Server to run the workflow
When started by a schedule, the workflow runs on a certain instance of the Active Roles Administration Service. The instance is identified by the Run the workflow on setting. This setting indicates the name of the computer running the Administration Service. You can choose the desired computer from the Run the workflow on list.
Allow the workflow to be run on demand
If you select the Allow the workflow to be run on demand option, users can run the workflow manually, regardless of a schedule. This option allows a user to run the workflow at any time if necessary. A workflow can be started on demand from the Active Roles console or Web Interface, by choosing the Run command on the workflow definition object. For details, see Running an automation workflow on demand later in this document.
Active Roles normally allows only one instance of the workflow to run at a time. However, you can change this behavior for the case of running the workflow on demand. The following options are available:
- If the workflow is already running, then do not start a new instance.
- If the workflow is already running and a new instance is started on demand, then run the new instance in parallel.
The second option allows a new instance of the workflow to be started on demand even though the workflow is already running. This option applies only to the case of running the workflow on demand. In the case of a scheduled run Active Roles allows only one instance of the workflow to run at a time.
“Run as” options
The “run as” options determine the user account that the workflow runs under. Click the “Run as” options link on the Workflow Options and Start Conditions page to view or change the account setting. You can choose from the following options:
- The service account of Active Roles. The workflow runs under the service account of the Administration Service that executes the workflow.
- The account of the user who started the workflow. The workflow runs under the Windows account of the user who requested the operation that started the workflow.
All activities within the workflow normally run under the account identified by the “run as” options for the workflow. However, each activity can be configured to use individual “run as” options. The property page for the activity contains the “Run as” options link allowing you to override the workflow “run as” setting on a per-activity basis.
When running under the account of the Administration Service, the workflow activities have the same rights and permissions as the Administration Service itself and thus can perform any tasks allowed for the Administration Service.
When running under the account of the user who started the workflow, the activities can perform only the tasks that Active Roles allows for that user account. The Administration Service processes the activity operation requests as if they were submitted by that user via an Active Roles user interface, so the activities have the rights and permissions the user account is given in Active Roles.
Enforce approval
The Enforce approval option determines whether to apply approval rules to the changes requested by the workflow running under a privileged account. When selected, this option causes the approval-pending changes requested by the workflow activities to be submitted for approval regardless of the account under which the workflow is running. Otherwise, the changes are applied without waiting for approval if the workflow is running under the service account of Active Roles, under the account of the approver, or under the account of an Active Roles administrator. This option setting can be overridden on a per-activity basis.