Introduction     1 Disclaimers and Fine Print    3 PART I:  ORCHESTRATOR OVERVIEW AND CONCEPTS Chapter 1  Orchestration, Integration, and Automation     7 Orchestration, ITIL, and MOF     8 Integration, Automation, Orchestration The Differences     9    About Integration     10    Using Automation     11    About Orchestration     12    Benefits of Orchestration     13    How Orchestration Can Help     15    What Not to Expect with Orchestration     16 Positioning of Orchestrator in System Center 2012     16 Typical Use Cases    19    Regular Maintenance and Daily Operations     19    On-Demand Requests     20    Incident Management     20    IT Process Automation     21    Business-Oriented Processes Automation     21    Elastic Data Center     21 Managing a Project     22    Define Your Processes     22    Consistency Checking     23    Report on Operations     23    Technical Implementation     23 Example: Orchestrating a VM Deployment     23 Summary     27 Chapter 2  What’s New in System Center 2012 Orchestrator     29 The History of Orchestrator     30    The Beginnings of Orchestrator: OpalisRobot     30    OpalisRendezVous     30    Opalis Innovates     31    Goodbye Robot, Hello OIS     32    Microsoft’s Acquisition of Opalis Software     33    OIS to Orchestrator     34    OIS Migration to Orchestrator     35    Where Orchestrator Fits into System Center     35 OIS 6.3 Versus Orchestrator 2012     37    Terminology Changes     37    Services     40    Other Terminology Changes     41    Concept Changes     44    Architecture and Feature Changes     45    Prerequisite/Sizing Changes     45    Licensing Changes     47 Summary     47 Chapter 3  Looking Inside System Center 2012 Orchestrator     49 Architectural Overview     50 Server Components     52    Management Server     53    Runbook Server     54    Orchestrator Database     54    Web Service     54    Orchestration Console     54    Runbook Designer     55 Deployment Models     58    Minimum Installation Model     58    Additional Runbooks and Scaling Out     59    Multiple System Center 2012 Orchestrator Installations     59 Windows Services     63    Orchestrator Management Service (omanagement)     63    Orchestrator Remoting Service (oremoting)     63    Orchestrator Runbook Server Monitor (omonitor)     64    Orchestrator Runbook Service (orunbook)     65 Global Settings     65 Integration Packs     67 Runbooks     68 Data Bus     69 Connectors     71 Consoles     71    Using the Orchestration Console     72    Using Deployment Manager     72    Using Runbook Designer    72    Using Runbook Tester     73    Data Store Configuration     75    Community Tools     76 Communication     76 Summary     78 Chapter 4  Architectural Design     79 Planning and Implementing Orchestrator     79 Planning for Physical Design     83    Hardware Requirements     84    SQL Hardware Best Practices     88    Server Placement     90    Network Traffic and Protocols     90    Physical High Availability of Orchestrator Components     90    Scaling Out     92 Planning for Logical Design     92    Orchestrator Software Requirements     92    Runbook Design Standards and Best Practices      93    Service Accounts     96    Determining the Development Process and Security Model     97    Designing Logical Fault Tolerance     101 Summary     104 PART II:  INSTALLATION AND IMPLEMENTATION Chapter 5  Installing System Center 2012 Orchestrator     107 Orchestrator Installation Roadmap     107    Planning for Installation     108    Installing Orchestrator Features     110    Performing Post-Installation Tasks     111 Installing Orchestrator     112    Installing the Management Server     113    Installing the Runbook Server Using Installation Media     123    Installing the Runbook Server Using Deployment Manager     126    Installing the Web Service     128    Installing the Runbook Designer Using the Installer     131    Installing Runbook Designer Using Deployment Manager     134    Using the Command-Line Installation Tool     136 Performing Post-Installation Tasks     139   Registering and Deploying Integration Packs     139   Migrating Opalis Policies to Orchestrator     145 Summary     150 Chapter 6  Using System Center 2012 Orchestrator     151 Framework for Creating Runbooks     151 Analyzing the Desired Automation     152    Orchestrator Usage Scenarios     153    Analyzing Actions in the Automation     155 Translating Actions to Runbook Activities     159 Creating the Runbook in Orchestrator Runbook Designer     161    Configuring the Runbook Designer     161    Checking In and Checking Out     163    Configuring Runbook Properties     163    Using Activities and Links in Your Runbook     164    Data Manipulation When Configuring Activities     166    Using Published Data     168    Using Computer Groups with Runbooks     169    Using Regular Expressions     171    Using Counters     173    Using Schedules     174    Creating and Using