Intergraph Batch Services for

Windows NT
Quick-Start Guide
May 2000
DSA070841

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Contents
Contents ............................................................................................................................................................... iii
Preface................................................................................................................................................................... 1
About This Document ................................................................................................................................... 1
Finding Additional Batch Services Information ............................................................................................ 1
Finding Operating System Information ......................................................................................................... 2
Getting Documentation and Training ............................................................................................................ 2
Getting Telephone Support............................................................................................................................ 2
Finding Intergraph on the Internet ................................................................................................................. 2
1. Batch Services Overview ................................................................................................................................ 2
1.1 Batch Services Defined ........................................................................................................................... 2
1.2 Batch Services Features........................................................................................................................... 2
1.3 Batch Services Components .................................................................................................................... 3
1.4 Getting Started......................................................................................................................................... 4
2. Installing and Configuring Batch Services ................................................................................................... 6
2.1 Before Installing Batch Services ............................................................................................................. 6
2.2 Installing Batch Services ......................................................................................................................... 6
2.3 Starting and Stopping Batch Services...................................................................................................... 8
2.4 Configuring Batch Services Desktop Access........................................................................................... 8
2.5 Removing Batch Services........................................................................................................................ 9
3. Using Batch Manager ................................................................................................................................... 10
3.1 Understanding the Batch Manager Interface ......................................................................................... 10
3.2 Granting Batch Service Privileges......................................................................................................... 11
3.3 Understanding Account Mapping.......................................................................................................... 12
4. Creating and Managing Queues .................................................................................................................. 14
4.1 Creating and Deleting Queues ............................................................................................................... 14
4.2 Changing Queue Properties ................................................................................................................... 16
4.3 Setting the Default Queue...................................................................................................................... 17
4.4 Adding Shells to a Batch Queue ............................................................................................................ 17
4.5 Adding Destinations to a Pipe Queue .................................................................................................... 18
4.6 Enabling and Disabling a Queue ........................................................................................................... 18
4.7 Starting and Stopping a Queue .............................................................................................................. 19
4.8 Displaying Queue Status........................................................................................................................ 20
5. Submitting a Batch Job ................................................................................................................................ 22
5.1 Creating a Script .................................................................................................................................... 22
5.2 Submitting a Job .................................................................................................................................... 23
5.3 Saving and Restoring Named Batch Jobs .............................................................................................. 26
Glossary .............................................................................................................................................................. 28
Index.................................................................................................................................................................... 30

Preface
The Intergraph Batch Services for Windows NT Quick-Start Guide describes how to install, configure, and use
Intergraph Batch Services on a computer running the Microsoft Windows NT operating system.

About This Document

This document is organized as follows:

The Preface introduces you to the Quick-Start Guide, describes document conventions, and provides
information on related documentation, product support, and contacting Intergraph.

Chapter 1, Batch Services Overview, provides an introduction to the basic concepts and features of
Intergraph Batch Services for Windows NT.

Chapter 2, Installing and Configuring Batch Services, describes how to install, configure, and run Batch
Services on your system.

Chapter 3, Using Batch Manager, describes the Batch Manager graphical interface, and describes how to
use it to grant batch service privileges for your system, and handle account mapping.

Chapter 4, Creating and Managing Queues, describes how to use the Batch Manager graphical interface
to create, manage, and monitor queues.

Chapter 5, Submitting a Batch Job, describes how to use the Batch Manager graphical interface to submit
a batch job.

The Glossary defines terms used in this document.

This document assumes that you understand basic networking concepts, and that you have a working familiarity
with the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), Internet addressing, and Windows NT
services.

Finding Additional Batch Services Information

Additional Intergraph Batch Services documentation is available online through Batch Services Help
(BATCHMGR.HLP), which is delivered when you install the Batch Services software. Batch Services Help
provides detailed information on the following subjects:

Batch Services terminology.

Accomplishing tasks with Batch Services.

Using the graphical user and command-line interfaces to Batch Services.

Using the Batch Services application programming interface (API).

Finding Operating System Information

If you need more detailed information on an aspect of the Windows NT operating system, you can refer to the
documentation delivered with the Windows NT operating system software.

Getting Documentation and Training

You can purchase additional system or software documentation from Intergraph.

In the United States, contact your sales account representative, or call the Intergraph at 1-800-766-7701.

At international locations, contact the Intergraph subsidiary or distributor from which you purchased your
Intergraph system or software to place an order.

To find information on training for Intergraph systems and products, or to enroll for an available class, contact
Intergraph Education Services at 1-800-766-7701.
Detailed information on Intergraph documentation and training is also available on Intergraph Online,
Intergraphs World Wide Web Server. See Finding Intergraph on the Internet for more information.

Getting Telephone Support

If you experience problems with your Intergraph system or software, or have questions about the information in
this document, you can contact Intergraph for help.

In the United States, call the Customer Response Center at 1-800-766-7701.

At international locations, contact the Intergraph subsidiary or distributor from which you purchased your
Intergraph system or software.

Have the following information readily available when you call:

The products serial number. For software, you can find this on the license agreement.

Your name and telephone number.

The products name.

A brief description of the problem.

Finding Intergraph on the Internet

You can find Intergraph on the Internet at www.intergraph.com.

1. Batch Services Overview

This chapter introduces you to the basic concepts and features of Intergraph Batch Services for the Microsoft
Windows NT operating system.

1.1 Batch Services Defined

Batch Services is a Windows NT system service that allows you (or an application) to manage and perform noninteractive tasks on your computer system. Batch Services gives users and applications a means of submitting
compute-intensive tasks as processes that will run in the background (non-interactively), and provides
notification when the tasks complete.
To perform tasks using Batch Services, you submit a batch job to the system running Batch Services (the batch
server). The batch job provides information to the batch server about the tasks you want to accomplish and how
you want the batch job to run. When a job is successfully submitted, it gets a unique job ID, enters a queue (a
waiting list for processing), and then runs on the batch server system as if you were logged in to the system and
executing the task yourself.
Batch Services is useful to both system administrators and users. Delayed execution of tasks allows
maintenance- and compute-intensive tasks, such as system data backups or compilation of large programs, to be
scheduled for times when the system is not in use. Batch Services also allows several client machines to use a
multiprocessor server as a compute engine for compute-intensive tasks. A large task can be spread out among
several batch server systems available on the network.

