HP Systems Insight Manager - Manual (Page 66)

17 Systems Insight Manager custom tools
General concepts
Custom tools are tools that can be created by the user to run on the CMS or on target systems. For example:
•
Remote tool A tool that runs on selected target systems. It might copy files to the target systems or run
specific X-Window applications on the target systems. You can schedule this tool.
•
CMS tool A tool that runs on the CMS. It is usually a script or batch file and can pass in environment
variables. Using Automatic Event Handling, you can configure this tool to run when events are received.
You can schedule this tool.
•
Web page tool A tool that launches a web URL. The URL is launched in a separate browser window
on the CMS. You cannot schedule this tool.
To add custom tools, you can either use the Tools
→New Custom Tools menu in the GUI, or edit the tool
definition files (tdefs) in a text editor and register them with the CLI mxtool. Both procedures are explained
in this chapter.
Tool types
As delivered, Systems Insight Manager provides an administrator with unified management control of any
number of servers and storage devices from a single console in the data center or in a remote location.
When customized with specialized tools or HP Insight Essentials plug-ins, Systems Insight Manager becomes
a comprehensive, easy-to-use platform for controlling Microsoft Windows, Linux, or HP-UX enterprise
environments.
A key method of administering multiple systems is through scripting. Systems Insight Manager features a
modular architecture that uses
tool definition files (TDEFs) written in the XML data file format. A TDEF contains
the definitions of one or more tools used by Systems Insight Manager and define how a tool launches and
executes. A tool can be a script or an executable file. Creating custom tools enables you to extend the use
of Systems Insight Manager to your specific business environment.
Table 17-1 Tool types
Description Name
An SSA tool executes on a selected target and is only aware of
the target system environment. In executing an SSA tool, the Single-system-aware command tool OR Remote Tool in the GUI
Systems Insight Manager Distributed Task Facility (DTF) of the CMS
uses SSH to send one or more files to the target system, which
then executes the tool. An example of an SSA tool would be a
tool that wraps a common Unix command such as ls. cat, or cp.
An MSA tool executes typically on the CMS and can work with
multiple target systems. When launched, the MSA process is Multiple-system-aware command tool
created once and then passed to all targets on the list. An
XWindows tool is an example of an MSA tool.
A WLA tool typically launches in a separate browser (by default)
or in the same frame as Systems Insight Manager and is specified Web launch tool or Web page tool in the GUI
General concepts 66