Sample Plan: IBM® WebSphere® Application Server Cluster - OS patching

This sample plan automates operating system patching for WebSphere® Application Server 8.0, 8.5, or 8.5.5 nodes in a Microsoft Windows cluster. The plan is designed to automate operating system patching for three WebSphere® Application Server nodes in a cluster. The automation is executed in three phases, one for each node. The first step sets the parameters for all other steps in the plan. For steps 2 to 5, the first node is patched. These steps are then replicated in steps 6 to 9 on the second node and in steps 10 to 13 for the third node. For each phase in the automation, replace the placeholder steps, replacing them with a Fixlet, Task or Baseline to patch the operating system. All sample plans are read-only. To use a sample plan, you must copy it, re-name it, and then update the placeholder Fixlets with Fixlets, Tasks, or Baselines as per your requirements.

About this task

This sample plan demonstrates how you can automate patching of Microsoft® Windows® for a three node WebSphere® Application Server cluster. The patching process comprises three phases, one for each node. You can modify the copied plan for a different number of nodes. For example, if you want the plan to automate patching of Microsoft® Windows® for two nodes, you can remove the steps for the third node by deleting steps 10 to 13.

Each phase in the patching process completes the following actions:
  • Stops WebSphere® Application Server
  • Runs patch Fixlets, Tasks, or Baselines to patch the Microsoft® Windows® operating system - you must replace the placeholder as per your requirements
  • Restarts the endpoints
  • Resumes WebSphere® Application Server

Complete the following steps to use this sample Automation Plan.

Procedure

  1. Open the Server Automation domain.
  2. From the navigation tree in the Domain Panel, click Automation Plans.
  3. In the Automation Plans dashboard, enter 559 for the plan ID to search for the sample plan and press Enter.
  4. Select the sample plan from the list of Automation Plans. Click Copy to copy the Automation Plan, enter a name and then save the copy that you have just created.
  5. To run the copied Automation Plan, click Take Action.
  6. For step 1, target all steps in the plan and enter the following details on the Parameters tab:
    • In the Deployment Manager user name field, enter the WebSphere® Application Server Deployment Manager user name.
    • In the Deployment Manager Password field, enter password for the WebSphere® Application Server Deployment Manager user.
    • In the Re-enter Deployment Manager Password field, re-enter WebSphere® Application Server Deployment Manager password.
    • In the Deployment Manager host name field, enter the host name for the WebSphere® Application Server Deployment Manager.
    • In the Deployment Manager profile name field, enter profile name for the WebSphere® Application Server Deployment Manager
    • In the WebSphere Target cluster name field, enter WebSphere® Application Server Target cluster name.
    • From the Maintain High Availability menu, select an option depending on whether or not you want another node to be made available before re-booting.

    This step provides the parameters that are required for all further steps in the plan so you only need to enter the parameters once.

  7. For steps 2 to 5, target the first node in the cluster. You can use the Use same target as step option as necessary. For step 3, you must replace the placeholder Fixlet with a Fixlet, Task or Baseline that you want to use to patch WebSphere® Application Server.
  8. For steps 6 to 9, target the second node in the cluster. You can use the Use same target as step option as necessary. For step 7, you must also replace the placeholder Fixlet with a Fixlet, Task or Baseline that you want to use to patch WebSphere® Application Server.
  9. For steps 10 to 13, target the third node in the cluster. You can use the Use same target as step option as necessary. For step 11, you must also replace the placeholder Fixlet with a Fixlet, Task or Baseline that you want to use to patch WebSphere® Application Server.