1.2 Batch Services Features

With Batch Services, time-consuming, resource-consuming, and repetitive tasks can be run automatically. By
making these tasks execute automatically, you can spend your time and resources on other tasks. Benefits of
automating tasks with Batch Services include the following:

You can submit compute-intensive jobs into the background, and then go on to other tasks or exit the
application or session, while the batch job continues to process.

You can set up jobs to repeatedly execute at any interval you choose.

You can set up a list of jobs to run in a specific order.

You can set the times you want your jobs to run.

You can specify that certain jobs have priority over other jobs awaiting execution.

You can submit jobs directly to a remote queue if Batch Services is present on that system.

3
Batch Services can continue processing tasks even after a system interruption. Batch Services manages the tasks
so that you do not have to restart them yourself, providing the following features:

Batch Services resubmits jobs when the network is down, or the remote host is unavailable.

Batch Services automatically restarts jobs if the system crashes while a job is running, or if the system is
down when a job is scheduled to run.

With Batch Services, you control the processing of tasks submitted as batch jobs. The following features allow
you to manage task processing:

You can use Batch Manager, a graphical user interface (GUI) for managing batch jobs.

You can manage batch and pipe queues on remote nodes from one location.

You can determine which jobs run at a given time, and in what order.

You do not have to monitor jobs. Batch Services supports SMTP mail or event log notification when a
batch job completes successfully or encounters errors.

Batch Services provides the following additional features:

An application programming interface (API).

Support for multiprocessor systems.

A command-line interface that can be used with scripts.

Job submission to or from Windows NT systems.

Job submission to or from systems running Intergraphs Network Queuing System (NQS) when UNIX
interoperability is required.

1.3 Batch Services Components

Batch Services software consists of the following components:

A batch server program (BATSERV.EXE).

Windows NT Batch Provider and Intergraph NQS Batch Provider dynamic-link libraries (DLLs), including
an API library (BATCHAPI.DLL).

An NQS listener program (NQS_SERV.EXE), to allow access to and from Intergraph NQS systems.

The Batch Manager graphical interface (BATCHMGR.EXE).

A command-line interface (QSUB.EXE, QSTAT.EXE, QMGR.EXE, QDEL.EXE).

1.4 Getting Started

Begin by following the instructions in Chapter 2 to install and configure the Batch Services software on your
system. Then refer to the rest of the document as follows:

To remove Batch Services software from your system, go to Chapter 2.

To start or stop Batch Services, go to Chapter 2.

To learn about the Batch Manager interface, go to Chapter 3.

To grant batch services privileges on your system, go to Chapter 3.

To create queues on your system, go to Chapter 4.

To manage and monitor queues on your system, go to Chapter 4.

To learn about scripts, go to Chapter 5.

To submit a batch job, go to Chapter 5.

To manage batch jobs, go to Chapter 5.

2. Installing and Configuring Batch Services

This chapter describes how to install and configure Batch Services on a system running the Windows NT
operating system.

2.1 Before Installing Batch Services

Before installing Batch Services software, ensure that the system on which you want to use the software has the
following:

Intel-compatible 486 or higher processor

At least 16 MB of RAM. 32 MB is recommended.

At least 3.5 MB of free space on the systems hard disk.

A Windows NT-compatible network adapter.

Microsoft Windows NT operating system software version 3.5.1 or 4.0.

NOTE

If your site configuration includes Intergraph NQS machines, Windows NT-compatible TCP/IP
service software is required. TCP/IP service software is delivered with Windows NT software,
but is not installed by default with the operating system software. Install, configure, and start the
TCP/IP service, preferably with Domain Name System (DNS) support enabled, before installing
Batch Services. Refer to your Windows NT documentation for more information about TCP/IP
and DNS.

Batch Services software can work with any network adapter supported by Windows NT. Such adapters include
Ethernet and Token Ring boards although other types of adapters may also be compatible. The network adapter
you use must be properly installed and configured for your computer before you install Batch Services software.
Refer to your Windows NT documentation for a list of compatible network adapters, and to the documentation
for your network adapter for installation and configuration instructions.

2.2 Installing Batch Services

Intergraph uses the Setup program as the standard method for installing software products on a system running
the Windows NT operating system. To install the software:
1.

Start your system with the Windows NT operating system.

2.

If your site configuration uses Intergraph NQS, verify that TCP/IP service is running on your system.
Otherwise, proceed to step 3.
Open Services in Control Panel to view the current status of TCP/IP service on your system, and start it if it
is not already running.

7
3.

Insert the Batch Services CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive.

4.

To start Setup, do one of the following:

From the Start menu, select Run; then key the following into the Open box, where drive is the drive
letter for the CD-ROM drive: drive:\setup

In Windows NT Explorer, select the CD-ROM drive; then double-click on SETUP.EXE.

5.

Follow the instructions displayed as Setup installs the Batch Services software.

6.

During installation, take note of the following:

When prompted for user information, type your name and the products serial number (available from
the software license agreement). Company name is optional.

CAUTION

Setup verifies the serial number before installation continues. If the serial number is
incorrect, the product will not install. Keep a record of the products serial number in case
you need to re-install the product later.

When prompted for a path to the destination directory for product files, type a new path, or leave the
default path as displayed.

NOTE

If the destination directory contains a version of the product you are installing, warning
messages display. You may install the new version of the product over the currently installed
version, or install the new version in another directory.

NOTE

During Setup, Batch Services displays the Account Mapping dialog, allowing you to
configure account mapping. If you select Yes to configure account mapping, Setup displays
the User Name dialog. Otherwise, Setup warns you that you must configure account
mapping before you can submit jobs, and you may use the Batch Manager graphical interface
(BATCHMGR.EXE) to configure account mapping after Setup is complete.

