Creating Change Request with template from Release Record using Orchestrator

Hello everybody,

Today I am going to write down the steps for creating a change request with a template from a release record automaticaly using Orchestrator. You may do the same using powershell but Orchestrator seems more easy for this type of projects. You can find the Powershell version (not the same but gives but gives an idea) in my previous blog;

I get bored of creating a change requset evey month for several services each having different CI's, start-end dates and Manual activities. There is no option for Scheduled tasks in Service Manager, therefore I


Here is the flow chart prepared in Orchestrator;

Steps in detail;

• Creating a release record from a RR template Manually from SCSM console
• Runbook triggered from RR template
• Getting the relationship between Runbook and RR
• Creating a new CR from a CRtemplate relatd to RR acquired in previous steps
• Updating Start and End dates of the new CR
• Building relation between 
• Updating Areas in CR;

    1) Searching SCOM servers from Active directory and adding to Change Request CI section
    2) Filtering Active directory users and passing  a desired user to Change Request's "assigned to user" and "created by" areas.

Next step is to add CI's and acitivity strat end dates to MA's in the CR template. I will add the steps and runbook screenshots later.

Keep following!

SCSM Failed to process extensions for management pack: Invalid enumeration mapping error

I was trying to export custom MPs from production environment and import to test environment. Unfortunately, I got "Failed to process extensions for management pack: Invalid enumeration mapping" error several times in our test SCSM 2012 environment.


Actually, It is pretty simple to get over this error in two quick steps;

1) Clear inside of  <extensions> ...</extensions> section completely and import your custom management pack
2) After successfully imported, import the original custom management pack, therefore overwrite existing

If you have more than one MP in the same situation do the same procedure for all of them.

SCSM will generate <extensions> ...</extensions> section itself.

Some useful scripts for SCSM 2012

Hi,

I write down some usefull Powershell scipts that I use in SCSM 2012. Mostly they are close to each other in logic, but minor changes returns different results. I recommend you check these and modify according to your needs.


#Closed and resolveddate is null and adding 2 days to resolved date as closeddate
$Incidents = @(Get-SCSMObject -Class (Get-SCSMClass -Name System.WorkItem.Incident$) | Where-Object {$_.Status -like "*Closed" -and $_.ResolvedDate -eq $NULL})
foreach ($Inc in $Incidents)
{
Set-SCSMObject -Property ResolvedDate -Value ($Inc.ClosedDate).AddDays(-2) -SMObject $Inc
}

　

　
　

#Status Closed but no Closeddate inserted, assigning last modified date as closeddate $Inc1 = @(Get-SCSMObject -Class (Get-SCSMClass -Name System.WorkItem.Incident$) | Where-Object {$_.Status -like "*Closed" -and $_.ClosedDate -eq $NULL})
foreach ($Inc in $Inc1)
{
$Inc | set-scsmobject -Property ClosedDate -Value $Inc.LastModified
write-host $Inc.Name $Inc.ClosedDate
}

　

　

#Getting the time difference between lastmodified and resolveddate  $Last = @(Get-SCSMObject -Class (Get-SCSMClass -Name System.WorkItem.Incident$) | Where-Object {$_.Status -like "*Closed*" -and $_.closedDate -eq $NULL})
foreach ($L in $Last)
{
$fark = ($L.lastmodified-$L.resolvedDate).duration()
write-host $L.Name /created/ $L.createddate /resolved/ $L.resolveddate /saat/ $fark.TotalHours
}

　

　

#Status Closed but closeddate is empty, Adding 2 days to Resolveddate as a closeddate value $Incidents = @(Get-SCSMObject -Class (Get-SCSMClass -Name System.WorkItem.Incident$) | Where-Object {$_.Status -like "*Closed" -and $_.closedDate -eq $NULL})
foreach ($Inc in $Incidents)
{
Set-SCSMObject -Property ClosedDate -Value ($Inc.ResolvedDate).AddDays(2) -SMObject $Inc
}

Closing resolved incidents automatically in SCSM with Powershell and/or with SCSM tasks

Hi,

Today, I am going to write down the steps and a powershell script I used for closing resolved incidents automatically in SCSM and/or with SCSM tasks. To note, the environment I work on is a SCSM 2012 SP1 on a 2008 R2 SP1 server.

