In a computer system or network, a runbook is a compilation of routine procedures and operations that the system administrator or operator carries out. System administrators in IT departments and NOCs use runbooks as a reference. Runbooks can be in either electronic or in physical book form. Typically, a runbook contains procedures to begin, stop, supervise, and debug the system. It may also describe procedures for handling special requests and contingencies. An effective runbook allows other operators, with prerequisite expertise, to effectively manage and troubleshoot a system. Through runbook automation, these processes can be carried out using software tools in a predetermined manner.
Runbook applied to operations
Operational runbooks may be tied to IT Infrastructure Library incidents to allow repeatable processes supporting specific aspects of the service catalog. The runbook is typically divided into routine automated processes and routine manual processes. The runbook catalog begins with an index of processes covered and may be broken down in outline form to align the processes to the major elements they support in the service catalog. A runbook is a compilation of routine procedures and operations that the system administrator or operator carries out.
The documentation for running a task, whether in electronic or paper form, is called a runbook.
Runbook automation
Runbook automation is the ability to define, build, orchestrate, manage, and report on workflows that support system and network operational processes. A runbook workflow can potentially interact with all types of infrastructure elements, such as applications, databases, and hardware. According to Gartner, the growth of RBA has coincided with the need for IT operations executives to enhance IT operations efficiency measures—including reducing mean time to repair, increasing mean time between failures, and automating the provisioning of IT resources. In addition, it is necessary to have the mechanisms to implement best practices, increase the effectiveness of IT personnel, and have the tools to report on how well the processes are executed in line with established policies and service levels.
Patents
Patents have been granted for various aspects of producing, improving, and using runbooks.
Runbook is a dashboard software application program for SAP; the original company was acquired by Blackline in 2016. The software's "automation of recurring financial processes" adds "visibility and transparency" and strengthens "internal controls and compliance documentation" of data maintained by SAP.