7.

Select whether or not you want to configure account mapping at this time. If you select Yes, proceed to the
next step; otherwise, skip to step 11.

8.

Type in the username you want to configure (the default username is Guest).

9.

Type the password for the username into the Password and Confirm Password fields.

10. Select Continue, or select Cancel to set up account mapping after installation is complete.
11. Select whether you want jobs to have access to the desktop. If you allow jobs to have access to the desktop,
an iconified and non-active window will appear on the screen when a job is runs. These windows will only
appear when a user is logged on to the system.
If your site is one where batch jobs might require some user input, you should select Yes. If your site is one
where security is a major concern, you should select No; a logged-on user will be able to interact with
running batch jobs, even if the job is running as a different user.
NOTE

You can change whether you want jobs to have access to the desktop later. See 2.4, Configuring
Batch Services Desktop Access, for details. Jobs that try to access the desktop will not run
unless the user running the job is a member of the Administrators group.

12. After Setup completes, reboot your system to restart Windows NT and start Batch Services.

2.3 Starting and Stopping Batch Services

When you install Batch Services software, the batch server is configured to start automatically each time you
restart your system. No further configuration is required. Intergraph recommends leaving the batch server as
configured. However, if you want to configure Batch Services to be started manually instead of automatically,
take the following steps:
1.

Open Control Panel; then open Services.

2.

In Services, select Intergraph Batch Server from the Service list; then select Startup.

3.

In Service, under Startup Type, select Manual; then select OK.

4.

Close Services; then close Control Panel.

NOTE

Batch Services also delivers an NQS Listener service that is configured to start automatically. If
your site is not using Intergraph NQS, you can configure the NQS Listener service to be started
manually. Repeat steps 1-4, selecting NQS Listener from the Service list.

If you configure Batch Services to be started manually, you must start the batch server each time you restart your
system, or each time you want to run Batch Services.
Take the following steps to start Batch Services manually:
1.

Open Control Panel; then open Services.

2.

In Services, select Intergraph Batch Server from the Service list; then select Start.

3.

After the batch server starts, close Services; then close Control Panel.

Take the following steps to stop Batch Services:

1.

Open Control Panel; then open Services.

2.

In Services, select Intergraph Batch Server from the Service list; then select Stop.

3.

When prompted, confirm that you want to stop Batch Services.

4.

After the batch server stops, close Services; then close Control Panel.

2.4 Configuring Batch Services Desktop Access

When you install Batch Services software, you can select whether jobs have access to the desktop. If you want
to change the desktop access function, take the following steps:
1.

Open Control Panel; then open Services.

2.

In Services, select Intergraph Batch Server from the Service list; then select Startup.

3.

In Service, under Log On As, ensure that the Allow Service to Interact with Desktop checkbox is checked if
you want jobs to have access to the desktop. If you do not want jobs to have access to the desktop, ensure
that the checkbox is cleared. Select OK.

9
4.

You must stop and restart Batch Services to make the changes take effect. Select Stop; answer Yes; then
select Start.

5.

Close Services; then close Control Panel.

2.5 Removing Batch Services

If you want to remove Batch Services from your system, click Start > Programs > Intergraph Batch Services >
Remove Intergraph Batch Services.

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3. Using Batch Manager

This chapter briefly describes the Intergraph Batch Manager graphical interface and how to use it to grant batch
service privileges on your system. This chapter also briefly describes how Batch Services handles account
mapping. For more detailed information on the Batch Manager interface, or for information on using the
command-line interface, refer to Batch Services Help (BATCHMGR.HLP).

3.1 Understanding the Batch Manager Interface

Intergraph Batch Manager provides a graphical interface for viewing and managing batch services. Batch
Manager allows you to create queues and connect to remote queues, and to submit and manipulate jobs within
queues. Connection to remote servers allows you to manage other Windows NT batch servers on the network.
Click Start > Programs > Intergraph Batch Services > Intergraph Batch Manager.

Figure 3-1. Batch Manager

The Batch Manager toolbar, located below the Batch Manager menus, provides shortcuts to the following tasks.
Position the cursor over a toolbar button to display a tip describing the command associated with that button.
Buttons are provided for the following tasks:

Submitting and deleting jobs

Holding and releasing jobs

Creating and deleting queues

Enabling and disabling queues

Starting and stopping queues

Batch Manager provides two types of views in the main window:

11

The server view displays information about the server and its queues. Information on each queue in the
server view includes its name and type, its priority, its inflow and outflow state, and the number of jobs
currently in the queue. When the server view is active, you can create, delete, and manage queues. Doubleclicking on a queue listed in a server view displays the queue view of that queue.

The queue view displays information about the jobs contained in a specific queue. Information on each job
in a queue includes its ID and status, its priority, its name, and the username of the jobs submitter. When
the queue view is active, you can manipulate specific jobs in that queue. Double-clicking on a job listed in
a queue view displays the properties of that job.

You can have multiple server and queue views active in the main window, and can tile or cascade the views to
fit them into the main window. In Figure 3-1, a server view is shown in the main window.
The status bar, at the bottom of the main window, displays information about the active view. For an active
server view, the status bar displays the server name. For an active queue view, the status bar displays the
queues name and type, its description, and its inflow and outflow states.

3.2 Granting Batch Service Privileges

Before you begin using Batch Services, you should use Batch Manager to ensure that users on your system (and
users on other systems if appropriate) are granted the proper privileges for access to Batch Services. A user
with manager privileges can use all the commands that affect batch server configuration and operation,
including granting and removing privileges, and creating and deleting queues. A user with operator privileges
can manage jobs, including those belonging to other users, and can start and stop batch server queues. Users or
groups without privileges can only submit requests to queues to which they have been granted access; most users
or user groups are non-privileged users.
By default, the Administrators group on your system has manager privileges. From an account belonging to the
Administrators group, you can add users and groups of users, on your system or other systems, to the manager
and operator privilege lists.
1.

