Introduction

A task refers to a single unit of work to be performed in a process.

The following tasks are supported:

  • Send task
  • Script task
  • Service task

Send task properties

A send task sends a notification to one or more users at a specific point in the process.

The send task is represented as a rectangle with rounded corners with a small notification icon at the corner:

A send task has the following properties:

Send Task Properties
PropertyDescription
NameThe name of the task.
IdA unique identifier of the task generated by the system. An ID cannot be modified.
InputThe object from the previous element's object.
Notification TemplateThe user who is sent a notification.
Notification PriorityThe priority that determines the channel (email) to deliver notifications.

Script task properties

A script task is used to run a script in the process. A script can be agent-based or agentless using the Ansible control node. Agent-based scripts can be created in the following languages:

  • POWERSHELL
  • Python
  • SHELL

The script task is represented with a rectangle with rounded corners and a script icon:

To run an agentless script, integrate Ansible must be integrated with the system.

To configure Ansible integration:

  1. From All Clients, select the client.
  2. Go to Setup > Integrations> Integrations.
  3. From Available Integrations > Configuration Automation > Ansible Integration, click Install.
  4. Enter a name for the integration and select the controller host name.
  5. Click Install.

A script task has the following properties:

Script Task Properties
PropertyDescription
NameThe name of the task.
IdA unique identifier of the task generated by the system. An ID cannot be modified.
Configuration
  • Agent: The execution of a script on a resource with an installed agent. The data from the resource is collected and sent to the system using the agent.
  • Agentless: The execution of a script on a script on a standalone device using an Ansible control node.
Script Name (applicable for an agent)The script name to execute.
Resource Id (applicable for agent)The resource ID used to execute the script.
Run As (applicable for agent)The execution of the script with proper authorization.
  • Default User: Executing the script as an administrator.
  • Credential Set: Executing the script with specific user credentials.
Integration (applicable for agentless)A created Ansible integration name.
Playbook (applicable for agentless)A Playbook created as part of the integration.
Input (applicable for agentless)Commands for executing the script.
Preview (applicable for agentless)The fully-qualified path entered in a selected playbook.

Service task properties

A service task is used to do a service. The service can either be a service provided by OpsRamp or an external service. The service task is represented as a rectangle with rounded corners with a settings icon:

Service tasks have the following properties:

PropertyDescription
NameThe name of the task.
IdA unique identifier for the task generated by the system. An ID cannot be modified.
ServiceThe mode of service for completing a task:
  • REST Web Service: Refers to calling an external service using an API to invoke a Lambda function or to do an external integration.
  • Platform Service: Refers to the native services of the platform. The following are a few examples of the native services.
    • Update Incident: Update an existing incident with the output captured from the previous element.
    • Create Alert: Create an alert with the output captured from the previous element.
    • Find Resources: Find resources in the process flow. For example, to run scripts on certain resources select the Find Resources option and enter the filter conditions.

    Note: Sub-property fields vary for each service.

REST web services

REST web services have the following properties:

PropertyDescription
Asynchronous Service InvocationAn asynchronous service invocation follows the Request, Acknowledge, and Callback pattern. Once invoked, the process is blocked for this task until the REST application performs a callback.
IntegrationThe integration of external web service API endpoints that are configured.
EventAn integration event.
InputThe input for the service task that can be an output of the previously configured elements (like the start event).
Example: $startevent.alert or $updatealert.alert.
OutputThe mappings of response fields configured for the selected event.

This is an example of the REST web services properties dialog box:

Service Task Properties - REST Web Service

Service Task Properties - REST Web Service

Platform services

The platform services have the following properties:

PropertyDescription
TaskRefers to one of the OpsRamp’s native services. The sub-fields vary for each task that you select.
For example, if Update Incident is selected, the Incident Unique Id needs to provided. Select Priority and Status.
Enter the comments to add to the incident as part of the response.

This is an example of the platform service properties dialog box:

Service Task Properties - Platform Service

Service Task Properties - Platform Service

User task properties

A user task is a non-recurring work assigned to a user/user group for a certain stipulated time. Example: Clearing log files.

When a user task in the process definition is executed, a new service desk entity Task is created and appears in the task list of the assignee/assignee group.

A user task is represented as a rectangle with rounded corners user icon on the top-left corner:

Based on the types of properties, the user tasks are divided into the following categories:

  • Static (predefined): Refers to the default properties in the platform.
  • Dynamic (custom): Refers to the custom properties added by a user.

See Creating custom forms for more information.

Static properties of the user task:

Caption for this Table
PropertyDescription
NameThe name of the task.
IdA unique identifier of the task generated by the system.
Note: The ID is in read-only mode.
SubjectTitle or short summary of the user task.
DescriptionInformation required to describe the user task.
PrioritySelect one of the following options according to the urgency to execute a task.
Due DateThe estimated time duration for completion of the task.

Provide a numeric value for the In field and select the time period from the drop-down.
Assignee GroupA user group that is responsible for working on the task. Multiple user groups can be selected.
Assigned ToA user(s) who is responsible for working on the task. Multiple users can be selected.

Multi-instance loop

A multi-instance loop is a process of defining the repetition of a certain task in a process definition. The multi-instance allows the execution of a task sequentially.

A multi-instance is a regular task that has extra properties which cause the task to be executed multiple times/concurrently at runtime.

The following are the tasks that can become multi-instance loops:

  • Send Task
  • Service Task
  • Script Task
  • User Task

The following are the extra properties of multi-instance that are common for all the above tasks:

  • Collection
  • Element Variable

The multi-instance loop is indicated by three lines at the bottom of the task.

Sequential execution is indicated by three horizontal lines:

Multi-instance loop properties

The following are the properties of a multi-instance loop:

Multi-instance loop properties
PropertyDescription
CollectionA collection is an array of data (for example, list of resources) and refers to the name of a previous task that returns you a list. For each item in the collection, an instance of this task is created.
Element VariableElement variable is set for each record stored in a collection of data. The loop overwrites the element variable with each new record processed and is referenced by the Resource ID field.