SCOM Authoring: the new era…

Jan Van MeirvenneImplementation Consultant

01/10/2014

Let’s talk about me

Jan Van Meirvenne

System Center Consultant• Expertise: SCOM and SCORCH

@JanVanMeirvenne

www.scug.be/jan

AgendaAuthoring Crash Course

Scenario Introduction

Ways of authoring: 2007• Tools• Demo

Ways of authoring: 2012• Tools• Demo

Tips and Tricks

Take-aways

How does a management pack work?

Which tools are available for content creation?

What is the right tool for the right job?

How do I write my own awesome management pack?What if my awesome management pack doesn’t work?

Authoring Crash Course

• Management Pack• One MP to rule or monitor them all!

• Stores all definitions specific to a scope

Authoring Crash Course

• Classes and Relationships• Represents physical entities across the monitoredEnvironment

• Used to target monitoring

Authoring Crash Course

• Discoveries

• Detect if a system should receive specific monitoring• Creates class and relationship instances on detection• Dynamically load or unload monitoring

Authoring Crash Course

• Monitors• State-based• Target Classes

Authoring Crash Course

• Rules• Multi-purpose• Target Classes• Collect, Execute, Alert

Authoring Crash Course• Advanced: Modules

• “Create your own workflow”• Data Source / Condition Detection / Probe Action / Write Action• Reuse workflows across monitors,

rules and discoveries

Authoring Crash Course

• XML Dictionary (1)• Management pack = XML with SCOM sugar coating• Structure

<ManagementPack>  <Manifest/> = Management Pack Info  <TypeDefinitions/> = Classes, Relationships, Modules  <Monitoring/> = Monitors, Rules  <Templates/>  <PresentationTypes/>  <Presentation/> = Views, Folders  <Reporting/>  <LanguagePacks/></ManagementPack>

Authoring Crash Course

• XML Dictionary (2)• $Target• Refer to properties of the targeted object• $Target/Property[Type=“Windows!Microsoft.Windows.Computer”]/PrincipalName$• $Target/Host/Property[Type=“Windows!Microsoft.Windows.Computer”]/

PrincipalName$• $Target/Id$

• $MPElement• Refer to management pack objects and their properties• $MPElement$• $MPElement[Name=‘Demo.XAMPP.MP.Classes.MySQL’]$• $MPElement[Name=‘Windows!Microsoft.Windows.Computer’]/PrincipalName

Authoring Crash Course

• XML Dictionary (3)• $Data• Refer to data returned by workflows• Syntax varies depending on source of data and type of workflow• $Data/Property[@Name=‘CPUPercentage’]$ (script-based alert rule)• $Data/Context/[@Name=‘State’]$ (script-based monitor)• $Data/Values/RegistryKeyExists$ (registry-based discovery)

• $Config• Use variables in custom data sources (not covered in this session )

Scenario

• XAMPP• Open-Source Suite for Web Hosting• Apache / PHP / MySQL

“XAMPP is a completely free, easy to install Apache distribution containing MySQL, PHP, and Perl. The XAMPP open source package has been set up to be incredibly easy to install and to use”

• Mission: create definitions to detect and monitor installation

Scenario

XAMPP

Apache

PHP

MySQL

Approach

• Learn to know the application• Interview• Documentation

• Having an architecture drawing is a plus• Map health model to architecture

• Define detections• Discovery• Monitoring

• Build• Test• Repeat

Ways of Authoring

SCOM console• Pro: Wizard-based• Pro: Quick Deployment of complex monitoring

(Templates)• Con: Limited in possibilities (add, not create)• Con: Dynamically generated XML (difficult to edit)• Con: Working directly on management group• Tip: use to learn XML structures

Ways of Authoring

Visio• Pro: Visual Approach• Pro: Great to discuss MP with customer• Pro: Drag and drop• Con: Very limited in possibilities• Con: Need Visio

Ways of Authoring

MPAuthor• + Wizard-based• + Define new classes• Limited in scenario’s• Version- and source control

Ways of Authoring

Visual Studio Extension• + Full content control• + Snippets• + Integrated Source Control• Steep learning curve• Need to have VS Pro / Ultimate license

Troubleshooting

My masterpiece doesn’t do a thing, what now?

• 1: Import Error• 2: Operations Manager Eventlog on agent /

server• 3: Trace workflow

Ways of AuthoringWhen to use what?• Console

• Overrides• Simple monitor/rule update or addition

• Visio• Health Model• Customer

• MPAuthor• Simple workload creation

• VSAE• Go-to tool if you are not afraid to dig in XML (not hard!)

Tips and Tricks

Think performance

Use auto-generating tools to learn XML

Test!

Use descriptions and or Product Knowledge

Review with application owner, improve your masterpiece

Want to see and learn more?

• SCOM 2007 authoring guide• Virtual Academy• Technet• MSDN (http://

msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee533840.aspx)

• All links (except MSDN) @ http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/1242.operations-manager-management-pack-and-report-authoring-resources.aspx

Thank you for your attention and patience

• Ask me a question• Join me for a slice of pizza

Thank you!

visit:

www.scug.be