Open Batch Manager. Click Server > Properties.

2.

Select the Security tab. Users and groups, and their Batch Service privileges, display in the Managers and
Operators list.

Figure 3-2. Server Properties Dialog: Security Page

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4.

Select Add; then key into the Add Names box the username of a user, or the group name of a group, to
which you want to grant privileges.
Specify local users and groups (on your system) by username or group name only. Use one of the
following formats when keying in a username or group name:

Users on Windows NT systems

Groups on Windows NT systems

domain_name\username or system_name\username
domain_name\group_name or system_name\group_name

Separate multiple users or groups with a semicolon (;).

5.

Select the type of privilege you want to grant the user or group (manager or operator).

6.

Select OK.

7.

Repeat steps 4 through 6 for each user or group to which you want to grant privileges.

8.

When you have finished assigning privileges to users or groups, select OK.

To remove privileges from a user or group, take the following steps:

1.

Open Batch Manager.

2.

Click Server > Properties.

3.

Select the Security tab. The Security page displays, shown in Figure 3-2. The current users and groups
with Batch Service privileges are displayed in the Managers and Operators list.

4.

In the Managers and Operators list, select the user or group from which you want to remove privileges.

5.

Select Remove.

6.

Repeat steps 4 and 5 for each user or group from which you wish to remove privileges.

7.

When you have finished removing privileges from users and groups, select OK.

To change a users or groups privileges, first remove the current privileges from the user or group; then add the
user or group to the privilege list with the new privilege.

3.3 Understanding Account Mapping

Batch Services requires an account name and password to use when running jobs. The process of determining
the account name to use is called account mapping. You can use Batch Manager to enter and modify accountmapping information for your system. An account mapping entry comprises two parts: the user information to
match (the from user), and whom that user maps to (the to user). Account mapping entries allow users
submitting a job to assume the environment and permissions of the user to whom they are mapped.
To perform account mapping, the server tries to match the job owner with an account mapping entry, using the
following order (items are listed on the account mapping dialog in the order in which they are applied):
1.

The server first tries to find an exact match, matching the job owners domain or machine name and
username with the from user in the account mapping entries.

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2.

If the server cannot find an exact match, the server then searches the account mapping entries using the job
owners domain or machine name, with * (meaning any user) as the username.

3.

If no match is found, the server then searches the account mapping entries using * (meaning any machine
or domain) as the domain name, with the job owners username.

4.

Finally, if a match still has not been found, the server searches with * as the domain name and * as the
username.

How you configure account mapping depends on the security needs and configuration of your site. Refer to the
Batch Services Help (BATCHMGR.HLP) for complete instructions on configuring account mapping.

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4. Creating and Managing Queues

This chapter describes how to use the Intergraph Batch Manager graphical interface to create and manage
queues on a system running Batch Services for Windows NT. For more information on the Batch Manager
interface, or for information on using the command-line interface, refer to Batch Services Help
(BATCHMGR.HLP).

4.1 Creating and Deleting Queues

Before you can submit a batch job, you must create and enable a batch queue. The batch queue accepts requests
to execute shell scripts, commands, or executables non-interactively.
You may also want to create one or more pipe queues on your system. A pipe queue accepts requests to send
batch jobs to another queue. Typically, you create a pipe queue when you need access to a batch queue on
another system, such as a queue on an Intergraph NQS server.
Note the following limitations on creating queues:

You must have manager privileges to create a queue.

When naming a queue, you can use any alphanumeric and punctuation characters, except for the
punctuation characters [@ \ ( ) = ,]. The first character cannot be - or /.

You cannot create a queue on an Intergraph NQS server from a Windows NT batch server, or create a
queue on a Windows NT batch server from an Intergraph NQS server. However, you can remotely create
queues on other Windows NT systems.

4.1.1 Creating a Batch Queue

To create a batch queue on your system, take the following steps:
1.

Open Batch Manager.

2.

Select the server on which you wish to create the queue.

3.

Select Create from the Queue menu, or select the Create Queue button

4.

Key the queue name into the Queue Name box.

5.

Optionally, key a description of the batch queue into the Description box.

6.

Under Queue Type, select Batch.

7.

Select OK.

from the toolbar.

Refer to 4.4, Adding Shells to a Batch Queue, for more information on batch queues.

15

4.1.2 Creating a Pipe Queue

To create a pipe queue on your system, take the following steps:
1.

Open Batch Manager.

2.

Select the server on which you wish to create the queue.

3.

Select Create from the Queue menu, or select the Create Queue button

4.

Key the queue name into the Queue Name box.

5.

Optionally, key a description of the batch queue into the Description box.

6.

Under Queue Type, select Pipe.

7.

Select OK.

from the toolbar.

Refer to 4.5, Adding Destinations to a Pipe Queue, for more information about pipe queues.

4.1.3 Deleting a Queue

Before you can delete a queue, the queue may not contain any jobs and must be disabled and stopped. You must
have manager privileges to delete a queue. You can delete queues on remote Windows NT machines. You
cannot delete an Intergraph NQS queue from a Windows NT machine. To delete a queue from your system,
take the following steps:
1.

Open Batch Manager.

2.

Click on the queue listed in the server view, or select the queue view for that queue.

3.

Select Delete from the Queue menu, or select Delete Queue

4.

When prompted, Select Yes to confirm that you want to delete the queue.

from the toolbar.

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4.2 Changing Queue Properties

A queue is created with its operational parameters set at default values. You can change these default values by
selecting a queue listed in the server view and pressing ALT+ENTER, or by selecting the queue view for that
queue, and then selecting Properties from the Queue menu.
Select the tabs in the Queue Properties dialog to display the current values for a queues parameters. The
following are basic operational parameters found in the Queue Properties dialog, along with their default values
and brief descriptions of changes you can make.
Tab

Parameter

Default

Comments

General

Description

None

Optional.

Scheduling

Run Limit

Determines the maximum number of jobs that can

run in the queue at the same time. Specify a number
of jobs from 1 to 60.

