BJM - Background Job Manager - Announcement - December 14, 1989

BJM - Background Job Manager

A Product Announcement from Amazon Computer Systems

December 14, 1989

Amazon Computer Systems of Little Rock, AR is proud to announce the upcoming ship date of "BJM - the Background Job Manager" for OS/2.

WHAT IS "BJM"

"BJM" stands for Background Job Manager - and that is precisely what this utility does. It starts background jobs based upon the value of a resource or time variable. BJM can also monitor those background jobs and restart them if problems occur. Communications between BJM and the background jobs allow those jobs to add/update/delete jobs, change the value of resources, etc.

BJM was originally part of a retail system being developed by Amazon Computer Systems. As the retail system grew, BJM also grew in power and capacity until we at Amazon realized it was also a product with a potential market.

HOW IS BJM USED?

BJM is started as a background task during the machine's booting cycle. After it is started, it alternates between polling the job and resource databases and communicating with the jobs it starts. No user intervention is needed.

HOW DOES BJM START JOBS?

BJM maintains two databases: jobs and resources. The jobs database maintains all programs that BJM will run, along with dependency information, and any parameters for the job. Jobs defined for BJM can be started by BJM in one of the following ways:
 * DAILY: the job runs at a specific time every day.
 * INTERVAL: the job runs every N seconds (N can range from 1 minute to 1 year.)
 * RESOURCE: the job only runs when a resource is set to a certain value.
 * EITHER: the job runs at either interval or resource conditions.
 * BOTH: the job requires both an interval and a resource.

BJM's second database is the resource database. "Resources" are BJM disk-variables that can be set to various values. BJM can be set to start a certain job when the "resource" is set to a certain value.

Finally, BJM has a "nag" mode. This causes BJM to ask a program if he is still running. If the program does not respond within a certain time frame (set by the user), BJM kills the program, then restarts it. In effect, if a program gets caught in a loop, this facility will catch it and stop it. Of course, this function requires a little bit of programming effort for the program that will be started, but a function library is provided to make this easy.

The function library also allows your 'C' programs to access the databases and update the job and resource information.

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGE?

The BJM.EXE module is included, along with libraries so that programmers can develop applications that work with BJM. Small, medium and large models are supported. Also, command-line utilities that access the job and resource databases are provided.

REQUIREMENTS

BJM requires OS/2, version 1.0, 1.1 or 1.2; standard or extended. It does not require PM, but can run under it easily. The BJM.EXE program (the actual manager) requires roughly 384K of RAM.

REGISTRATION

Two classes of registration will be offered: binary and source. Binary licenses will begin at $49, and will be discounted for quantity purchase. Source code will start at $129, and will also be discounted.

TESTING AND SHIPPING INFORMATION

BJM is currently in alpha test. Beta testing will begin on January 3, 1990, with shipment of version 1.0 around February 1, 1990. We will not be accepting any registrations until version 1.0 is shipping. Please note that all registered users of Version 1.0 will receive all updates and changes for a period of one year following registration. This includes all major and minor revisions.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

If you have any questions, please call me. If I am not available, an answering machine is always online. While I keep odd hours (like all programmer/managers) I will do my best to be here or return your calls. Thank you for taking the time to read this announcement, and I hope this product can be of use!


 * Howard K. Warren
 * Owner, Amazon Computer Systems
 * 25 Pamela Drive
 * Little Rock, AR 72207
 * (501) 225-4387