Configuration to ask confirmation for automatic reactions

[vincent-zurczak]

We need to go farther in automation.
Currently, we can execute a command...

• ... explicitely (through the web administration).
• ... on schedule.
• ... automatically, when some conditions are met (agents).

We should add a command to ask a confirmation before running the rest of a Roboconf script. Let's consider the following scenario with the autonomic enabled.

1. action.commands is executed when conditions A and B are met.
2. However, users do not trust the autonomic enough to let Roboconf handle everything automatically.

Instead, they would like to be notified (by e-mail), and be invited to accept or refuse the execution of the automated script. Basically, the e-mail should contain a link that leads to the DM. The shown page will display a message and expect a decision: proceeed or dismiss.

The command shape should be located at the beginning of the script.
It should appear only once in a commands file. Here is a sample syntax.

ask confirmation to <emails> with validity <time unit> and message <message>

• The validity indicates how much time the link is valid.
• The message is the one that will be shown to the user.

The DM must guarantee a link can be clicked and executed only once.
If the validity period is over, an error should be shown.

[vincent-zurczak]

Another solution would be to make it a general preference.

[vincent-zurczak]

A general preference is better, as commands are part of the deliverables and that validating an automatic action is a user choice.