Job Defaults

Scheduling
Priority

31

Determines the default priority of execution of a job

relative to other jobs in the queue. Raise (as high as
1023) to increase the priority; lower (as low as 1024) to lower the priority.

Security

Queue Access

Unrestricted

Determines who can gain access to the queue. To

restrict access to specific users or groups of users,
select Restricted. To open access to the queue to all
users, select Unrestricted.

Authorized
Groups and
Users

None

Lists users or groups of users that can gain access to

the queue if it is restricted. Select Add to add users
or groups to the access list. Select a user or group,
and then select Remove, to remove that user or
group from the access list.
When keying in a username or group name, use the
format for usernames and group names described in
3.2, Granting Batch Service Privileges.

Shells

For a complete description, see 4.4, Adding Shells

to a Batch Queue.

Destinations

Order dependent. For a complete description, see

4.5, Adding Destinations to a Pipe Queue.

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4.3 Setting the Default Queue

You may want to specify the default queue for your system. The default queue is the one to which batch jobs
are submitted when a user does not explicitly request a queue. The default queue must be a queue that exists on
your system. To set the default queue, take the following steps:
1.

Open Batch Manager.

2.

Select Properties from the Server menu. The Server Properties dialog displays.

3.

Key a queue name into the Default Queue box, or select one from the Default Queue drop-down list.
Selecting (NONE) indicates no default queue selection.

4.

Select OK.

You must have manager privileges on the batch server to set the default queue.

4.4 Adding Shells to a Batch Queue

A shell is a program that can run a specific type of script; for example, CMD.EXE is a shell that can run .BAT
scripts. You can associate a list of shells with each batch queue. The shell list allows you to specify a shell from
the list without knowing where the actual shell resides on the machine.
NOTE

When you associate a list of shells with a batch queue, users can choose one of these shells from
the list, specify a full path to another shell, or use a shell in the PATH environment variable for
the user to whom the job is mapped.

To add a shell to a batch queue, take the following steps:

1.

Open Batch Manager.

2.

Click on the batch queue listed in the server view, or select the queue view for that queue.

3.

Select Properties from the Queue menu. The Queue Properties dialog displays.

4.

Select the Shells tab.

5.

Under Shell Configuration, key the name of the shell into the Name box; then key the path to the shell into
the Location box.

6.

Select Add. The name and location of the shell display in the Shell box. If you wish to set a default shell
for the queue, proceed to the next step. Otherwise, skip to step 8.

NOTE

7.

You may want to specify the default shell for a batch queue on your system. The default shell is
the one run when a user submits a job, but does not explicitly request a shell. When you set a
default shell for a batch queue, you must explicitly select another shell if you want to submit a job
to run a script that uses another shell. If you wish to submit executable programs (.EXE files) to a
batch queue, do not set a default shell for that queue, or set the default shell to be CMD.EXE.

Select the shell in the Shell List box; then select Default. The name of the shell displays in the Default Shell
box.

18
8.

Select OK.

You must have manager privileges on the batch server to set the default shell for a batch queue.

4.5 Adding Destinations to a Pipe Queue

Destinations are used with pipe queues. Pipe queues are normally used to create a connection to a remote batch
queue. A pipe queue interprets a batch job request, and pipes it to the first available queue in its destination list
that will accept the request. The destination list may contain any queue type.
To add a destination to a pipe queue, take the following steps:
1.

Open Batch Manager.

2.

Click on the pipe queue listed in the server view, or select the queue view for that queue.

3.

Select Properties from the Queue menu. The Queue Properties dialog displays.

4.

Select the Destinations tab.

5.

Key the new destination queue into the Destination edit box; then select Add. The destination displays in
the List box.

A destination can be a local queue (on your system) or a remote queue (on other systems). Specify a local queue
by its queue name. To specify a remote queue, use one of the following formats when keying in the remote
queue name:
Queues on Windows NT systems \\system_name\queue_name
Queues on Intergraph NQS systems queue_name@system_name
NOTE

If you list more than one destination for a pipe queue, the pipe queue will send a job to the first
available queue in its destination list that will accept the job.

6.

Repeat step 5 for each destination you want to add to the pipe queue.

7.

When you have finished adding destinations to the pipe queue, select OK.

You must have manager privileges on the batch server to add a destination to a pipe queue.

4.6 Enabling and Disabling a Queue

A newly created queue has a disabled inflow state; it will not accept new jobs that are submitted or transferred
to it. A queue must be enabled to accept new jobs. To enable a queue, take the following steps:
1.

Open Batch Manager.

2.

Click on the queue listed in the server view, or select the queue view for that queue.

3.

Select Enable from the Queue menu, or select Enable Queue

show as ENABLED in its listing in the server view.

from the toolbar. The queue should now

19
The availability of the Enable and Disable menu and toolbar commands toggles, depending on the current
inflow state of the queue.
To disable a queue, take the following steps:
1.

Open Batch Manager.

2.

Click on the queue listed in the server view, or select the queue view for that queue.

3.

Select Disable from the Queue menu, or select Disable Queue

now show as DISABLED in its listing in the server view.

from the toolbar. The queue should

The availability of the Enable and Disable menu and toolbar commands toggles, depending on the current
inflow state of the queue.
You must have at least operator privileges on the batch server to enable or disable a queue.

4.7 Starting and Stopping a Queue

A newly created queue has a stopped outflow state; it will not run any jobs it contains. A queue must be started
to run jobs. To start a queue, take the following steps:
1.

Open Batch Manager.

2.

Click on the queue listed in the server view, or select the queue view for that queue.

3.

Select Start from the Queue menu, or select Start Queue

show as STARTED in its listing in the server view.

from the toolbar. The queue should now

The availability of the Start and Stop menu and toolbar commands toggles, depending on the current
outflow state of the queue.
To stop a queue, take the following steps:
1.

Open Batch Manager.

2.

Click on the queue listed in the server view, or select the queue view for that queue.

