work and communication processes.
The components displayed correspond to the computer and phrase you selected. To add a new line right-click an existing table entry, select Duplicate. You can enter the start path and define other parameters in the Properties dialog. It displays the following information:
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Command
File name of the program including the complete path specifications
If you do not want to use the default INI file to start, you can specify the name and path of a different one. Separate this definition from the path and file name using a blank.
Example
C:\AUTOMIC\Agents\win\bin\UCXJWI3.exe C:\AUTOMIC\ini\win\UCXJWI3.ini
Notes:
- Java agents require the parameter -I in front of the INI file path.
- Java agents (SAP, JMX, Databases, and Rapid Automation) must be started via the JAR file.
- There is an additional display option for server processes. Enter the parameter -svc%port% and the server process name plus the number of connections displays in addition to the service name.
The text field below Command can be used to define several start methods for Server Processes. Select and right-click the top line of the text field and use the Insert command to insert lines. The name you assign to the start method selected is displayed in the context menu. Use the parameters -parm"StartMode=value;SystemStop=Value" to define a start method that executes a cold start:
Parameters
-parm"StartMode=value;SystemStop=Value"
Allowed values:
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StartMode=: NORMAL (default) for a regular start and COLD for a cold start
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SystemStop=: NORMAL (default) is to keep the client status unchanged and YES to stop all clients
Important! You can specify one or both arguments. Both arguments are also available in the INI file; however, the values specified in the ServiceManager Dialog Program are given priority.
You can also enter the file name, the path to the INI file if needed, and the start parameter -svc%port%.
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Start Path
Program's working directory
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Log On As
User ID used for processing
Important! UNIX ignores this setting and the program always starts using the user ID of the ServiceManager.
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User name
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Password
The password is encrypted
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Domain
User's domain, required if the user is not a local user
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Start automatically when the system starts
When this check box is selected, the service starts automatically when the system launches. If the service is only needed temporarily (such as for tests), the program can be started and stopped via the context menu.
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Seconds delayed
Waiting time in seconds during which startup is delayed
If the service appears in the first line of the Dialog Program, the indicated value is the waiting time for the start of the first service after the ServiceManager has been activated. In other cases, it represents the time lag until the service that is listed in the line above it has started.
Tip: It is recommended to insert pauses between process starts to give time for the system to execute these starts.
Important! The command file Phrase.SMD is created automatically when properties are changed for the first time. The file name complies with the ServiceManager environment. Do not change this file manually. For more information, see Setting Up an SMD File.
Handling Components
You can change the service order via the context menu. Please note that this action also affects the starting order.
Note: The ServiceManager Dialog Program is supplied as an independent component because direct access to important services such as the Automation Engine can affect operational activities.
The ServiceManager Dialog Program is password protected via the system menu. All services that belong to the ServiceManager's environment can be protected. Select the entry Change Password in the system menu. Specify a password and all the services of a phrase are protected from being started, ended, or modified without authorization. Once entered correctly (Enter Password), the password does not have to be indicated for each individual service anymore. This applies until the ServiceManager Dialog Program is ended. The password is stored in encrypted form in the parameter password= in the ServiceManager's INI file. For more information, see Service Manager Service.
Important! If your ServiceManager is password protected, you must define the UC_SMGR_LOGINS VARA object that is available in your system client 0000. Otherwise, you cannot start the agents and/or server processes for security reasons. Assign the relevant agent(s) and/or server processes to the UC_SMGR_LOGINS object. Note that if you assign server processes you must always use the asterisk symbol (*) in the Agent/Name and the Type fields on the Login page. For details, see UC_SMGR_LOGINS and Login (LOGIN)
Windows agents: In case the ServiceManager Dialog Program is not stored on the same computer as the agent, the Windows user used to start the agent requires the login right Access this computer from the network. Otherwise, the agent cannot start.
The services that should start are listed in the definition file Phrase.SMD (UC4.SMD by default). The file name corresponds to the ServiceManager environment. Manual interference with this file is only necessary in special cases because its content is automatically adjusted when the Dialog Program is modified. For more information, see Setting Up an SMD File.
See also: