Run book automation

Run Book Automation (RBA) is the ability to define, build, orchestrate, manage and report on workflows that support system and network operational processes. A run book process can cross all management disciplines and interact with all types of infrastructure elements, such as applications, databases and hardware.

According to Gartner, the growth of RBA has coincided with the need for IT operations executives to deliver and prove higher IT operations efficiencies including reducing mean time to repair (MTTR), increasing mean time between failures (MTBF) and automating the provisioning of IT resources. In addition, it is necessary to have the mechanisms to implement best practices (for example, implement and manage IT operations processes in line with IT Infrastructure Library ITIL), increase IT personnel effectiveness (for example, automate repetitive tasks associated with IT operations process) and have the tools to fully report on how the processes are executed in line with established policies and service levels.

Market consolidation

As a new area of infrastructure components, this market has seen a number of acquisitions as the major data centre vendors vie for the various startups with new applications in this area.

Runbook Automation Software

While nearly every major Runbook Automation software company has been acquired by major software vendors such as HP or Microsoft it is still a growing market so other existing companies are emerging with software of their own or new companies are being founded to build these types of software tools.

• Opsware acquired from iConclude
  • HP acquired Opsware
• BMC acquired Realops
• IBM acquired Maximo
• CA acquired Optinuity
• Microsoft acquired Opalis
• iWave Software acquired Enigmatec
• Runbook Company partnering with SAP AG

See also

• Automation
• Support automation

References

• IT Operations Run Book Automation, by David Williams, Gartner. May 4, 2007.