Job scheduler
A job scheduler is a computer application for controlling unattended background program execution (commonly called batch processing).
Synonyms are batch system, distributed resource management system (DRMS), and distributed resource manager (DRM). Today's job schedulers, often termed workload automation, typically provide a graphical user interface and a single point of control for definition and monitoring of background executions in a distributed network of computers. Increasingly, job schedulers are required to orchestrate the integration of real-time business activities with traditional background IT processing across different operating system platforms and business application environments.
Job scheduling should not be confused with process scheduling, which is the assignment of currently running processes to CPUs by the operating system.
Overview
Basic features expected of job scheduler software include:
interfaces which help to define workflows and/or job dependencies