3.

Select Stop from the Queue menu, or select Stop Queue

show as STOPPED in its listing in the server view.

from the toolbar. The queue should now

The availability of the Start and Stop menu and toolbar commands toggles, depending on the current
outflow state of the queue.
You must have at least operator privileges on the batch server to start or stop a queue.

20

4.8 Displaying Queue Status

You can display the status of any queue on the batch server on your system, and of any queues on any batch
servers on remote systems. Queue status information includes queue type, queue priority, inflow state, outflow
state, and a count of the jobs currently in the queue.
To display the status of a queue on your system, double-click on the queue listed in the server view, or select the
queue view for that queue in the Batch Manager window.
To display the status of a queue on another system, take the following steps:
1.

Open Batch Manager.

2.

Select Connect to from the Server menu.

3.

Key in the name of the server on which the queue resides; then select OK. Batch Manager displays a server
view for the selected server, listing the queues currently available on that server.

Use one of the following formats when keying in the server name:
Windows NT system
Remote Intergraph NQS system
NOTE

\\system_name
@system_name

You can also use Connect To in the Queue menu to display a queue view for a particular queue on
a remote system.

21

22

5. Submitting a Batch Job

This chapter describes how to submit a batch job, and monitor the status of submitted jobs, on a system running
Batch Services for Windows NT. For more information on the Batch Manager interface, or for information on
using the command-line interface, refer to Batch Services Help (BATCHMGR.HLP).
You can use Batch Services to run an executable program on your system, or to perform a set of tasks on your
system. To perform a set of tasks, you can create a script, a file containing instructions that can be interpreted
by a shell. The following section describes scripts; the rest of the chapter describes how to submit and monitor
batch jobs.

5.1 Creating a Script

A batch job reads a script and performs the instructions in it, using the appropriate shell (the program that runs
the instructions in the script). Scripts can take many forms, including .BAT files and Perl scripts. A script can
also be an executable program (.EXE file) if the queue has no default shell, or if the shell is set to CMD.EXE.
The following example is a .BAT script that backs up a directory on the batch server to a shared drive that has
been locally mounted from a remote system. To use the script, ensure that a local batch queue has been created,
enabled, and started, and that the queues default shell is the CMD.EXE program.
REM This script will do the following:
REM
REM
1. Mount the shared drive \\machine\share
REM
2. Copy everything in c:\users\default to the shared drive.
REM
3. Unmount the shared drive.
REM
net use p: \\machine\share
xcopy c:\users\default p: /e /i
net use /delete p:

The following example is a .BAT script that prints all PostScript files in the C:\TEMP directory on the batch
server to a printer on a remote Windows NT system. To use the script, ensure that a local batch queue has been
created, enabled, and started; that the queues default shell is the CMD.EXE program; and that your system has
access to the printer on the remote Windows NT system.
REM This script will do the following:
REM
REM
1. Associate a remote printer on a Windows NT system
REM
(\\machine\printer) with a local printer port.
REM
2. Copy files in c:\temp that end in .ps to the local printer
REM
port.
REM
3. Remove the printer association.
REM
net use lpt1: \\machine\printer
cd c:\temp
for %%I in (*.ps) do copy %%I lpt1:
net use /delete lpt1:

23

5.2 Submitting a Job

To submit a job to be run on the batch server on your system, take the following steps:
1.

Open Batch Manager.

2.

Select a queue listed in the server view, or select the queue view for that queue.

3.

Ensure that the selected queue is enabled and started.

4.

Select Submit from the Job menu, or select Submit Job

on the toolbar.

Batch Manager provides tabbed pages in the Job Submit dialog for the following job parameter categories:
General

Sets basic information about the job.

Scheduling

Sets the parameters associated with scheduling the job for execution.

Notification

Sets the notification preferences for the job.

Output

Specifies how output should be handled for the job.

Resources

Configures job resources needed for the batch job.

File Staging

Describes how necessary files for the job are handled.

Advanced

Sets advanced job parameters as well as those that are only used by
Intergraph NQS.

The following sections describe basic operational parameters found in the Job Submit dialog, along with brief
instructions for using them when submitting a job.

5.2.1 Setting Basic Job Information

Use the General page to set basic information about the job, including the script to be submitted for execution.
This page contains the following fields:
Script

The script to be submitted for execution. Key in the filename of a script for
submission. You may also select Browse to browse this computer or the network for an
executable program to use.
The name of the script should not contain any characters that have special meaning to
the shell associated with the queue.

Queue Name

The queue to which the job is submitted. Key in a queue name according to the syntax
described in Chapter 4.

Default Queue

The default queue for the local server. Checking this box fills the Queue Name field
with the name of the default queue for the local server. See 4.3, Setting the Default
Queue, for instructions on how to set the default queue.

Job Name

A user-defined name for the job.

Restartable

Determines whether the job should be restarted after a system crash, system shutdown,
or batch service shutdown while the job is running. This option is selected by default.

24

Shell

Displays the currently selected shell for the job. If this value is not specified, the
default shell for this queue will be used.

5.2.2 Setting Job Scheduling Information

The Scheduling page describes the various parameters associated with scheduling the job for execution,
including the start time, whether or not the job should be submitted with a hold, and the priority for scheduling
the job.
Job Occurs

The execution interval of the job. Choose to have the job execute once or
multiple times at an hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly interval. One-time
execution is the default.

Recurring Jobs
Frequency

Recurrence patterns for jobs that are scheduled to execute more than once.
Hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly patterns are available.

Start Date/Effective
Date

For jobs that execute only once, the start date specifies the date when the job
should start. For recurring jobs, the effective date is the date when the specified
recurrence pattern should go into effect. The current date is the default setting.

Start Time

The time when the job should be allowed to start. Select the Current Time
checkbox to choose a jobs submission time as its execution time. Clear the
Current Time checkbox, and select an hour and a minute to choose a specific time
for the job to start. The current time is the default setting.

Next Occurrence

Displays the date and time of the next scheduled occurrence of a recurring job.
This field is not displayed for one-time jobs.

