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Visual Studio Authoring Extensions - Management Pack Tools

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The following tools are available from Visual Studio Authoring Extensions to assist with the process of building and validating management packs.

Management Pack Browser

The Management Pack Browser allows you to inspect the contents of management packs that are included in or referenced by the current management pack project.  You can view the definition of a particular element in the management pack and find all the locations where it’s referenced.  You also use the Management Pack Browser to launch the MP Simulator.

Starting the Management Pack Browser

  1. Select View and then Management Pack Browser

MP Simulator

MP Simulator allows you to run a workflow on the local workstation and inspect its output.  This allows you to interactively test and troubleshoot monitors, rules, and discoveries before installing the management pack.  The MP Simulator requires the Operations Manager agent to be installed on the workstation where it’s running, but it does not require a connection to a management group.

Starting the Management Pack Browser

  1. Start the Management Pack Browser.
  2. In the left pane, expand the Management Pack.
  3. Expand the Health Model node.
  4. Select Discoveries, Monitors, or Rules depending on the type of workflow that you want to simulate.
  5. In the right pane, right-click the workflow to simulate and select MP Simulator.

MP Best Practices Analyzer

Management Pack Best Practices Analyzer validates that the management pack adheres to best practices that have been established by Microsoft.  This includes such factors as frequency of discoveries, product knowledge, and accessibility settings.  The tool reports on deviations from best practices that it discovers and in some cases provides you with the ability to correct the management pack directly from the tool.

Starting the Best Practice Analyzer

  1. Right-click the management pack project in Solution Explorer.
  2. Click Analyze with MPBPA.

Cookdown Analyzer

Cookdown Analyzer performs an analysis of workflows in the management pack to ensure that they are performing cookdown when applicable. 

Starting the Cookdown Analyzer

  1. Right-click the management pack project in Solution Explorer.
  2. Click Perform Cookdown Analysis.

Spell Checker

Spell Checker performs a spell check of text that is displayed to the user such as display strings and alert descriptions. The tool gives you the option to directly make corrections or add words to an exclusion list.

Starting the Spell Checker

  1. Right-click the management pack project in Solution Explorer.
  2. Click MP Spell Checker.

Visio MP Diagram Generator

Visio MP Diagram Generator creates a Visio diagram illustrating the class structure your management pack.  One diagram is created that shows each class and their base classes.  A second diagram is created that shows each class and its hosting and containment relationships.

Starting the Visio MP Diagram Generator

  1. Right-click the management pack project in Solution Explorer.
  2. Click Visio MP Diagram Generator.

Additional Resources

[[Visual Studio Authoring Extensions for System Center 2012 - Operations Manager]]