Configuring a Blackout Window

A Blackout Window batch task can be set as a separate task independent of the batch tasks or can be included within the weekly/daily batch tasks. It can also be started or ended via a POM adhoc job. A batch blackout window defines a period in a batch run during which non-administration users are restricted from logging into the application. Administration users can access the application during this period in order to initiate a blackout window before a batch exec process kicks in and to end it after the batch process is complete. The user can configure a batch black window by modifying the batch control file. The default blackout window period is 48 hours when initiated; however, the period can be modified in the batch control file. For example, the following figure shows a section of a batch control file.

Figure 19-9 Batch Control File

To start the blackout window: bow_start | bow | ~Cust BOW Message Blackout

To end the blackout window: bow_end | bow | end

The independent batch task bow_start task in the batch control exec list is updated to start the blackout window for the default period, and the batch_end task is used to end the blackout window.

The third column contains the argument to it. If no number in minutes is specified before the tilde (~) separator, this indicates that the blackout window period is set with the default period of 48 hours. The rest of the text after the tilde separator provides a customized blackout message that is displayed to the user. The period can be set to the default or any other value, but the specified number is calculated in minutes.

To create a blackout within batch tasks, modify the first line of the batch_weekly task to initiate the blackout window and modify the last line is to end the blackout window. The task type is bow, which indicates that the blackout window task is initiated at the beginning of the batch and ends after the batch completes. It can also be started after the notification window.

Here is the first line in the batch control to start the blackout window in weekly batch task:

batch_weekly | bow | ~Cust BOW Message for Batch Weekly Blackout

The argument to it in the third column is:

Cust BOW Message for Batch Weekly Blackout

The last line in the batch control to end the blackout window in weekly batch task is:

batch_weekly | bow | end

The blackout window ends when it is triggered as specified in last line of the batch task after last batch task completes. If the batch is not completed within the blackout window period, the blackout window ends after the default period.

To initiate a blackout while running a batch task for a certain period, set the blackout to the beginning of batch task process, with the period as shown for the batch_daily task in the batch control file. Modify the first line of the batch_daily task to initiate the blackout window for a certain period. The value 120 in the third column before the tilde separator is the number of minutes for the blackout window period, indicating that after 120 minutes the blackout window ends, even though the batch is not completed. If the batch completes within the 120 minute period, the blackout window will end just after the batch process.

To trigger the blackout window via a POM job, edit a job parameter as shown below and run the job.

Figure 19-10 Job Parameter for Blackout Window Start

Figure 19-11 Job Parameter for Blackout Window End

To execute a blackout window as a Batch Task Group under Run Batch Task Group, the blackout window batch tasks must be configured in the batch control oat list.

Figure 19-12 Blackout Window Run as Batch Task Group