Fortra's JAMS Reviews

Name: Fortra's JAMS
Brand: Fortra
Rating: 4 (33 reviews)

4.5 out of 5

33 reviews
96% willing to recommend

What is Fortra's JAMS?

Fortra's JAMS is a powerful tool for workflow automation, batch job scheduling, file transfer, and centralizing tasks, enabling streamlined job management and monitoring from a single console across multiple servers and systems.

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Fortra's JAMS is the #5 ranked solution in top Workload Automation solutions. PeerSpot users give Fortra's JAMS an average rating of 9.0 out of 10. Fortra's JAMS is most commonly compared to Control-M: Fortra's JAMS vs Control-M. Fortra's JAMS is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 62% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a financial services firm, accounting for 16% of all views.

Helped 814,763 peers since 2012

Featured reviews

Rob Grafrath

VP, Enterprise Systems at Capio

The extensibility feature, i.e., the custom execution method ability, is the most valuable feature. We can write a C# interface using the JAMS libraries. We copy the DLLs for the client interface over to our remote desktop and JAMS servers. Then, any of our JAMS users can open up a job definition and see the control developed by our developers. When the job command is issued, it executes our developers' code. I am happy with the exception handling, for the most part. When an exception occurs on one job inside of a series of jobs, it can make that series of jobs stop running, sending an email to someone to let them respond. There is also a monitor view where you can see everything that is currently running and any of the jobs that are currently in an error state. You can find them and try to rerun the job, or cancel it if the job doesn't actually need to be run. JAMS will attach the console logs from anything that has an error on the email that goes to the operators. Also, inside of the job monitor, you can go to the logs and dig down into the details to see what went wrong. It has the ability to use PowerShell to schedule jobs, enable, or disable triggers. The fact that they have JAMS PowerShell cmdlets is useful. This is not central to our use of JAMS, but I appreciate it. While they have extended PowerShell and created cmdlets, I tend to use that when I have to do things like kill all the jobs currently in the schedule, if something catastrophic has occurred. I use them on my test server more than production. On my test server, if I am running a bunch of tests and jobs, but I just want to wipe out the whole scheduler, then I can use a PowerShell command to do that. From time to time, a job is executed and gets stuck in a loop. It gets hung. Maybe the remote system freezes up. Something abnormal happens. It is pretty easy to deal with those. You can see them inside the JAMS monitor because JAMS will automatically calculate the average time that it takes for a given job to execute as long as it has had a few successful runs. The JAMS Scheduler can predict what should take five minutes to run. If it is running for 30 minutes, there is a percentage that shows inside the scheduler that the job is now at 600% of the normal run time. So, you will see this big number, 600% and climbing inside the monitor. You can research that. You can go find the hung process on the source system and respond accordingly. You can set up jobs such that they send alerts or have runaway job limitations. I personally don't tend to use the runaway feature. Our operators notice and respond accordingly to long-running jobs.

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Aaron Johnsen

Senior Systems Engineer at a consumer goods company with 10,001+ employees

I really like PowerSchool scripting. It's really easy for me to produce some really cool code. People will ask if a certain job is possible to do with JAMS and I tell them it is. The JAMS database offers a lot of flexibility in tapping into it. It's good at offering additional functionality. The automation aspect is fundamental to what JAMS is for. If you want to schedule something to run every Monday at 8 AM or whatever, it will work without fail. The code-driven automation is good for helping us handle complex scheduling requirements. That's a cool thing. JAMS has a lot of flexibility with being able to automate. You can just use the built-in features to run a job. However, you can also just code that into a job using PowerShell. I lean more into writing codes rather than relying on built-in functionality. That is really big for me. Currently, we use both Windows and Linux servers, and that creates a lot of issues when it comes to talking between two different operating systems. But we're able to get by with that since JAMS has built-in capabilities to call Oracle directly and it can also call SQL. It doesn't really matter what operating system you're running on. JAMS is good for helping us be aware and handle common issues that prevent our jobs from running. I have jobs I've built and checked on. I can look at the state of servers to foresee if there are going to be any issues. If we have critical processes that run at 5 AM and the server is offline, then the job will fail. However, we can check-in, or it will give us alerts so that we can see what's going on and fix the issue before the job can fail. The solution's ability to handle exceptions that we have created has been sufficient. JAMS helped eliminate data slack across our applications. We get these reports in, and they need to be run from a Windows server into a Linux server and ingested there. I just created a job this morning that would transfer these files to the Linux server, and then we would run some sort of features that would load them up. It's easy to do that. The built-in triggers are great. If a file comes in, someone doesn't have to manually look for it. We just have jobs that will scan folders to see if files come in or if they're removed. It makes remedial tasks obsolete as they can just be automated. We've freed up about 20% of staff time as there have been a lot of opportunities to automate manual effort.