Number of Days

Specifies the number of days a job should be run. 0 indicates eternity.

Restartable

Determines whether the job should be restarted after a system crash, system
shutdown, or batch service shutdown while the job is running. This option is
selected by default.

5.2.3 Creating Recurring Jobs

If you have a task that recurs on a regular basis, such as a nightly backup, you can schedule it as a recurring job.
You only schedule recurring jobs once, and then Batch Services automatically runs all future occurrences of the
job for you.
As an example, we will schedule a system backup to run every Tuesday and Thursday at 7:00 PM, starting on
the first of September 2001. To do this, take the following steps:
1.

Open Batch Manager and select the queue to which you wish to submit the recurring job.

2.

Select Submit from the Job menu.

3.

Browse for and select the backup script that you want to run.

4.

Select the Scheduling tab.

5.

Select weekly job frequency by choosing the Weekly radio button.

25
6.

Select a weekly frequency of every 1 week.

7.

Select the Monday and Thursday checkboxes, making sure that no other checkboxes are selected.

8.

Set the effective date to September 1, 2001.

9.

Set the start time to 19:00 (7:00 PM). The Next Occurrence field will note that the first occurrence of
the backup job will be run on Tuesday, September 1, 2001 at 7:00 PM.

5.2.4 Specifying Job Notification Preferences

The Notification tabbed dialog describes the notification preferences for the job, including under what
conditions notification should be sent, and the mail address to which notification information should be sent.
Job Start
Job Completion
Job Abort

Specifies the notification option. You can be notified of the following events:

The job begins execution (Job Start).

The job completes execution (Job Completion).
The job is aborted (Job Abort).

Job Abort is selected by default.

Mail Address

By default, notification messages are written to the Event Log of the submitting
machine. This field lists mail addresses in the form \\host (the event log on system
host) or user@host (an SMTP mail address). Mail will be sent to each recipient. Key
in a mail address, and select Add to add the address to the List box. You can specify
more than one recipient by keying in addresses separately, and selecting Add after each
address.

5.2.5 Specifying How to Handle Job Output

The Output page specifies how the output should be handled for the job, including where to store standard error
and standard output files. This page provides the following options:
Standard Output/
Standard Error

Specifies a path and filename indicating where to store the standard error and
standard output files. For local files, key in the complete pathname. You can specify
a network pathname using one of the following formats:
\\host\pathname\filename
host:pathname/filename

Windows NT
Intergraph NQS

Keep Output on
Execution Host

Specifies whether or not the output should be kept on the machine where the job
runs.

No Spooling

Specifies whether or not output is to be created directly in the specified pathname.

Normally, the output file is kept internally by Batch Services until the batch job
ends; the files are then returned to the intended directories. Spooling is not
supported on remote machines.

Join Output in One

File

Disables the Standard Error group box, indicating that all output should be sent to
the Standard Output Pathname. If the Join Output is unselected, the Standard Error
group box becomes available again.

26

5.2.6 Specifying Job Resource Requirements

The Resources page configures the various job resources needed for the batch job. This page provides the
following options:
Environment
group

Add Current
Environment
Variables

Enters and updates environment variables.

Variable

Specifies the environment variable name. Key in the variable name.

Value

Specifies the environment variable value.

Adds all environment variables in the current environment to the name list.

5.3 Saving and Restoring Named Batch Jobs

A batch job can be saved to a file for later recall, modifications, and submissions. This is especially useful if
you want to set up certain job parameters to be used again and again.
For example, you might have a certain set of people you wish to notify whenever a backup runs. You could
create a named job that contains the name of your backup script, the queue in which it should run, and the
notification list, and save it as BACKUP.NJOB. To run a backup job, you would then open the named job using
the Job Submit dialog, make any necessary changes (perhaps the start time of the job), then submit the job.
Using this method, you do not have to re-enter the job's parameters each time you want to run the job.
Once you have created a named job, you can access it in a variety of ways. Any of the following methods open
the named job and complete the Job Submit dialog with all of its parameters:

Select the Open button on the Job Submit dialog, browse for the named job, and select OK.

Drag the named job file from File Manager into the Batch Manager window.

Key in the command batchmgr named_job.NJOB at the command prompt, where named_job is the name
of the job file.

Double-click on the named job file in File Manager.

NOTE

The last two methods will not work if Batch Manager is already active since only one Batch Manager
session at a time is allowed.

5.3.1 Creating a Named Job

To create a named job, take the following steps:
1.

Select Submit from the Job menu to display the Submit dialog. See 5.2, Submitting a Job, for more
information about the Submit dialog.

2.

Enter the job parameters that you wish to save as a named job.

3.

Select Save As to name and save your job.

27

5.3.2 Submitting a Named Job

To recall and submit a previously saved named job, take the following steps:
1.

Select Submit from the Job menu to display the Submit dialog.

2.

Select Open to browse for previously saved named jobs.

3.

Choose the named job you wish to recall, and select OK. Batch Manager loads the saved job parameters
into the Job Submit dialog, and displays the name of the job in the title of the Job Submit dialog.

4.

You may submit the job exactly as it was stored in the named job file, or you can make modifications. If
you wish to save changes you make, select Save to overwrite the existing named job, or select Save As to
choose a new name for the modified job.

5.

Select Submit to submit the job.

