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Status Not under consideration
Workspace DataStage
Created by Guest
Created on Dec 1, 2020

Request to easily integrate custom scripts into the managed, SaaS DataStage Runtime

Our company is using Cloud Pak for Data as a managed service, which means we don't have direct access to the OpenShift platform or any of the pods or servers that run the Cloud Pak services, like the DataStage server.

Occasionally with on-prem DataStage we'll build custom scripts in Python or bash that do pre or post processing on data in order to more effectively ingest or, or do do the actual initial ingestion itself (like when using external API's).

To give an example, in the past I have written scripts that invoke external API's like Google DoubleClick to pull the data from an external source via the Execute Command stage in a Sequence job, land it to a temporary file on the DataStage ETL server, and then use those files as input to the normal ingestion process in DataStage.

The current process to get a script to the cloud is to send it over to our IBM support contact and have them upload it for us, but the problem with this approach is we have no real way of testing how it will work in the target system without sending it over so:

  1. IBM support uploads

  2. We try to run it, see the error(s)

  3. Tweak it again

  4. Send it over again, and the process repeats

Some things we can test locally and might just require different filepaths to get it working on that environment, but not being able to just tweak it in the actual environment is a bit like flying blind.

IBM mentioned they have this feature documented, but no roadmap for getting it implemented:

https://github.ibm.com/PrivateCloud-analytics/Zen/issues/21825

Needed by Date Jan 1, 2021
  • Guest
    Reply
    |
    Dec 3, 2020

    Thanks Scott, I'm okay with the modified Title and also fine with any solution that would enable us to upload the scripts ourselves to some contained area of DataStage. I'm actually OOO for the rest of the month after tomorrow, so maybe we can meet in early January to discuss further, let me know.

  • Guest
    Reply
    |
    Dec 3, 2020

    Thank you for submitting this request for enhancement. I would like to have a deeper conversation with you regarding this request. As we look to bring DataStage to a SaaS (fully managed service), there will be certain security requirements that will prevent the sort of direct access you are referring to. However, this would be available in a private cloud deployment utilizing Cloud Pak for Data. That said, we will have mechanisms in place to allow for the inclusion of custom components such as Python or bash scripts into the managed runtime without having to open a ticket with support.

    I will accept this request for enhancement as I think we're able to meet the intent of your request, we just will not implement it by exposing the ability to directly SSH into the managed runtime. Please let me know if you would like to have a more in-depth conversation and if you agree with my re-phrasing of the title.