I've found a really handy way to integrate some of my databases into Altiris.

I use multiple tools to manage data from lots of different sources. One of my new favourites in SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) - the SQL 2005 version of Data Transformation Services (DTS).

Well, I started out having SSIS do a bunch of data consolidation and massaging, and guestimating how long it will take to complete, and scheduling my Connector imports to run after the completion of the SSIS stuff.

Then I noticed in the ASDK under the ItemManagementService I found the ExecuteSchedulableItem method...so I said to myself: "Self, why couldn't you put an element into the SSIS control flow to run the import via Connector?"

So, I build myself a little command-line C# program, added the proxy webservice for ItemManagement and this is what I got:

itemMS.Url = string.Format("http://{0}/Altiris/ASDK.NS/ItemManagementService.asmx", targetServer);

CredentialCache cache = new CredentialCache();

cache.Add(new Uri(itemMS.Url), "Negotiate", new NetworkCredential(username, password, domain));

itemMS.Credentials = cache;

try
{
itemMS.ExecuteSchedulableItem(myGuid);
}
catch (System.Web.Services.Protocols.SoapException)
{
System.Console.WriteLine("No Changes Detected");
}

And guess what, now my DB stuff happens, and whenever it finishes, it launches Connector to import the results! No more waiting or risking trying to import a half-finished result!