What is SC Orchestrator 2012? It’s the new name for Opalis. What’s Opalis you ask? It’s a Microsoft acquisition made about 1.5 years ago to automate IT processes. Opalis brings integration, orchestration and automation to your IT silos (network, server, storage, security, service desk, etc.). It works with a huge variety of MS and non-Microsoft products and comes with a number of integration packs (IPs) and you can easily extend it yourself. CodePlex also has a community of IPs that you can draw from and find ones that MS doesn’t officially support.
So what’s new to Orchestrator 2012? Let’s take a look:
- Major investments in operator support (triggers, monitoring and troubleshooting). Deeper developer application integration, and more reporting features.
- Radically simplified installer and out of the box support for Windows Server 2008 R2, SQL 2008 R2. The RunBook designer will run on Windows 7.
- Java/JBOSS interface is now history, replaced by IIS and Silverlight.
- Globalizing to run on non-EN_US OS, but still not localized.
- Will feature a SCOM management pack.
- Enhanced vSphere integration packs, as well as Active Directory, FTP and Tivoli Netcool Omnibus.
- Like the rest of the Systems Center suite, RTM is expected 2H CY11.
- Still just a 32-bit application, unfortunately.
The speaker did a ton of demos, so that’s why I’m a bit light on the content. Frankly, to date I haven’t had much interest in Opalis as we have some fundamental challenges that need to be dealt with first. But, I am very glad to see the 2012 release more “Microsoftized”. Definitely worth checking out if you haven’t already.
