# Chains

OneSite Patch uses Approval Chains and Notification Chains to manage communication about, and seek approvals for, patch updates and installations.

![](/files/0tlNvImDWMIbi4fnz0ME)

**Approval Chains:** Include details such as approval layers, backup roles, reminder intervals, and more.

**Notification Chains:** Include details about which parties to notify for what kinds of activities and business units, as well as identifying carrier services.

After you have created Approval Chains and Notification Chains using the Chains workspace, you can assign the chains to a Patching Strategy, a Business Unit, or a Deployment Channel.

## Approval Chains

### Using Approval Chains

Approval Chains enable administrators to specify users who will receive patch approval requests for specific Patching Strategies or Business Units.

OneSite Patch includes suggested Approval Chain personas, such as Product Owner, Patch Management, Security, Test Lab, and Change Management. You can customize and layer these roles to model the natural approval structure in your environment, including backup approvers and timeout settings to allow for automatic escalation. You can also omit layers based on patch criticality/urgency.

### Open and Save an Approval Chain Template

1. Select **Advanced Settings > Intent Schema > Chains > Approval Chain** from the side navigation.
2. Select the **Name** of a template to open it, and then save the template with new information:

   a. In the upper-left of the dialog, select **More**, and then select **Save As**.

   b. Enter a new name for the template, and then select **Save as**. This returns you to a copy of the template with the new name.

   c. Enter a detailed **Description** of the process covered in this template, or leave the prepopulated description. Add a character to enable the **Save** button, and then select **Save**.

### Managing Approval Chain Settings

Approval Chain management choices include approval of timed out patches, reapproval of modified approvals, setting approval layers, and choosing communication providers.

Each of these tasks assumes you have opened and saved an Approval Chain template and you are ready to complete the General Settings configuration.

![](/files/qnUjOr3W7cxsuRQl2ARi)

#### Enable or Disable Automatic Approval of Timed Out Patches

When enabled, this setting automatically approves patches when reviewers do not respond within the timeout duration specified in the Approval Layer.

![](/files/8myFn2XxXOsUTtFfMYlI)

Select the **Automatically Approve Timed Out Patches** toggle to enable or disable (default) this feature.

#### Enable or Disable Reapproval for Modifications after Approval

When enabled, this setting resends an approval request to earlier approvers if a later approver makes modifications.

![](/files/bZyBr0ZMeR6qaHD7X6uP)

Select the **Reapprove Modified Approvals** toggle to enable or disable (default) this feature.

#### Create an Approval Layer

Any object that uses this Approval Chain will process approvals top to bottom in the order listed in the approval layers.

1. Scroll down to **Approval Layers** in an Approval Chain template.

   * For a new approval Layer, select **+Create Approval Layer**.
   * To change an existing Approval Layer, select the **ellipsis (...)** in the **Actions** column for the role you want to change, and then select **Edit Approval Layer**.

   ![](/files/6iKJQW1MgvZ5PNRPE7Ql)
2. This opens the **Create Approval Layer** dialog.

   ![](/files/jDG6epVdZi2ZwvmNGxIu)

**Add and Order Approval Roles**

The processing order sends approvals from the top to bottom based on the order of the listed roles.

1. Select **+ Add Roles** on the **Approval Layer** page.
2. Select one or more existing **Names** from the **Roles** table, and then select **Add Roles** at the lower-left of the page. This returns you to the **Approval Layer** dialog.

   ![](/files/X16giVMdBYGMzdt4Chg1)
3. Reorder the roles to reflect the processing order you want the strategy to use:

   a. Select and hold the **stacked dots** for the role you want to move.

   b. Drag the **role** up or down to move it in the list.

   ![](/files/7t58AAwKzr7JcvAOqe5v)

**Add Approval Roles to an Approval Layer**

OneSite Patch includes templates for commonly required roles. You can add these existing roles to the Chains you create by creating approval layers.

1. Select **+ Create Approval Layer** in an open **Approval Chain** template. This opens the **Create Approval Layer** dialog.

   ![](/files/7uRaw3RGg3iRMef6yges)
2. Select **Add Roles** next to **Approver Roles**.

   ![](/files/CI8Dm7KOj7TxiifpeqO7)
3. Select the **Show All** on the upper-right to view the available Roles.
4. Select one or more **Roles** to add to the **Approval Layer**.

