Creating or Modifying Message-Based Automation Policies

Automation policies may use an internal Notification Server message as a trigger. The messages that are available for this purpose are predefined. These messages relate to Notification Server events such as resources being discovered, created, or deleted, new computers being discovered, or Notification Server services being started. Solutions may make additional solution-specific messages available. When an automation policy is triggered, the appropriate actions are run immediately. You cannot configure an automation policy to run at a later time after it has been triggered.
  1. To create or modify a message-based automation policy
  2. In the Symantec Management Console, on the
    Manage
    menu, click
    Automation Policies
    .
  3. On the
    Automation Policies
    page, on the
    System Messages
    tab, do one of the following:
    To create a new policy
    1. Click
      New Policy
      .
    2. In the
      Automation Policy Name
      dialog, type the new policy name, and then click
      OK
      .
    To modify an existing policy
    In the left pane, select the appropriate policy.
  4. (Optional) In the right pane, edit the policy name and description by clicking the appropriate fields and typing the new details.
  5. In the
    NS Message
    drop-down list, select the message that you want to use.
    Show all messages
    Lets you view and select all system messages.
    Note that the list also includes the system messages that are initially not intended for using in the policies.
    Apply message filter
    Lets you trigger the automation policy only if it receives a message that matches the rule(s) that you specify.
    For more information about applying and configuring filters for the NS Messages, see the following knowledge base article:
  6. In the
    Details
    panel, under
    Data Source
    , specify the data source to use.
  7. Under
    Conditions
    , in the
    Evaluation Rule
    drop-down list, select the appropriate evaluation rule:
    Run for non-empty data
    Treats the data source table as a single unit. When the policy is triggered, the action is run only if the table contains one or more rows, and is run once only.
    You need to use this option if the data source contains information in an HTML file rather than a table.
    This option lets you target everything in a single column, such as a list of GUIDs. You cannot set dynamic parameters to distinguish targeted computers. If you want to do that, you must use the Run for each record option.
    Run for each record
    Evaluates the data source table row by row, which lets you use fields per row as dynamic parameters for the specified actions. The action is run once for each row.
    Message processing
    Evaluates the data source message text and uses the appropriate parameters in the specified actions.
    This option is available only when a message data source is used.
    Run always
    Runs the specified actions without using a data source.
    This option is available only when no data source is specified.
  8. Under
    Actions
    , specify the task or job to run, and set any required input parameters.
  9. Click
    Save Changes
    to save the policy settings.
  10. (Optional) If you want to ensure that all of the policy components are consistent and that the input parameters are mapped properly, click
    Test Automation Policy
    .
    The test is an internal check only and does not affect any resources.