Variables     176 Validating the Runbook     179 Managing Runbooks Using the Orchestration Console     181 Managing Runbooks with the Orchestrator Web Service     185    Web Service Resource Discovery     187    Using Visual Studio to Interact with the Web Service     188    Using PowerShell or VBScript to Interact with the Web Service     193    View Orchestrator Data by Using Excel PowerPivot     196 Summary     200 Chapter 7  Runbook Basics     201 Anatomy of a Runbook     202    General Information     202    Runbook Servers     203    Logging Properties     203    Event Notifications     203    Job Concurrency     204    Returned Data     205    Runbook Security     205 Using Activities     209    Activity Properties     210    Published Data     213 Orchestrator Standard Activities     214    System Activities     214    Scheduling Activities     214    Monitoring Activities      214    File-Management Activities     214    Email Activities      215    Notification Activities     215    Utilities Activities     215    Text File Management     215    Runbook Control     215 Monitoring Activities     215 Orchestrator Custom Activities     216 Orchestrator Workflow Control     216    Starting Point     216    Smart Links     218    Embedded Loops     220 Drag and Drop     220 Managing Runbooks     221    Starting and Stopping Runbooks     221    Importing and Exporting Runbooks     222    Versioning Runbooks     226    Auditing Changes     226 Runbook Logging     228    Real-Time and Historic Runbook Logs     228    Trace Logs     229    Audit Logs     231 Building Your First Runbook     232    Copying a File     232    Preserving Copied Files     233    Monitoring File Changes     234    Using Logic in Links     235 Summary     238 Chapter 8  Advanced Runbook Concepts     239 Advanced Schedules     239    Using the Monitor/Date Time Activity     240    Using the Check Schedule Activity     242 Invoking Child Runbooks     245 Looping Considerations     246    Behavior with Multiple Data Items     246    Configuring Looping Properties for an Activity     246    Preventing Infinite Loops     248    Monitoring for Conditions in Activities     249    Runbook Looping     251 Using Junctions     253    Synchronizing Branches     253    Republishing Data     253    Junction Examples     256 Working with Data     258    Data Manipulation Functions     258    Regular Expressions     260    Testing Functions and Regular Expressions     263 Error Handling     265    Overview of a Simple Runbook     265    Adding Error Handling     266 Computer Groups and Alternative Options     268    Entry Types     269    Using Computer Groups     269 Using Variables     270    Using NOW() As a Variable     271    Using Environment Variables     272    Using Encrypted Variables     272 Using Counters     272 Summary     273 Chapter 9  Standard Activities     275 Configuring Standard Activities     276    General Tab     276    Run Behavior Tab     276 Runbook Control Activities     277    Initialize Data Activity     277    Invoke Runbook     278    Return Data     280    Junction Activity     281 System Activities Category     282    Run .Net Script     283    Using Run Program     286    About Query WMI     289    Start/Stop Service     290    End Process     291    Restart System     292    Save Event Log     293    Run SSH Command     294    SNMP Activities     296 Scheduling Category     297    Monitor Date/Time Activity     297    Check Schedule     298 Monitoring Activities     298 File Management     300 Email Activities     302 Notification Activities     304    Send Event Log Message     305    Send Platform Event     306    Send Syslog Message     306 Utilities Category     307    Using Counters in Orchestrator     308    Data-Handling Activities     310    Other Utility Activities     315 Text File Management     316 Summary     317 Chapter 10  Runbook and Configuration Best Practices     319 Runbook Best Practices     319    Designing Runbooks for Fault Tolerance     326    Designing Parent and Child Runbooks     327    Using the Run Program Activity     331    Looping Within a Runbook     332 Configuration Best Practices     334    Specifying a Runbook Server and Runbook Throttling     334    Configuring SQL Server     335    Purging the Orchestrator Database     336 Useful SQL Queries     337 Verifying Runbook Design     339 Summary     348 Chapter 11  Security and Administration     349 Orchestrator Security Model     349    Running a Runbook Using a Specific Account     353    Auditing in Orchestrator     357    Changing Service Accounts     360    Database Roles     363    Exporting and Importing Runbooks     363 User Roles and Security     366    Connecting Remotely     369    Creating Runbook Folders     373    Assigning Permissions to Runbooks for Help Desk Operators     374 Summary     377 PART III:  INTEGRATION PACKS AND THE OIT Chapter 12  Orchestrator Integration Packs     381 An Integration