   ![](/files/q12SZEmKrk0ki77zuShc)
5. Select **Add Roles** at the lower-left of the page.

**Set Unanimous Approval or Number of Approvals Needed**

Choose the number of approvers who must approve patches to satisfy this Approval Layer:

* **Enable Unanimous Approval:** Select the **Unanimous Approval Needed** toggle to enable the unanimous approval requirement. All approvers must approve before deployment continues. Defaults to disabled.
* **Disable Unanimous Approval:** If you choose not to enable this feature, you must enter the Minimal Number of Approvals Needed.

  ![](/files/3KbcmUxCnoP2jHPdRGbf)

**Add Backup Roles to an Approval Layer**

Select backup approvers for this approval chain layer. If backup approvers do not approve within the approval timeout duration, the approval request fails.

1. Select **+ Add Roles** next to **Backup Roles** in the **Create Approval Layer** dialog.

   ![](/files/RRtGcVHqlyalS4pNjnZw)
2. Select **Show All** on the upper-right to view all available Roles.
3. Select one or more **Roles** to add.

   ![](/files/q12SZEmKrk0ki77zuShc)
4. Select **Add Roles** at the lower-left of the page.

**Set Reminder Intervals**

These settings define when to send approval reminders to approvers who have not responded. You can specify different reminder intervals for each urgency level. A setting of 0 sends no reminders.

1. Select **Manage Reminder Intervals** under **Approver Roles**.

* The **Manage Reminder Intervals** dialog appears:

  ![](/files/PoTCQPCXRQgoSZVzDHfX)

2. Enter a number for the **Urgency Reminder Interval** (**Low**, **Normal**, **High**, **Critical**).
   * At 0, the strategy sends no reminder.
   * When the request times out, the approval request fails.
3. Select **OK** at the lower-left of the page.

**Set Approval Timeouts**

These settings define the timeout variables for the approval request. You can specify different reminder intervals for each urgency level. A setting of 0 sends no reminders.

1. Select **Manage Approval Timeouts** in the **Create Approval Layer** dialog of the Approval Chain template.

   ![](/files/2jWIFxpGtMtIlwRtvoWM)
2. Enter a number for the **Urgency Approval Timeout Duration** (**Hours**, **Minutes**, or **Seconds**) of the urgency level required:

   * At 0, the strategy sends no reminder.
   * If the request times out, the approval request fails.

   ![](/files/la5iDm3FR8fTMCXGX4BY)
3. Select OK on the lower-left of the **Manage Approval Time Outs** dialog.
4. Select Create Approval Layer to save your changes and return to the Approval Chains template.

#### Add Communication Providers to an Approval Layer

Adaptiva supplies default Communication Providers that you can use here, or you can create your own. To create new Communication Providers that you can choose when creating Chains, see [Communication Providers](/patch/advanced-settings/communication-providers.md).

1. Select **+Add Communication Providers** to open the **Add Communication Providers** dialog.
2. Select one or more providers to add to the Approval Chain.
3. Select **Add Communication Providers** at the lower-left of the page.
4. Select **Save** at the upper-left to save your progress:

   a. Check the **Error View** and resolve any errors.

   b. Select **Save** again if you make any changes.

### Managing Approval Settings in Object Templates

Patching Strategy and Business Unit object templates include an **Approval Chains** dialog so you can define administrative approval details as part of the object.

Use this procedure to assign existing **Approval Chains** to a Patching Strategy or Business Unit template. This procedure assumes you have opened and saved an object template and are ready to configure the Approval Chains.

#### Add Approval Chains to a Patching Strategy

1. Select **Approval Chains** to open the **Approval Chains** workspace.
2. Select **Browse** next to the type of Approval chain you want to add (Product Owner, Patch Management, Security, and so on).

   ![](/files/BxN6puyGg7BzrBuENvGv)
3. Select an **Approval Chain** from the **Approval Chains** table.

   ![](/files/q8WfKEetacENVieaCprK)
4. Select **OK** to return to the object template.
5. Repeat Steps 2 through 4 for each of the groups listed in the **Approval Chains** workspace:
   * Skip any groups that do not apply to your situation.
   * When each group from which you need an approval contains an approval chain, continue with the next step.
6. Select **Save** at the upper-left to save your progress:

   a. Check the **Error View** and resolve any errors.

   b. Select **Save** again if you make any changes.