I had a need for closing incidents after sometime when incidents left resolved but not closed by users. Therefore, we agreed on closing resolved incidents after 2 days automatically with SCSM using a Powershell script running as a scheduled task.

If we explain briefly, what we are going to do is;

1. For a later use to use as a task on any console importing SMLets module, log file path and name, SM management computer name,
2. Getting the date script run and getting incidents both resolved and resolved date more than 48 hours,
3. For each incident filtered closing the incident and inserting the closed date while writing to the log file specified before.
4. Preparing a scheduled task for automation of the script.
5. If desired adding as a task on console to run manually when desired.

Import-Module SMLets
$LogFilename = "anypath\yourlogname.log"
$SMDefaultComputer = "SCSM management computer name"

$Date = (get-date)
$DateString = $Date.toString()
$2DaysOld = (get-date).addhours(-48)
$Incidents = @(Get-SCSMObject –Class(get-scsmclass system.workitem.incident$) | where{$_.resolveddate -lt $2DaysOld -and $_.status -like "*resolv*"})

foreach ($Inc in $Incidents)
{Add-Content -Path $LogFilename ($Date.toString() + " - Any description you desire - " + $Inc.ID + " - " + $Inc.Title)
sleep 1
set-SCSMObject –property Status -Value Closed -SMobject $Inc
Set-SCSMObject –property ClosedDate -Value $Date -SMobject $Inc
}

Add-Content -Path $LogFilename (".")

Save your powershell script to anywhere you want, then you can add as a scheduled task into Task Scheduler like below;

Configure and trigger the script for everyday every 1 hour period;

 

In "Program/script" section enter;

C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe

 

In "Add arguments" section enter;

C:\YourPathWhereScriptSaved\YourScriptFilename.ps1

If you want to Add the script as a task into SCSM console;

On the console go to Library-->Tasks section and create new task. Enter name and description, select "Incident" as target class, choose a custom management pack or create a new one.

Move down to command line tab and fill areas as in screenshot;

Now you will be able to see the task on your consoles Tasks Pane on the right side.

I hope this blog will help you getting over the issue.

C u!..

SCOM management packs list

It is useful to track all SCOM management pack updates and new releases from the link below;

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/16174.microsoft-management-packs.aspx

Microsoft Silverlight release history

Hi,

Link below will help you follow Silverlight release history;

http://www.microsoft.com/getsilverlight/locale/en-us/html/Microsoft%20Silverlight%20Release%20History.htm

How to install HP Proliant VMM 2012 Integration Kit on Windows Server 2012 R2 RTM

Today I am going to talk about HP Proliant VMM 2012 Integration Kit. Our test environment is VMM 2012 R2.

First thing to do is downloading latest Integration kit for VMM 2012 which is "Insight Control for System Center 7.3.1 DVD ISO - Sept 2013" for this post. You can download ISO package from the link below; 

https://h20392.www2.hp.com/portal/swdepot/displayProductInfo.do?productNumber=HPICE

 

When you click the 7.2 link page will be scroll down to 7.2 download section. There after, when you click the download page will scroll down to the end and then you will see the receive for free button.

Then, Fill the form and then select Insight Control for System Center 7.3.1 DVD ISO - Sept 2013. Recommended to use HP download manager.

 

 

After download finished move to VMM management server and stop VMM services. Mount ISO and start autorun. Select VMM 2012 Integration Kit and follow the steps as follows;

 

Injecting drivers into WinPE boot image is another topic now discussed here therefore just click next.

Installed completed. Now start VMM services and move to Library tab, right click library server and click Refresh. You should see HP folder and subfolders like in the screenshot below;

How to create a Service Map with SCOM 2012 SP1 and import into SCSM 2012 SP1

After a nearly 1 year work, we prepared several service maps outside SCOM with "XMind" tool.

When all logical service maps completed, to it was time to create them in SCOM as distributed applications.