28

Glossary
account mapping

The process of determining the account name to use when running jobs. Batch
Services requires an account name and password to use when running jobs. To
perform account mapping, the server tries to match the job owner with an
account mapping entry.

batch job

A set of instructions to Batch Services to perform a given task or set of tasks on

a computer system. A batch job is identified with a script that is run by a shell.
The job may also be an executable (.EXE). See also job, shell.

batch queue

A queue that accepts requests to execute scripts or commands from the

keyboard as if the user submitting the request were logged in to the system.
See also queue.

batch server

A Windows NT service that processes batch jobs, and maintains queue and job
information. Also, the system on which Batch Services runs.

default queue

The queue to which a job is assigned when a user does not specify a queue.

default shell

The shell that is used to run a job submitted to a queue when a user does not
specify a shell for that job.

disabled

A queue state in which the queue will not accept new jobs.

enabled

A queue state in which the queue will accept new jobs.

execution host

The machine where a batch job is run.

hold

A delay in running a job submitted to a queue. A held job will not run until the
hold is released. A user hold may be placed on a job submitted by that user
when the job is submitted. An operator hold may be placed on a job by a user
with operator or manager privileges, after the job is submitted but before it
runs. See also privilege.

inflow state

The state of a queue with regard to accepting jobs. See also queue state,
enable, disable.

job

A set of instructions needed to perform a given task or set of tasks on a

computer system. See also batch job, shell.

job identifier (job ID)

A unique alphanumeric string that identifies a job. A batch job ID is in the

form jobid.orighost, where jobid is a sequentially assigned number up to 5
digits in length, and orighost is the name of the system from which the batch
job originated.

manager

See privilege.

Intergraph Network
Queuing System (NQS)

A network-based, multipurpose printing, plotting, and command-execution

system that runs on Intergraph and other UNIX-based systems.

29

operator

See privilege.

outflow state

The state of a queue with regard to processing jobs. See also queue state, start,
stop.

pipe queue

A queue that routes jobs to another queue. A pipe queue receives a job and
routes it to the first available queue on its destination list that will accept the
job. Pipe queues can accept jobs from batch queues or from other pipe queues.

privilege

An operational permission level assigned to every Batch Services user. Nonprivileged users can submit jobs to queues to which they have been granted
access; operators can issue commands that directly affect queue management;
and managers can control all aspects of Batch Service operation.

queue

A waiting line in which jobs reside until they are processed. See also batch
queue, pipe queue.

queue state

The operational state of a queue. A queue has an inflow state that is either
enabled or disabled; it also has an outflow state that is either started, stopped,
or stopping. See also enabled, disabled, started, stopped.

queue view

The view in Batch Manager that shows information on the jobs in a queue.

script

A file that contains instructions for the execution of a batch job.

server view

The view in Batch Manager that shows information about the operation of one
or more queues.

shell

An executable program that can be used to run a script. For example,

CMD.EXE is a shell that can be used to run .BAT scripts. See also script.

spooling

The process of storing a file internally by Batch Services until the batch job
ends.

started

A queue state in which the queue will run jobs submitted to it.

stopped

A queue state in which the queue will not run jobs submitted to it.

30

Index
A
access to desktop, 7
account mapping, 7, 12, 28
adding destinations, 18
adding shells, 17

B
batch job, 28
basic information, 23
creating named, 26
job output, 25
named, 26, 27
notification, 25
resources, 26
scheduling, 24
script, 22
submitting, 23
batch job, 22
Batch Manager, 10
account mapping, 12
adding destinations, 18
adding shells, 17
batch job, 22
basic information, 23
job output, 25
notification, 25
resources, 26
scheduling, 24
submitting, 23
creating queues, 14
batch, 14
pipe, 15
default shell, 17
deleting queues, 15
disabling queues, 18
enabling queues, 18
granting privileges, 11
named batch job, 26
creating, 26
overview, 10
queue
default, 17
queue status, 20
queue view, 29
queues, 14
adding destinations, 18

adding shells, 17
default shell, 17
disabling, 18
enabling, 18
modifying, 16
starting, 19
status, 20
stopping, 19
removing privileges, 12
server view, 29
setting default queue, 17
starting queues, 19
status bar, 11
stopping queues, 19
submitting named batch job, 27
using, 10
views, 10
batch queue, 28
batch server, 28
Batch Services
account mapping, 7, 12
batch job, 22
basic information, 23
job output, 25
notification, 25
resources, 26
scheduling, 24
submitting, 23
Batch Manager, 10
compatibility with network adapters, 6
components, 3
configuring desktop access, 8
destination directory for product files, 7
getting started using, 4
installation requirements, 6
installing, 6
named batch job, 26
creating, 26
submitting, 27
privileges, 11, 12
queue
default, 17
queues, 14
adding destinations, 18
adding shells, 17
creating, 14
batch, 14
pipe, 15
default shell, 17
deleting, 15
disabling, 18
enabling, 18

31
modifying, 16
starting, 19
status, 20
stopping, 19
removing, 9
setting default queue, 17
starting, 7, 8
stopping, 8
using Batch Manager, 10
Batch Services Help, 1

C
creating a named batch job, 26
creating script, 22

N
named batch job, 26
creating, 26
submitting, 27
network adapters and Batch Services, 6

O
online documentation, 1
outflow state, 29
started, 29
stopped, 29

default queue, 28
default shell, 17, 28
desktop access, 7, 8
disabling queues, 18
DNS, 6

pipe queue, 29
privilege, 29
privileges
granting, 11
removing, 12
product directory for Batch Services, 7

enabling queues, 18
execution host, 28

queue, 29
inflow state, 28
outflow state, 29
queue state, 29
queue status, 20
queue view, 29
queues, 14
adding destinations, 18
adding shells, 17
creating, 14
batch, 14
pipe, 15
default shell, 17
deleting, 15
disabling, 18, 20
enabling, 18
modifying, 16
properties, 16
setting default, 17
starting, 19
stopping, 19

G
Getting started using Batch Services, 4

I
inflow state, 28
disabled, 28
enabled, 28
installation requirements, 6
installing Batch Services, 6
Intergraph
finding on the Internet, 2
Intergraph NQS, 6, 28
Internet
finding Intergraph, 2

R
removing Batch Services, 9

job, 28
job hold, 28
job ID, 28

32

script, 29
server view, 29
shell, 29
spooling, 29
starting Batch Services, 7, 8
starting queues, 19
status bar, 11
stopping Batch Services, 8
stopping queues, 19
submitting a batch job, 23
submitting a named batch job, 27

TCP/IP, 6
telephone support, 2
training, 2

V
views, 10

33