An Updated UI Enhances OnCommand Workflow Automation 5.0
Yuvaraju Balaraman
If you already use NetApp® OnCommand® Workflow Automation (OnCommand WFA), you know how with the highly flexible automation framework, you can automate simple to complex storage processes, primarily targeted towards NetApp storage systems. By default, OnCommand WFA ships with over 50 workflows that you can customize to your environment and automation needs. You’re not limited to the default workflows, however. Because NetApp has decoupled the platform and the workflows you can go to the Storage Automation Store to download newer compatible workflows to your OnCommand WFA instance.
And it gets better. We have just released the general availability version of OnCommand Workflow Automation 5.0.
Access the UI for Your Role
OnCommand WFA has several UIs. Access to the interface depends on your user role. If you’re an operator, the Operator portal shows the workflows that you can execute. You can run workflows and check the status of workflow execution. Or if you’re an architect, the Designer portal lets you customize an existing workflow or design a new workflow by using the design elements.Do you need to use an external portal or orchestration software? OnCommand Workflow Automation also gives you a point of integration through a web services interface to run workflows from an external portal and from data center orchestration software.
Updated OnCommand WFA Is Now Available
It’s official: The OnCommand Workflow Automation 5.0 release became generally available in the first week of February 2019. It’s easy to access the update, whether you’re an existing user or a new user. You can download the updated software for Linux and Windows platforms from the NetApp Support site.What’s New in Version 5.0
At NetApp, we keep evolving. There’s a general trend away from Adobe Flash toward HTML5, which has an open web standard and operates without plug-ins. Therefore, one of the many new features in the OnCommand Workflow Automation 5.0 release is an HTML5-based UI. We have upgraded the OnCommand WFA Operator portal, the Settings and Administration page, the Workflow Execution page, and the Schedules and Reservations page from Flash to HTML5. The Designer portal still uses a Flash plug-in, but we will upgrade that portal to an HTML5-based UI in the next release.Check out the following screenshot to see how user-friendly the updated UI is in OnCommand WFA.
We have also streamlined the UI in OnCommand WFA 5.0. In the Administration and Settings page, you can access several administrative tasks, like OnCommand WFA setup, management, and maintenance. It’s now easier than ever to find just what you need.
As part of our OnCommand WFA update efforts, we also wanted to give you consistency across the products in our OnCommand portfolio. Changes in the OnCommand WFA 5.0 web UI now give you a consistent user experience across OnCommand System Manager, Unified Manager, and Workflow Automation. Consistency leads to simplicity and efficiency, so you can cut administrative time and focus on driving your business forward.
Automate and Enhance Your Workflows Today
Make it easier to automate, monitor, and maintain your storage workflows. If you’re a current user, upgrade your existing OnCommand Workflow Automation instance to version 5.0 today. Or if you don’t yet use OnCommand WFA, it’s easy to get started with the enhanced, simpler, and consistent UI in version 5.0. Either way, download OnCommand Workflow Automation 5.0 today!Do you need more information? To understand the features and the enhancements that you get with OnCommand Workflow Automation 5.0, read the release notes. For the latest information about the supported configurations for OnCommand WFA 5.0, go to the Interoperability Matrix Tool.
Yuvaraju Balaraman
Yuvaraju Balaraman is a Senior Technical Marketing Engineer for the manageability products and solutions group at NetApp. He has good understanding of Management and Data Protection Solutions. Prior to NetApp, Yuvaraju has worked at Hewlett Packard and a partner as a backup and storage solutions consultant.