#### Add Approval Chains to a Business Unit

Adding Approval Chains to a Business Unit is an advanced feature. The **Approval Chains** fields allow advanced users to specify details for use in customized Patching Strategies, Deployment Chains, or Business Units when necessary to achieve different results.

1. In an open Business Unit template, select **Approval Chains**. This opens the **Approval Chains** workspace.
   * Business Units inherit these settings from a parent by default. For more information about inheritance, see [Parent and Child Business Units](/patch/patching-fundamentals/business-units.md#parent-and-child-business-units)

     ![](/files/DIzqw34KeYLrddEJTxoW)
   * Disable inheritance to enable Browse, and then assign a different Approval Chain to a setting.

     ![](/files/EgiygvGQgUm4WtfGJzJa)
2. Select **Browse** next to the type of Approval chain you want to add (Product Owner, Patch Management, Security, and so on).
3. Select an **Approval Chain** from the **Approval Chains** table. This example uses an All Admins Approval Chain.

   ![](/files/v7h6L5FHEzthg9GfesTI)
4. Select OK on the lower-left to return to the **Approval Chains** workspace.
5. Repeat Steps 2 through 4 for each of the groups listed in the **Approval Chains** workspace:
   * Skip any groups that do not apply to your situation.
   * When each group from which you need an approval contains an approval chain, continue with the next step.
6. Select **Save** at the upper-left to save your progress.

## Notification Chains

### Using Notification Chains

Notification Chains send notifications to the administrator roles you specify, informing them about pending deployments. In addition to creating Notifications Chains here, you can also view and create them in object templates for Patching Strategies and Business Units see [Managing Notification Settings](#manage-notification-chain-settings) and [Deployment Channels](/patch/advanced-settings/deployment-channels-deployment-channel-processes.md).

Notification Chains enable administrators to specify who will receive notifications about patches and deployments, as well as the method of delivery, including email, Teams, SMS text, or WhatsApp.

![](/files/ZPVUWsuO96LhbkhSXDYs)

### Open and Save a Notification Chain Template

1. Select **Advanced Settings > Intent Schema > Chains > Notification Chain** from the side navigation..
2. Select the title of a template to open the template, and then save the template with a new title:

   a. In the upper-left of the dialog, select **More**, and then select **Save As**.

   b. Enter a new name for the template, and then select **Save as**. This returns you to a copy of the template with the new name.

   c. Enter a detailed **Description** of the process covered in this template, or leave the prepopulated description. Add a character to enable the **Save** button, and then select **Save**.

### Manage Notification Chain Settings

Notification management configuration means identifying the Roles that require notification for the associated patches.

Each of these tasks assumes you have opened and saved a Notification Chain template and you are ready to complete the General Settings configuration.

![](/files/q7DgLJ4s2gv4AUpGug57)

#### Add Roles to Notify

Add existing Roles to a Notification Chain.

1. Scroll down to **Roles to Notify**. If a table appears, check to see whether the existing roles apply:
   * To remove a Role from the table, select the **ellipsis (...)** in the **Actions** column, and then select **Remove**.
   * To add Roles to the table, select **+Add Roles**, and then continue with the next step.
2. Select one or more **Roles** from the Roles table, and then select **Add Roles** at the upper-left of the dialog.
3. Select **Save** to save your progress and check for errors:

   a. Check the **Error View** and resolve any errors.

   b. Select **Save** again if you make any changes.

### Managing Notification Settings

Patching Strategy, Deployment Channel, and Business Unit objects include a **Notifications** dialog where you can configure notification details. The configuration choices differ slightly for each object.

> **Important**
>
> This configuration requires selecting a specific type of Notification Cycle template. Contact [Adaptiva Customer Support](https://adaptiva.com/support) for assistance with this configuration and for information about choosing the correct template.

#### Add a Notification Chain

Notification Chain settings exist in the object templates for Patching Strategies, Deployment Channels, and Business Units.

1. Expand the **Notifications** box in an open object template to show the available configuration options.
2. Select **Browse** next to **Notification Chain**. This opens the **Notifications Chain** dialog.

   ![](/files/VX0P4tj86voItTRDeVZp)
3. Select ![](/files/czlZpqPowi1WJgOKr2rR) **Notification Chains**, and then select **Show All** to see the available templates.
4. Select a **Notification Chain** from the table. To edit or create Notification Chains, see [Using Notification Chains](#using-notification-chains).
5. Continue editing the **Notification** settings, or select **OK** (lower-left corner) to return to the template.

