Advanced Systems Concepts (ASCI) previewed ActiveBatch V7.0. The new version will address the growing need for consolidation and simplification in complex enterprise processing environments by introducing a new dynamic Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) and related Web Services tools; the improvements make it possible to unify and incorporate any number of processes on distributed systems with one job scheduling application.

ActiveBatch, a prominent enterprise job scheduling and workload automation solution, reflects the most cutting-edge strategic business initiatives today. Its features and capabilities are continually enhanced to answer the need for reduced cost of operations and improved service levels throughout the enterprise. ActiveBatch achieves this by providing real-time, automated workload support that integrates workflows across any number of applications, data sources and platforms.

With the preview of Version 7, ActiveBatch achieves a new milestone in value. “Many organizations seek to simplify and improve business processes through the use of Web Services. ActiveBatch Version 7.0 masters this environment through its new dynamic SOA, Business Process Automation module, and expanded job libraries that feature adapters for Web Services-based applications,” said Jim Manias, Vice President of Marketing and Sales for Advanced Systems Concepts. “By doing so, ActiveBatch becomes even more valuable as a universal solution for applications and database functions on Windows, UNIX and OpenVMS platforms.”

SOA, Web Services
Among ActiveBatch 7.0’s enhancements is its dynamic SOA that will allow organizations to more easily and dynamically incorporate inbound and outbound Web Services. Through its SOA, ActiveBatch will trigger and modify applications and business processes not only within the enterprise, but also outside with apps supporting WSDL. Its Web Services facilities also provide support for event-based Web services using an Event Provider/Subscriber facility.

ActiveBatch 7.0 debuts a Business Process Automation (BPA) module that supports a customizable “information chain” of processes to better manage service level agreements and other business goals. The module addresses the need of businesses to quickly address new customers, markets, technologies and/or government regulations.

A newly-expanded Job Library supports adapters for all applications using Web Services. Updated libraries include those for SQL Server, Oracle and other database formats; Secure FTP and file operations (including Zip); as well as Crystal Reports, Symantec BackupExec, MSMQ, and many others. The capability is augmented with a powerful new interactive designer that supports “drag and drop” integration of applications and ActiveBatch services.

Simpler, Greener
In addition to its Web Services and SOA/EDB capabilities, two other exciting improvements are debuting in Version 7.0 that make ActiveBatch more responsive to today’s enterprise processing needs:

• Change Management—To make it easier to update and manage ActiveBatch objects, Version 7.0 supports the creation, comparison, modification and updating of objects from one environment to another. For example, objects can be moved from a QA environment to a Production environment in a simple and audited fashion. This provides greater reliability when managing multiple computing operations.
• Power Management—Version 7.0 introduces a “green” power management feature that allows idle machines to be placed in a Hibernate or Suspend state, to save on power consumption and potentially take advantage of rebates or passing carbon credits. The dormant systems can be reactivated either at a specific time or via the hardware’s “Wake-On-LAN” function.