After that, I needed to move Management Packs (MP) and Distributed Applications (DA) to SCSM environment.

Written down in brief, lets see whole work in deep:

Designing Service Maps with XMind;

Download Xmind for Windows from http://www.xmind.net/download/win/ and install it for example to your Win7/Win8 PC.

Design your Service, in my Example it is Monitoring Services, where hardware, software, dependent services, customers and settings are core functions of your service. Keep in mind that it is a logical map.

Creating DA's in SCOM 2012;

An example of completed Service Template..

 

 

Exporting MP's from SCOM and importing into SCSM 2012;

When you finish your DA's in SCOM now it is time to import related MP's (used MP's corresponding Configuration Items for example you have to import Server 2008 MP if 2008 computer used as CI) into SCSM.

Export your MP including your custom DA from SCOM;

When you try to import your custom DA you will get an error. You have to import .mp type sealed MP's.

 

Analyze the error, check event viewer SCOM logs and then import dependent MP's to SCSM first.

Importing DA's to SCSM 2012;

After all dependent MP's imported, you can start importing your DA. If you add new CI' depending other MP's you have to import new depending MP's, too. In this step you don't have to seal your custom DA, therefore .xml type will be ok. For a further step, you must seal it for synchronizing it to SCSM Datawarehouse.


Creating SCOM CI Connector and Synchronizing MP's from SCOM;

It is time to create a SCOM CI connector. On Administration Screen click connectors and click "Create connector" and then operations manager CI connector. fill name and server details then create a runas account to connect SCOM. After testing your connection click refresh to get list of configurations going to be imported related to MP's you imported.

Get list of the classes included in your MP;

As you see nothing returns.

Synchronize it for the first time.


Configuring SCSM allow lists;

After competing first synchronization you have to declare which CI's be synchronized with SCOM. This is the most important step in SCSM side.

This is what I mentioned earlier. We have to tell SCSM to get aware of classes we created in SCOM. With a simple Powershell command list the classes included in your custom MP.

Add these classes to SCSM allow list.

Check your SCSM allow list to be sure;

 

Configuring Depending Services in SCSM;

From configuration items screen move to all business services this is where your all DA's viewed. As you see from screenshot all CI's and classes allowed in allow list will be listed.

 

SCSM keeps service map properties and users information of business services in its database not in a MP meaning, if you delete your MP and import it again you will find your service map properties and users information areas empty :( So, get well organized before importing your custom MP's.

As a result, I tried to write down main concepts for creating a custom DA in SCOM and moving it to SCSM environment.

Installing VMM 2012 R2 Preview by single server scenario on Windows Server 2012 R2 RTM

I talked about installing VMM 2012 SP1 on my previous blog, now it is time to install VMM 2012 R2 Preview on Windows Server 2012 R2 RTM.

A- Installing Server 2012 R2 RTM

After completing server 2012 RTM installation add accounts to administrator group as in my previous blog and then install .NET 3.5 from Powershell;

B- Completing VMM 2012 preview Prerequisites;

     1) ADK 8.1

          2012 R2 comes with Powershell 4 therefore you don't need to install Powershell 3.0 etc.  It can br   check if desired like;

PS C:\Windows\system32> $host.version
Major  Minor  Build  Revision
-----  -----  -----  --------
4      0      -1     -1

Start Installing as in screenshot;

     2) SQL Server Command line utilities;
          You can look from my previous blog. http://borgamentes.blogspot.com/2013/09/how-to-install-vmm-2012-sp1-and.html

      3) SQL Server 2012 SP1
          You can look from my previous blog. http://borgamentes.blogspot.com/2013/09/how-to-install-vmm-2012-sp1-and.html

C-Installing VMM 2012 R2 Preview

Download System Center 2012 R2 Preview version from http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/dn205295.aspx and run the exe related to VMM. It extracts setup files to "C:\SC2012 R2 PREVIEW SCVMM" as default path. Then run setup.exe from the path.

Click next and finalize installation.

deploying ProLiant servers as Hyper-V host machines

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:ud-QvADp6oIJ:h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c03381509.pdf+&cd=8&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=tr#6