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Kevin Gore

Software Developer Consultant at Broward Health

JAMS effectively alerts us to potential job disruptions, enabling us to address issues proactively. We rely on it for timely problem notifications and monitor it daily. The Runaway feature is invaluable for identifying jobs that take too long to complete, preventing backlogs. We can effectively manage and resolve these issues by configuring the runaway limit, ensuring smooth job execution. JAMS is highly versatile in handling exceptions. We can easily prevent a job from running on specific dates by creating exceptions within the scheduler. For instance, we can configure an exception if we don't want a job to run next Wednesday, July 4th. Additionally, JAMS allows us to skip specific dates and times or even run jobs hourly if needed, providing the flexibility to accommodate various scheduling scenarios. JAMS centralizes job management across all our platforms and applications. We can install the JAMS client on any machine to manage it directly, and some programmers, including myself, have done so. I have the client installed on my laptop and can access all features from there. Alternatively, users can connect to the JAMS server and run the client remotely, limited to one or two people at a time. I prefer having the client installed for convenient and unrestricted access. JAMS significantly reduces troubleshooting time for stalled jobs by providing a centralized monitor. Instead of manually checking the status of numerous jobs, we can quickly assess their progress on a single screen. While it's difficult to quantify the exact time savings, it's evident that monitoring hundreds of jobs individually would be far more time-consuming than glancing at a single monitor for a few minutes daily. JAMS has replaced our previous homegrown program scheduler, which was used to monitor job success. Considering this legacy system, we adopted JAMS as our new monitoring and scheduling tool, eliminating the need to develop and maintain the outdated program further. JAMS is a scheduler, so setting up a new job is easy. Once we configure it, it doesn't take much time. We create jobs all the time. We have over 200 jobs running. So, if we need a new job, creating it in a few minutes is easy, saving us time. We don't have much time to set up a new job. It's swift to do, saving us time for other projects.

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Fortra's JAMS mindshare

As of November 2024, the mindshare of Fortra's JAMS in the Workload Automation category stands at 1.6%, down from 1.9% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Workload Automation

Key learnings from peers

Valuable Features

Fortra's JAMS excels in scheduling, handling complex dependencies, providing notifications, integrating with PowerShell, supporting natural language scheduling, having robust exception handling, executing across multiple platforms, and offering a centralized management interface. The use of Interactive Agents aids in automating tasks, while batch queues simplify server transitions. Users appreciate its flexibility, ease of use, and strong customer support, significantly improving operational efficiency.

"The dashboard is intuitive."
"The user-friendly and adaptable scheduler allows us to manage various scheduling scenarios."
"Previously, we manually managed file transfers by writing our scripts. The automated MFT feature is great for me and the company. It helps us know where the files are going and enables us to track errors if anything fails. It also makes the connection seamless for third-party vendors."

Room for Improvement

Fortra's JAMS needs enhancements in areas such as search functionality, custom execution methods, user interface, documentation, report generation, automation features, and web-based access. Users find the client unintuitive, encounter issues with permissions and security, and lack sufficient search capabilities. More built-in integrations, better exception handling, and clearer documentation are desired. Improvements in mobile accessibility, ODBC driver support, and knowledge dissemination among support engineers are needed.

"The error messages from JAMS often need clarification, hindering our ability to resolve issues swiftly."
"JAMS notifications for hung jobs could be improved."
"JAMS doesn't allow us to implement SOC controls. We are a company that trades stocks on the New York Stock Exchange, so all our transactions are audited. It has a feature that saves the file for only a month but doesn't segregate the data between finance and SOC-related compliance."

ROI

Users of Fortra's JAMS have experienced significant time savings, cost reduction, and increased efficiency by automating processes and reducing manual monitoring. JAMS has enabled companies to grow without adding staff and has provided substantial labor-saving benefits. The tool is highly valued for its cost-effectiveness, robust job handling, and proactive issue resolution, ensuring a considerable return on investment across various organizations.

Pricing

Enterprise buyers find Fortra's JAMS pricing competitive and flexible with an initial cost of $10,000 and a $5,000 annual maintenance fee. Users appreciate lower costs compared to Control-M and Tivoli, scalability, and availability of unlimited agents with the enterprise license. Some encounter higher expenses but acknowledge the value and functionality provided. Discounts are available for high volume licenses, and additional costs apply for servers and agents. Overall, JAMS offers cost-effective scheduling solutions.

"Fortra's JAMS pricing structure has deteriorated significantly since its acquisition by Fortra."
"The pricing is reasonable."
"The licensing model for JAMS is straightforward and based on the number of agents, not the number of jobs you run. It's cheap and fairly simple."

