In enterprise IT environments, job scheduling and workload automation play a crucial role in ensuring that business processes run smoothly. BMC Control-M is one of the leading workload automation tools that helps organizations efficiently manage job dependencies, streamline workflows, and reduce manual intervention.
Configuring job dependencies in Control-M is essential for ensuring that jobs execute in the correct sequence based on business rules, resource availability, and system conditions. This comprehensive guide provides a step-by-step walkthrough on how to configure and manage job dependencies in BMC Control-M to improve automation, efficiency, and system reliability.
What Are Job Dependencies in BMC Control-M?
Definition
A job dependency refers to a condition that determines when a job should start based on the status or execution of another job. Control-M allows users to define complex dependencies between jobs to ensure seamless process automation.
Types of Job Dependencies
- Time-Based Dependencies – Jobs execute at a scheduled time.
- File-Based Dependencies – Jobs execute when a specific file appears, disappears, or meets certain conditions.
- Job Status Dependencies – A job starts only after another job completes successfully.
- Resource-Based Dependencies – Jobs run only when sufficient resources (CPU, memory, database locks) are available.
- Manual Intervention Dependencies – Some jobs require operator approval before execution.
- Cross-System Dependencies – Jobs across different servers must synchronize before execution.
Step 1: Understanding the Control-M Workflow
Before configuring job dependencies, it’s crucial to understand the Control-M workflow process:
- Create individual jobs – Define the basic job configurations.
- Set up scheduling criteria – Define when the job should run.
- Configure dependencies – Specify conditions that must be met before execution.
- Monitor job execution – Use Control-M’s Enterprise Manager to track progress.
- Handle failures – Configure alerts and automated retries for job failures.
Step 2: Configuring Time-Based Dependencies
Use Case: A daily backup job should execute at 11:00 PM every night.
Steps to Configure Time-Based Dependencies
- Open Control-M Enterprise Manager (EM).
- Create a new job:
- Navigate to Job Definitions → Click New Job.
- Enter a job name (e.g.,
Daily_Backup_Job).
- Set up the schedule:
- Select the Time-Based Scheduling option.
- Specify the execution time (
23:00hours or 11:00 PM).
- Save and submit the job.
✔ Best Practice: Avoid scheduling high-load jobs during peak hours to optimize performance.
Step 3: Configuring Job Status Dependencies
Use Case: A reporting job should only execute after a data extraction job finishes successfully.
Steps to Configure Job Status Dependencies
- Create the first job (e.g.,
Data_Extraction_Job). - Create the dependent job (e.g.,
Generate_Report_Job). - Set the dependency condition:
- In
Generate_Report_Job, navigate to Dependencies. - Select Predecessor Job → Choose
Data_Extraction_Job. - Set the execution condition: Only execute if predecessor completes successfully.
- In
- Save and test the workflow.
✔ Best Practice: Implement retry logic for dependent jobs to prevent failures due to transient issues.
Step 4: Configuring File-Based Dependencies
Use Case: A job should execute only when a specific file is received in an FTP directory.
Steps to Configure File-Based Dependencies
- Create a new job (e.g.,
Process_Incoming_File_Job). - Define file dependency:
- Navigate to File Watcher Options.
- Set the file path (e.g.,
/data/incoming/orders.csv). - Choose the triggering condition: Job should run when the file appears.
- Set retry conditions:
- Define how often Control-M should check for the file.
- Configure alert notifications if the file is missing beyond a certain time.
- Save and activate the job.
✔ Best Practice: Use wildcards (e.g., orders_*.csv) to handle dynamically named files.
Step 5: Configuring Resource-Based Dependencies
Use Case: A batch job should only execute when there’s enough database capacity.
Steps to Configure Resource-Based Dependencies
- Open the job definition in Control-M.
- Set resource dependency:
- Go to Resource Conditions.
- Define the required resource (e.g.,
Database_Lock_Available). - Specify execution conditions (Run when resource is available).
- Save and submit the job.
✔ Best Practice: Regularly monitor system resources to prevent unnecessary job delays.
Step 6: Configuring Cross-System Dependencies
Use Case: A job on Server A should start only after a job on Server B finishes successfully.
Steps to Configure Cross-System Dependencies
- Open Control-M EM and select Cross-System Job Dependencies.
- Configure source and target jobs:
- Set
Source_Jobon Server A. - Set
Target_Jobon Server B.
- Set
- Define execution condition:
- Target job should start only after source job succeeds.
- Save and deploy the dependency configuration.
✔ Best Practice: Use Control-M’s Agent-to-Agent communication for seamless job synchronization between servers.
Monitoring and Troubleshooting Job Dependencies
1. Using Control-M Enterprise Manager (EM)
- Monitor job execution history.
- Identify delays due to unmet dependencies.
- Modify dependencies dynamically in case of failures.
2. Common Job Dependency Failures and Fixes
| Issue | Possible Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Job Not Starting | Predecessor job failed | Check predecessor logs and resolve errors |
| Job Delayed | File dependency not met | Verify file location and permissions |
| Resource Contention | Insufficient CPU/memory | Reschedule job or allocate more resources |
| Cross-System Sync Fails | Network issues | Check firewall and network connectivity |
Conclusion
Configuring job dependencies in BMC Control-M is essential for ensuring efficient workflow automation and process synchronization. By properly setting up time-based, status-based, file-based, resource-based, and cross-system dependencies, organizations can optimize performance, reduce manual intervention, and minimize job failures.
With best practices such as real-time monitoring, retry mechanisms, and resource planning, enterprises can ensure that their Control-M job workflows execute seamlessly. Start configuring job dependencies in Control-M today and enhance your IT automation strategy!