Automate Windows Updates & Testing

Manage Azure Updates

A web application with two front-end servers, a mid-layer application server, and a backend SQL server (all in Azure) requires updates in this specific sequence to avoid errors:

1. Apply Windows Updates to both front-end servers in parallel
2. Stop both front-end servers after update
3. Apply Windows Updates to the mid-layer application server
4. Stop the mid-layer application server after update
5. Apply Windows Updates to the backend SQL Server
6. Restart SQL Server after update
7. Wait until SQL Server is fully up (using Argent Connectivity Rule)
8. Start mid-layer application server
9. Wait until mid-layer application server is fully up
10. Start both front-end servers

Routine Maintenance of Temporary Files

On 195 servers, a third-party program leaves gigabytes of temporary files daily

Without cleanup, servers crash due to lack of disk space

These servers contain sensitive data and do not allow remote access. Argent WorkFlow automates local cleanup with:

• Command file CLEAN_TEMP_FILES.cmd
• PowerShell Action Alert PS_CLEANUP_LOCALLY

Daily execution:

1. Run PS_CLEANUP_LOCALLY in parallel on all servers
2. Generate a report and spreadsheet of available disk space on all servers

Monitor Enterprise Application Every Minute

For the web application above, the system is functional only if:

• SQL backend is fully functional
• Mid-layer application server is fully functional
• At least one front-end server is functional

Argent WorkFlow runs rules and sends alerts on failure, ensuring uptime and reliability

Daily VM Snapshots of 104 Azure VMs

Argent automates daily snapshots for 104 critical Azure VMs using the built-in Create VM Snapshot action and sends daily reports

Insurance Company – Ordered Updates

For a large international insurance company, Argent WorkFlow applies Windows Updates to claim processing, database, and file servers in a specific order to avoid application issues, including automated RDP sessions and GUI program startups