Popular Use Cases

The primary use case of Fortra's JAMS is workflow automation and scheduling batch jobs. Various groups utilize it for SSIS jobs, SQL Server stored procedures, Python scripts, FTP jobs, file transfers, generating reports, data manipulation, and cloud integrations. Organizations centralize job management across environments, ensuring efficient task execution and maintenance. JAMS helps in automating tasks related to data management, IT operations, and coordinating jobs within different systems and applications.

Service and Support

Fortra's JAMS customer service and support receive high praise for responsiveness, knowledge, and quick issue resolution. Most responses highlight quick turnaround times, helpfulness, and a proactive approach. Some mention a few areas for improvement, such as better documentation and occasional delays, but generally, users rate their experiences highly. They particularly appreciate the availability for after-hours support and the personalized, knowledgeable assistance from support engineers.

Deployment

The setup of Fortra's JAMS was generally straightforward and quick. Users found deploying to be simple, with many completing it in under a day. Documentation and support were helpful, though some had clarity issues with specific configurations. Migration processes varied in complexity but were generally manageable. JAMS allowed seamless job management across different environments. Involvement from support or consultants enhanced the deployment experience.

Scalability

Fortra's JAMS boasts impressive scalability. Users report managing thousands of jobs daily without issues, with flexibility to add agents as needed. Many organizations, from small businesses to large corporations, praise its ability to accommodate increasing workloads. Users highlight the setup's straightforwardness and the potential to utilize more features. Some constraints relate to licensing and resource allocation, but the consensus emphasizes JAMS's robustness and adaptability for diverse environments. Multiple entities report success across various sectors.

Stability

The users generally found Fortra's JAMS to be highly stable, rarely experiencing any significant issues. Some mentioned having minor challenges, often related to external factors or server configurations, but most praised its reliability. Several noted that it seldom crashed, operated smoothly for extended periods, and was dependable for their needs. They highlighted that it consistently delivered solid performance even when utilized under intensive conditions.

These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.

Download our Fortra's JAMS Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers

By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

16%

Computer Software Company

13%

Healthcare Company

10%

Manufacturing Company

Retailer

Non Profit

Insurance Company

Educational Organization

Energy/Utilities Company

Comms Service Provider

Wholesaler/Distributor

Government

Logistics Company

Legal Firm

Hospitality Company

University

Pharma/Biotech Company

Real Estate/Law Firm

Outsourcing Company

Performing Arts

Photography Company

Transportation Company

Aerospace/Defense Firm

Construction Company

Compare Fortra's JAMS with alternative products

Learn more about Fortra's JAMS

Widely used for scheduling SSIS jobs, SQL Server stored procedures, Python scripts, and FTP jobs, Fortra's JAMS offers comprehensive solutions for data manipulation, reporting, backup tasks, and job coordination. Organizations automate file movements, database maintenance, and nightly processes, providing a centralized platform for job management and monitoring across servers and environments.

What are the most important features of Fortra's JAMS?

Planning Capabilities: Efficiently plan and coordinate job schedules.
Job Dependency Management: Manage dependencies between jobs to ensure proper execution order.
Batch Scheduling: Automate and schedule batch jobs seamlessly.
Single Pane of Glass: Centralized console for tracking all automation tasks.
Interactive Agents: Deploy agents for interactive job management.
Natural Language Scheduling: Create schedules using natural language commands.
Custom Execution Methods: Implement custom methods for job execution.
PowerShell Integration: Integrate with PowerShell for enhanced scripting capabilities.
Exception Handling: Robust handling of job exceptions to minimize disruptions.
Monitoring and Historical Views: Comprehensive monitoring and historical job views for better oversight.
Extensibility: Extend the platform to meet specific needs.
File Watching: Monitor files and trigger jobs based on changes.
Complex Scheduling: Handle intricate scheduling requirements for diverse scenarios.

What are the main benefits of using Fortra's JAMS?

Centralized Control: Manage all jobs from a single console.
Efficiency: Increase efficiency by automating repetitive tasks.
Scalability: Easily scale job management across multiple servers.
Reduced Errors: Minimize human errors through automation.
Improved Monitoring: Benefit from robust monitoring and alerting options.
Customizability: Tailor workflows and schedules to specific needs.
Integration: Seamlessly integrate with a wide range of applications and systems.
Time Savings: Save time with efficient job scheduling and execution.

In industries like finance, healthcare, and manufacturing, Fortra's JAMS enables seamless automation of critical tasks, ensuring data integrity, compliance, and operational efficiency. Whether it's automating nightly batch processing for financial transactions, managing data flows in healthcare, or coordinating manufacturing processes, Fortra's JAMS provides a robust solution to enhance productivity and reliability.