ROLE...

An execution agent is a multi-platform processor used to execute remote commands, which can be extended and integrated within a distributed business infrastructure.

The agent is intended to allow implementation of new processes (or access to existing processes) by virtualizing a company’s multi-platform resources. Virtualization authorizes integration of these processes into high-level processes. These processes can be single, centralized integrators used specifically to guarantee improved mastery of and maintainability of your information system.

To live up to expectations, an execution agent must not just be able to provide the services needed to manage the primary tasks involved in the functioning of a remote process. It must also take into account the different network infrastructures on which it will be executed (LAN WAN, VPN, etc.), be able to work within the security constraints imposed by the receiving platform, and provide a configuration that is adequate for integration into a distributed business network (access, LDAP, etc.).

 

ARCHITECTURE...

An execution agent is made up of a socket (processing) server functioning on the remote (target) platform and a client access/invocation API that allows specific integration into the company’s processes.
Our agents are developed on open source ‘bricks’ that are recognized for their robustness and reliability (DOM4J, Xerces, Log4j, ANT and HSQLDB). They can offer everything you need to ensure the system’s longevity and the reliability of future extensions.
Authentication and authorization processes can be delegated to customizable processes (use of Java™ connectors), a necessary condition for integration into the business’s infrastructure design.

SERVICES...

Among other services, the execution agent provides file transfers, command execution, and SQL access.

• The file transfer service allows transportation of folders (or data) to and from the target machine (the one hosting the execution agent). For increased security, this service uses a proprietary protocol that is different from FTP.
• The execution service can handle execution of ANT scripts on the target system through secured, coherent communication links by using appropriate control and monitoring mechanisms. It offers script transfers and execution in an embedded ANT interpreter, and sends back execution messages in real time. The agent authorizes definition of execution properties (ANT and JVM projects), access to these values, and access to external environment variables. It also offers the option to download ANT task or JAVA class libraries (to execute Taskdefs tasks), thereby increasing customization capabilities.
  Using ANT offers necessary capabilities for the agent’s initial objectives: integration, extension, portability and reuse.
• SQL access services permit execution of SQL requests on JDBC-accessible databases on the domain server. It returns execution messages on performance of action requests (DDL, insert/update/delete, etc.) and executes selection requests with comeback information that includes data and metadata. This leads to targeted customization of the JDBC connection by handling property passages and by loading JDBC pilots for access to the target database onto the server.