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How Do I? Videos

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The first management pack authoring video is now available in the System Center How Do I? Videos collection.  This walks through each step in the process to create a rule and monitor from a PowerShell script.  Detailed topics included in the video include the following:

  • How to change a PowerShell script to be included in a management pack.
  • How to create a custom probe action module running a PowerShell script.
  • How to create a custom data source module containing a probe action module.
  • How to create a rule based on a custom data source module.
  • How to create a monitor type based on a custom data source module and probe action module.
  • How to create a monitor type supporting both regular detection and on demand detection.
  • How to create a monitor based on a custom monitor type.

These are all very common scenarios, and I see people struggle with some of the details – especially those trying to tackle it for the first time.  Hopefully this video will serve as a good resource for clearing up some of the questions.

What about VBScript?

While the video doesn’t discuss VBScript, only the first two bullets in that list would change if you were using a VBScript script instead of PowerShell.  Changing the script itself is almost identical – just a matter of the different syntax between languages and using the Return method in VBScript at the end of the script to return the property bag. 

When creating the probe action module, you use Microsoft.Windows.ScriptPropertyBagProbe instead of Microsoft.Windows.PowerShellPropertyBagProbe.  The arguments are the same but provided on the single Arguments parameter instead of the Parameters node.  We have examples of script arguments in several places.

Any more videos coming?

The simple answer is Yes.  We’ll go the other end of the spectrum on the next one which is going to cover the basic concept of selecting a target and creating a simple class.  That one should be out within the next few weeks.  Beyond that, while we don’t have specific topics yet, we will be working on regular submissions.  There are definitely more on the way, and I will announce them here and on the Twitter feed.

Comments

  • Anonymous
    January 01, 2003
    Not sure what that problem would be.  Have a look at the MPAuthor management pack sample called ProcessDataSource on OpsManJam.  There are two examples with identical functionality - one PowerShell and one VBScript.  That should give you a good example of swapping one for the other. The sample MP library on OpsManJam is at the following link - www.opsmanjam.com/.../MPAuthor.aspx

  • Anonymous
    January 01, 2003
    That's a great suggestion.  We have a more basic video on Targeting that's about to publish.  Then I'll be doing one on creating a linked report to coincide with the last section of the Authoring Guide that will be published in the next few days.  After that though, I think a video on discoveries would be great.  I will do my best to accomodate you on that request.

  • Anonymous
    July 12, 2010
    Thank you for this video it is very useful. I will be expecting next one about powershell discovery. Thanks again.

  • Anonymous
    July 29, 2010
    Thanks, Brian! What a great development in the authoring space. I hope to see more videos like this. Keep up the great work!

  • Anonymous
    September 02, 2010
    Hi Brian! You write ... "When creating the probe action module, you use Microsoft.Windows.ScriptPropertyBagProbe instead of Microsoft.Windows.PowerShellPropertyBagProbe.  The arguments ...." I did the same but on saving module i got this verification error .... e composition error. ProbeAction Module (Type=Microsoft.Windows.ScriptPropertyBagProbe,  ID=Script) cannot be a leaf node in this composition. The composition has no input types (but this ProbeAction leaf module has one [ManagementPackElement=System.BaseData in ManagementPack:[Name=System.Library, KeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35, Version=6.1.7221.0]]). Only P.... Under Data Types it's marked Trigger only though ... Am i doing something wrong ??

  • Anonymous
    August 30, 2011
    Thanks Brian, I watch this video on how to use the Authoring Console, it was exactly the type of video I was looking for :). More of the same would be great! Thanks Ernie