Interest in Broadcom’s AutoSys is declining (See: Google Trends graph), and it has a lower average rating on review platforms compared to most other workload automation tools. This may be partially explained by:
- Reviewers highlighted AutoSys’s limited features compared to the competition.
- Broadcom supports 8 workload automation solutions1 and 1 automation analytics solution2 with overlapping capabilities, which may divert focus from developing new functionality for AutoSys.
Dive into AutoSys’s capabilities, user evaluations, and outlook to learn more:
What is Broadcom’s AutoSys?
Broadcom Workload
Automation Solution | Key Features |
|---|---|
AutoSys Workload Automation | Cross-platform visibility and control, supports cloud and ERP |
Automation Analytics and Intelligence | Multi-vendor workload analytics |
Automic® Automation | Service orchestration for diverse tech stacks |
CA 7 Workload Automation Intelligence | Real-time analytics, cross-platform support, SLA-aware performance automation |
ESP Workload Automation Intelligence | Central orchestration with predictive analytics |
JCLCheck Workload Automation™ | JCL validation before production |
Workload Automation Agents | Extends automation to business apps for performance |
Workload Automation Restart Option for z/OS (CA 11) | Failed job restart management, repair time reduction |
AutoSys was initially developed by CA Technologies and acquired by Broadcom in 2018.
As a part of Broadcom’s workload automation providers (AutoSys and Automic Automation), AutoSys works as an IT process automation and batch scheduling software that allows visibility to complex workloads and cloud computing by:
- mapping workflow processes,
- monitoring to reduce the cost and complexity of IT business processes.
AutoSys can enhance business responsiveness by dynamically deploying workloads across on-premises and public cloud environments.
AutoSys also enables reliable and flexible integrations with business applications. With AutoSys, businesses can receive forecasts and automatic actions for overdue jobs.
Insights from user assessments
Note: Statements in the pros and cons sections are based on reviews from real users obtained from B2B review platforms, including G2 and PeerSpot.
AutoSys pros
- Users find AutoSys Workload Automation useful for automating jobs in various environments, reducing workload and manpower.
- The system provides comprehensive job scheduling, monitoring, and reporting features, with compatibility across various platforms, ERP systems, and cloud environments.
AutoSys cons
- Users find the implementation and learning process of AutoSys Workload Automation challenging and time-consuming.
- The product lacks integration of cloud support with AI, and its report generation is viewed as limited and less customizable.
- AutoSys is criticized for its less intuitive GUI, lack of dynamic jobs features compared to Airflow, and inflexible yearly subscription pattern.
Components of AutoSys workload automation
AutoSys workload automation consists of several key components that work together to manage and automate job scheduling across different environments:
Event server (database)
Event server is the central repository storing all AutoSys objects, such as jobs, machines, and calendars, along with job events.
The application server manages these objects, and the scheduler retrieves event-related data from the event server.
AutoSys supports various databases like Oracle, Sybase, and Microsoft SQL Server by using specific communication protocols for database interactions.
The system can be configured with dual event servers for high availability to ensure operations continue if one server fails.
Application server
The application server acts as the communication hub between the event server and client utilities.
It processes requests from clients, interacts with the event server, and returns responses.
Scheduler
Scheduler is the core component that processes job events by continually scanning the database.
It determines job actions and communicates with agents to execute or monitor jobs.
AutoSys supports high availability through a shadow scheduler, which takes over if the primary scheduler fails, and a tie-breaker scheduler to resolve conflicts in dual event server setups.
Agent and agent plug-ins
Agents facilitate the automation and management of workloads across different platforms.
They can be extended with plug-ins for specific tasks, such as interacting with databases or specific applications like SAP or Oracle.
Client
Clients are any executables that interface with the application server, including command-line tools (like JIL and autorep) and Web UI services.
Clients allow users to manage the scheduling environment by creating and monitoring jobs.
Web server
Apache Tomcat serves as the default web server for hosting web services in AutoSys. It is automatically installed and configured during the setup of AutoSys.
Web server handles communications between the Web UI and other components using specific ports.
Figure 1: AutoSys workload automation components.3
AutoSys key features
Multi-platform job scheduling
AutoSys enables the management and visualization of end-to-end business processes with event-based triggering, real-time alerting, and dynamic critical path management.
It also provides a centralized point of control for integration and coordination of workload automation and job scheduling tasks across different systems and environments.
Jobs in AutoSys can be defined using the Job Information Language (JIL) or through the Web UI, with attributes that control when, where, and how jobs run.
AutoSys supports various job types, including command jobs, FTP jobs, and box jobs (containers for other jobs).
Monitoring and managing jobs
AutoSys provides real-time status updates for all jobs, including queued, running, success, failure, or terminated states.
It can also manage complex job dependencies and send notifications or trigger actions based on job outcomes or system conditions.
Scalability
Without the need for multiple servers, AutoSys can provide scalable monitoring and control of workloads across physical, virtual, and multi-cloud environments.
Built-in fault tolerance
With its built-in fault tolerance feature, AutoSys allows for an automated recovery for mission-critical business processes by performing path analysis and forecasting while ensuring consistent workload automation.
Users can receive notifications about the overdue jobs as well as bypass less critical jobs.
Self-service
AutoSys enables end-users to request and execute workload processing within the boundaries of established workload policy and governance frameworks.
This self-service capability allows businesses to have more control and flexibility while ensuring reliable service delivery.
Application support
The platform provides workload management for key business applications, including SAP, PeopleSoft, and Oracle E-Business Suite.
This feature can contribute to reduced operating costs and enhanced visibility, which leads to more streamlined operations and improved efficiency.
Reference Links
Cem's work has been cited by leading global publications including Business Insider, Forbes, Washington Post, global firms like Deloitte, HPE and NGOs like World Economic Forum and supranational organizations like European Commission. You can see more reputable companies and resources that referenced AIMultiple.
Throughout his career, Cem served as a tech consultant, tech buyer and tech entrepreneur. He advised enterprises on their technology decisions at McKinsey & Company and Altman Solon for more than a decade. He also published a McKinsey report on digitalization.
He led technology strategy and procurement of a telco while reporting to the CEO. He has also led commercial growth of deep tech company Hypatos that reached a 7 digit annual recurring revenue and a 9 digit valuation from 0 within 2 years. Cem's work in Hypatos was covered by leading technology publications like TechCrunch and Business Insider.
Cem regularly speaks at international technology conferences. He graduated from Bogazici University as a computer engineer and holds an MBA from Columbia Business School.
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