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User Guide for Cisco Security Manager 4.4
OL-28826-01
4
Managing Activities
Whether you are using Workflow or non-Workflow mode, all policy configuration is done within an
activity, which is also called a configuration session in non-Workflow mode. In Workflow mode, you
must explicitly create and manage activities, whereas in non-Workflow mode much of the activity
creation and management is done automatically for you. However, in non-Workflow mode, you are in
fact working within an activity whenever you modify policies, and so you should understand the basic
activity concepts.
In non-Workflow mode with Ticket Management enabled, an activity is created automatically and
transparently whenever you open a ticket. You must actively open and manage tickets in this mode.
The following topics provide information about activities:
• Understanding Activities, page 4-1
• Working with Activities/Tickets, page 4-7
Understanding Activities
An activity is a temporary context within which you define policies and assign them to devices. You do
not need to create an activity to import, create, or delete devices (unless you perform policy discovery
as part of the action), or to perform various system management tasks.
The requirements for creating or opening activities differ depending on your Workflow mode:
• Non-Workflow mode with Ticket Management—An activity is created automatically and
transparently whenever you open a ticket. If you do not explicitly open a ticket, you are prompted
to create a new ticket or open an existing one whenever you perform an action that requires an
activity. You must actively open and manage tickets in this mode.
• Non-Workflow mode without Ticket Management—An activity is created automatically and
transparently for you whenever you define, modify, or assign policies to devices. The same activity
is used until you submit your changes to the database, and is automatically closed and reopened as
needed. You cannot actively open or manage activities in non-Workflow mode. These types of
activities are also called configuration sessions.
• Workflow mode—If you do not explicitly open an activity, you are prompted to create a new activity
or open an existing one whenever you perform an action that requires an activity. You must actively
open and manage activities in Workflow mode.