The HCL Workload Automation network

An HCL Workload Automation network consists of a set of linked workstations on which you perform batch job processing using HCL Workload Automation management capabilities.

Workstations communicate using TCP/IP links, and a store-and-forward technology to maintain consistency and fault-tolerance across the network. This means that if a workstation is not linked, all the information is stored in the messages file and only sent when the link is reestablished.

The HCL Workload Automation network consists of one or more domains, each having a domain manager workstation acting as a management hub, and one or more agent workstations.

There are four types of agent: standard, fault-tolerant, extended, and workload broker. Standard and fault-tolerant agents can be defined on UNIX® and Windows® computers. Extended agents are logical definitions, each hosted by a physical workstation, and are used to perform job processing where an agent is not installed. For example, extended agents are available for Peoplesoft, SAP R/3, z/OS®, CA-7, JES, OPC, Oracle EBS, and VMS but you can also install them on UNIX® and Windows® systems. Workload broker agents are workstations that manage the lifecycle of HCL Workload Automation Workload Broker type jobs in dynamic workload broker.

Another type of workstation that you can define in your network is a remote engine workstation. This kind of workstation is used to manage the communication with a remote HCL Workload Automation engine, either distributed or z/OS based, to manage dependencies for local jobs from jobs defined on the remote engine. For more information, see Defining and managing cross dependencies.

For information about workstations, see Workstation definition.

In the hierarchical HCL Workload Automation topology, the master domain manager is the domain manager of the topmost domain. All production setup tasks and the generation of the production plan are performed on the master domain manager. A production plan contains all job management activities to be performed across the HCL Workload Automation network during a specific time frame. A copy of the production plan is distributed from the master domain manager to the other workstations. On each workstation HCL Workload Automation launches and tracks its own jobs, and sends job processing status to the master domain manager.

For more information about HCL Workload Automation plan management capabilities, refer to Managing the production cycle.