Overview     382 Active Directory Integration Pack     382    Active Directory IP Typical Use Case     382    Active Directory IP Activity List     383    Active Directory IP Supported Versions     384    Active Directory IP Configuration Settings     385 Exchange Admin Integration Pack     386    Exchange Admin IP Typical Use Case     386    Exchange Admin IP Activity List     386    Exchange Admin IP Installation Notes     388    Exchange Admin IP Supported Versions     390    Exchange Admin IP Configuration Settings     390 Exchange User Integration Pack     391    Exchange User IP Typical Use Case     391    Exchange User IP Activity List     391    Exchange User IP Installation Notes     392    Exchange User IP Supported Versions     392    Exchange User IP Configuration Settings     392 FTP Integration Pack     394    FTP IP Typical Use Case     394    FTP IP Activity List     394    FTP IP Installation Notes     395    FTP IP Supported Versions     395    FTP IP Configuration Settings     395 HP Integration Packs     397    HP iLO and OA     397    HP Operations Manager     399 IBM Tivoli Netcool/OMNIbus Integration Pack     402    IBM Tivoli Netcool/OMNIbus IP Typical Use Case     402    IBM Tivoli Netcool/OMNIbus IP Activity List     402    IBM Tivoli Netcool/OMNIbus IP Installation Notes     403    IBM Tivoli Netcool/OMNIbus IP Supported Versions     403    IBM Tivoli Netcool/OMNIbus IP Configuration Settings     403 Representational State Transfer (REST) Integration Pack     404    REST IP Typical Use Cases     404    REST IP Activity List     405    REST IP Installation Notes    405    REST IP Supported Versions     405    REST IP Configuration Settings     405 HP Service Manager Integration Pack     406    HP Service Manager IP Typical Use Case     407    HP Service Manager IP Activity List     407    HP Service Manager IP Installation Notes     407    HP Service Manager IP Supported Versions     408    HP Service Manager IP Configuration Settings     408 VMware vSphere Integration Pack     409    VMware vSphere IP Typical Use Case     409    VMware vSphere IP Activity List     409    VMware vSphere IP Installation Notes     412    VMware vSphere IP Supported Versions     412    VMware vSphere IP Configuration Settings     412 Community-Developed Integration Packs     413    Orchestrator.codeplex.com     413    Scorch.codeplex.com      413 Summary     414 Chapter 13  Integration with System Center Operations Manager     415 Integration Pack Requirements     415    System Center 2012 Orchestrator     415    System Center 2012 Operations Manager     416 Installing the Integration Pack     416 Configuring the Integration Pack     416    Connectivity Requirements     416    Granting Access to the Connection Account     417    Configuring the Connection Account     417 Activities at a Glance     419 Activities in Depth     419 Use Case Scenarios     422    Incident Remediation     423    Server Maintenance Mode (Windows or *NIX)     424    Group Maintenance Mode     429    Creating a Runbook for Group Maintenance Mode in Operations Manager 2012     430    Branch Office Maintenance Mode     435    Processing Alerts in Bulk     438 Summary     443 Chapter 14  Integration with System Center Service Manager     445 Communication Requirements     445 Integration Pack Requirements     446    System Center 2012 Orchestrator     446    Locale Settings     446 Installing the Integration Pack     446 Configuring the Integration Pack     447 Activities at a Glance     448 Activities in Depth     449 Use Case Scenarios     450    Closing Resolved Incidents     451    Creating a Change Calendar     454    Automating Service Requests     457 Troubleshooting the SCSM IP     471 Summary     472 Chapter 15  Integration with System Center Configuration Manager     473 Integration Pack Requirements     473    System Center 2012 Orchestrator     473    System Center 2012 Configuration Manager     474 Installing the Integration Pack     474 Configuring the Integration Pack     474    Creating the Connection Account     474    Granting Access to the Connection Account     475    Connectivity Requirements     478 Activities at a Glance     479 Activities in Depth     480 Use Case Scenarios     482    Creating and Populating a Collection     482    Applying Endpoint Protection Policy     488    Applying Software Updates     492 Summary     505 Chapter 16  Integration with System Center Virtual Machine Manager     507 Integration Pack Requirements     507    System Center 2012 Orchestrator     508    System Center 2012 Virtual Machine Manager     508 Installing the Integration Pack     508 Configuring the Integration Pack     508    Connectivity Requirements     509    Security Credentials     509    Granting Access to the Connection Account     509    Configuring the Connection Account     509 Activities at a Glance     511 Activities in Depth     513 Advanced Deployment Capabilities in VMM 2012     518    