#### Add Patch Notification Bots

Both Patching Strategies and Deployment Channel templates have an option to **Add Patch Notification Bots**.

1. Select **+Browse** next to **Patch Notification Bots** in the **Notifications** workspace of the object template.

* This opens the **Select Patch Notification Bots** dialog.

  ![](/files/aOhBnF7S0NiQJYPNadCM)

2. Select ![](/files/czlZpqPowi1WJgOKr2rR) **Patch Notification Bots**, and then select **Show All** to list all available **Patch Notification Bots**, or select any **Filtered by:** folder to see the Bots associated with that filter.
3. Choose one or more **Notification Bots** to set requirements for this template. To create more Notification Bots, see [Creating Notification Bots](/patch/advanced-settings/bots.md#creating-notification-bots).
4. Select **OK** on the lower-left of the dialog to return to the starting template.

#### Create Notification Settings

**Set Notification Urgency**

These values must match the corresponding values defined in the Notification Bots. Otherwise, the Notification Cycle does not send a notification.

1. Select **+Create Notification Setting** under **Notifications** of the object template.

   ![](/files/71Xh4NznSnKeStKYfh7Y)
2. Expand the list of options next to **Notification Urgency**, and then select the urgency setting that matches the Notification Bot.

   ![](/files/P3pCsGibzcUPVHw0q1oK)
3. Continue editing the **Notification** settings or select Create Notification Settings to return to the template.

**Add Execution Schedules**

Execution Schedules control when and how often a Notification Cycle sends notifications. Choose schedules based on when and how often receiving parties require notification.

1. Select **+Create Notification Setting** from the **Notifications** workspace of an object template.
2. Select **+Browse** next to **Execution Schedules** to display the available schedules.
3. Select one or more schedules from the **All Schedules** table, and then select **OK** on the lower-left of the dialog.

   ![](/files/xPdAvJntPrgxBLFgomIM)
4. Continue editing the notification settings or select Create Notification Settings to return to the template.

**Enable Notifications for Patching Strategy and Business Unit Chains**

When enabled, it sends notifications to the Roles shown in the Notification Chain associated with the Patching Strategy or Deployment Channel template. Defaults to disabled.

1. In the **+Create Notification Setting** dialog in the Patching Strategy or Deployment Channel template, decide whether to enable notifications:
   * Select the **Notify Patching Strategy Chains** toggle to enable or disable (default) whether the notification cycle sends notifications to the chains included in the strategy.
   * Select the **Notify Business Unit Chains** toggle to enable or disable (default) whether the notification cycle sends notifications to Business Unit chains included in the strategy.
2. Continue editing the **Notifications** settings or select Create Notification Settings to return to the template.

**Choose a Notification Cycle Workflow**

This setting names the Notification Cycle that processes the Notifications for the Patching Strategy or Deployment Channel. Notification Cycle workflows are customized for specific uses. Adaptiva does not provide sample Notification Cycle templates. These templates exist only if you create them for your environment.

> **Important**
>
> Contact [Adaptiva Customer Support](https://adaptiva.com/support) for assistance with Notification Cycle templates.

1. Select **+Create Notification Setting** under **Notification** in the object template.

   ![](/files/pAo3Iaw8tU07eHlqviDL)

   This opens the **Create Notification Setting** dialog.

   ![](/files/nIVzz5njZoovE6vOL3q9)
2. Select **Browse** on the **Add Workflow** line. This opens the list of available workflows.
3. Select your custom workflow from the list, and then select **Add Workflow** on the lower-left of the dialog.
4. Continue editing the **Notification** settings or select Create Notification Settings to return to the template.

**Set the Time Limit**

Specifies the maximum length of time that the Notification Cycle Workflow runs before timing out. If set to all zeros (default), the workflow may run indefinitely. Choose this setting with care. If the notification times out before sending all notifications, the next cycle triggers the notifications again.

1. Select **+Create Notification Setting** under **Notification** of the object template.
2. Next to **Time Limit**, set the **Hours**, **Minutes**, or **Seconds** that the Notification Cycle will run, or leave the setting default at 0 for each item to allow the workflow to run indefinitely.
3. Continue editing the **Notification** settings, or select Create Notification Settings to return to the template.


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