14.5.2 Orchestration Processes and Concepts Facts

What is orchestration in IT?

The automated configuration, coordination, and management of computer systems and software

What is the main goal of orchestration?

To automate complex workflows across systems and services

What are common uses of orchestration?

Server provisioning, configuration management, inventory, and automated deployments

What is infrastructure automation?

Provisioning systems with resources like storage, security, and compute features

What is Infrastructure as Code (IaC)?

The process of managing and provisioning data centers using code

What does orchestration do for inventory management?

Tracks and manages hardware, software, and IT resources automatically

What is configuration management in orchestration?

Maintaining systems in a consistent and known state automatically

What is software build automation?

Automating compiling, packaging, deploying, and testing software builds

What is the benefit of orchestration?

Improves efficiency, reduces costs, and increases process consistency

What must orchestration systems be able to do?

Communicate with devices they manage or monitor

What are the two main orchestration implementation types?

Agent-based and agentless orchestration

What is agent-based orchestration?

Uses installed software agents on managed devices for communication and control

What is a disadvantage of agent-based orchestration?

It can be more complex and expensive to deploy

What does an agent do in orchestration?

Monitors systems, processes data, and communicates with the orchestration system

What is agentless orchestration?

Orchestration that does not require a dedicated agent on managed devices

What technologies does agentless orchestration use?

SSH, SNMP, CIM, WMI, and WinRM

What is a benefit of agentless orchestration?

Simpler setup since no special software is installed on hosts

Can agentless orchestration install agents?

Yes, it can be used to deploy agents if needed

What approach do most organizations use?

A mix of agent and agentless orchestration depending on the situation

What are orchestration procedures?

Defined scripts and processes used to automate operations

What are orchestration attributes?

Configuration values that define how an orchestration behaves

What information might an orchestration include?

Name, description, timing, and controlled resources

What attributes might a system provisioning orchestration use?

Hostname and network configuration details

What attributes might a user creation orchestration use?

Name, title, and employee ID

How are orchestration decisions controlled?

By attributes that determine tasks and branching logic

Why are scripts used in orchestration instead of manual steps?

To ensure repeatability, consistency, and automation

What is a key advantage of orchestration in IT operations?

It frees up staff time for higher-level tasks and improves efficiency