Should I use Service Management Automation (SMA) or System Center 2012 – Orchestrator?

An actual question that is asked regurlarly. Hereby in short some pro’s and con’s to consider.

Orchestrator

In System Center 2012, System Center 2012 SP1, and System Center 2012 R2, the Orchestrator component enables you to automate business processes and IT operations in your data center without scripting or programming. Orchestrator is a feature in System Center 2012. If you already have System Center 2012 installed, and you do not plan to install Windows Azure Pack, use Orchestrator.

• Automate business processes and IT operations in your data center without scripting or programming.
• You can also use PowerShell cmdlets to run other System Center 2012 components/Cmdlets.
• Let you use integration packs that are not covered by PowerShell. (Example : Leveraging Service Manager)

Service Management Automation (SMA)

Automation in Windows Azure Pack enables you to automate processes within the Windows Azure Pack. Because Automation runs Windows PowerShell workflows, you can also use Windows PowerShell cmdlets to run other System Center 2012 components, including Orchestrator. If you are planning to use the Windows Azure Pack, use Automation, and then you can continue to leverage your System Center 2012 installation (if one exists).

• “new future way” of building Runbooks based on PowerShell Workflow.
• Automate processes within the Windows Azure Pack. (Runbooks for tenants / admins)
• Runs Windows PowerShell workflows, you can also use PowerShell cmdlets to run other System Center 2012 components/Cmdlets.
• Provides 64bit support with PowerShell workflow

Source: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn469260.aspx

PowerShell

Despite the question “Should I use Service Management Automation (SMA) or System Center 2012 – Orchestrator?” most important both IT process automation solutions has in common – start using PowerShell!!!

Windows PowerShell 3.0 Language Quick Reference – Microsoft

Looking for more resources and background information about SMA?

http://aka.ms/IntroToSMA

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn469260.aspx