Configuring Service Templates     520    The VMM Service Designer     521    Service Template Components     521    Additional Service Template Properties     522 Updating Running Service Instances     524 Use Case Scenarios     525    Enabling Self-Service     525    Virtual Machine Provisioning     535    VM Checkpoint and Recovery     540    VM Lifecycle Management     543 Working with Service Templates     551    Deploying a Service Instance (Service Template)     551    Scaling Out a Machine (Computer) Tier     553    Scaling In a Machine Tier     554    Performing In-Place Servicing     555 Summary     557 Chapter 17  Integration with System Center Data Protection Manager     559 Integration Pack Requirements     559    System Center 2012 Orchestrator     559    System Requirements      560 Installing the Integration Pack     560 Configuring the Integration Pack     560 Activities at a Glance     564 Activities in Depth     564 Use Case Scenarios     565    Creating a Recovery Point Before Installing Software     566    Preparing a Server for Patch Management     568    Restoring a SQL Server Database to a Network Folder     570 Troubleshooting the DPM IP     573 Summary     576 Chapter 18  Integration with Windows Azure     577 Integration Pack Requirements     578 Installing the Integration Pack     578 Quick Introduction to PFX Files     578 Configuring the Integration Pack     579 Activities at a Glance     582 Activity Categories in Depth     582 Use Case Scenarios     583    Deploying a New Virtual Machine in Windows Azure     584    Getting Information About a Virtual Machine in Windows Azure     588    Copying Files from a Local Folder to an Azure Storage Container     589    Deploying a New Web Service in Windows Azure     592 Summary     597 Chapter 19  Runbook Automation in the Data Center and the Cloud     599 Factors in Process Automation Planning and Design     599    The Role of Orchestrator in Cloud Computing     601    The Rise of the Hybrid Cloud     602 Use Case Scenarios     602    CMDB Automation (Dynamic Asset Management for Data Center and Cloud)     603    Cross-Platform Integration (Linux Service Restart)     609    Cloud Bursting (Capacity Management for Hybrid Cloud)     615 Summary     617 Chapter 20  The Orchestrator Integration Toolkit     619 Overview of the Orchestrator Integration Toolkit     620    Development Planning     620    Developing the Workflow Activities     622    Deploying Workflow Activities     622    Preparing the Project     623 Installing the Orchestrator Integration Toolkit     623    Installation Prerequisites     624    Toolkit Installation     624    Validating Toolkit Installation     626 Using the Command-Line Activity Wizard     627    Starting Assembly Creation     627    Creating a New Activity Assembly     628    Adding Activities to the Command-Line Activity Assembly     630    Testing and Validating the Assembly     635    Converting Opalis QIK CLI Assemblies     636 Using the Integration Pack Wizard     637    Creating a New Integration Pack     638    Updating and Converting Integration Packs     643 Using the Orchestrator SDK     644    Choosing a Development Approach    645    Start Building an SDK Activity Project    653    Creating a Custom Resource File     654    Declarative Approach     659    Using the Imperative Approach     663    Cascading Dependencies Approach     666 Summary     671 PART IV:  APPENDIXES Appendix A  Community Solutions and Tools     675 Utilities and Scripts    675    Category Switcher     675    End User Portal for System Center Orchestrator     676    Orchestrator Health Checker     676    Orchestrator Remote Tools     676    Orchestrator Visio and Word Generator     676    Parse Orchestrator Export     677    Sanitize Export     677    SCO Job Runner     677    SCOrch Launcher     677    System Center Orchestrator Web Service PowerShell     678 Integration Packs     678    Working with Utilities     678    Working with System Center     680    Working with Other Microsoft Products     681 Appendix B  Reference URLs     683 General Resources     683 Microsoft’s Orchestrator Resources     684 Additional Resources     686 Blogs     688 System Center 2012 Resources     689 Appendix C  Available Online     691 PowerShell Scripts for the Operations Manager IP     691 PowerShell Scripts for the Virtual Machine Manager IP     691 Scripts for the Data Center Automation     692 Live Links     692 Index     693

The definitive reference and technical guide to implementing, integrating, and using Microsoft System Center Orchestrator 2012   The most complete and practical Orchestrator 2012 guide, by the expert authors who wrote the #1 book on its predecessor, Opalis 6.3 Helps IT pros leverage best practices for IT process automation in any environment, including the "private cloud" Shows how to plan smooth deployments and migrations By a world-class consulting team - all current or former Microsoft MVPs