Cannot assign instance name to concurrent workflow in Informatica - informatica

Question

In Informatica, I can start a workflow but cannot get it to recognize my instance name in the session log and Workflow Monitor.
The workflow starts but in the session log it displays this:
Workflow wf_Tenter image description hereemp started with run id [22350], run instance name [], run type [Concurrent Run with Un[enter image description here][1]ique Instance Name]
Instance name is blank.
My command is:
pmcmd startworkflow -sv <service> -d <domain> -u <user> -p <password> -f <folder> -rin INST1 -paramfile <full param file path name> wf_Temp
I have edited the workflow and selected the checkbox Configure Current Execution. Inside Configure Concurrent Execution button, I have created three instances: INST1, INST2, INST3, but without any associated parameter files. All parameter files are blank.
I understand, I think, that in order to start a workflow with PMCMD I must pass in one of the configured instance names (i.e. INST1, INST2, INST3, etc.)
If I execute the PMCMD command from Putty a second time to see the second instance run, I receive a message that workflow is still running and I have to wait? Why? I have checked the Concurrent Workflow box in the workflow.
ERROR: Workflow [wf_Temp]: Could not start execution of this workflow because the current run on this Integration Service has not completed yet.
Disconnecting from Integration Service
So, I think I'm close, but am missing something. The workflow runs with the parameter file I pass in PMCMD but the instance name seems to be ignored.
Further. Do, I have to pre-configure instance names in the Workflow manager? Is the PMCMD instance and parameter file parameters enough? It doesn't seem quite so dynamic if Instances have to be pre-defined in the workflows.
Thanks.
#MacieJG
Here's the screenshots from Putty when I run the command. You can see the instance name DALLAS is being passed through the PMCMD OK. No combination ever gets the Instance name. I did not include the pics of your suggested Test 1, but results were same.. still no instance.

Answer 1

Here's my complete test as requested in a comment above. I tried my best to put everything you may need here, but if I missed anything, just let me know. So here goes...
I've created a very simple workflow to run with instance name. It uses a timer to wait and a command tast to write the instance name to a file:
The concurrent execution has been set up in the most simple way:
Now, I've prepared the followig batch to run the workflow (just user & password removed):
SET "PMCMD=C:\Informatica\9.5.1\clients\PowerCenterClient\CommandLineUtilities\PC\server\bin\pmcmd"
%PMCMD% startworkflow -sv Dev_IS -d Domain_vic-vpc -u ####### -p ####### -f Dev01 -rin GLASGOW wf_Instance_Test
%PMCMD% startworkflow -sv Dev_IS -d Domain_vic-vpc -u ####### -p ####### -f Dev01 -rin FRANKFURT wf_Instance_Test
%PMCMD% startworkflow -sv Dev_IS -d Domain_vic-vpc -u ####### -p ####### -f Dev01 -rin GLASGOW wf_Instance_Test
It runs three instances, two of them with same name, just to test it. I run the batch the following way to capture the output:
pmStartTestWF.bat > c:\MG\pmStartTestWF.log
Once I execute it, here what I see in workflow monitor:
Just as expected, three instances executed and properly displayed. File output looks fine as well:
The output of pmcmd can be found here. Full definition of my test workflow is available here.
I really hope this will help you somehow. Feel free to let me know if you'd find anything missing here. Good luck!

Answer 2

You don't need to pre-configure instance names in workflow. Passing the instance name in pmcmd along with parameter filename is enough.

Answer 3

try this: pmcmd startworkflow -sv (service) -d (domain) -u (user) -p (password) -f (folder) -paramfile (full param file path name) -rin INST1 wf_Temp

Answer 4

To be precise: when you configure Concurrent Execution, you can specify if you:
allow concurrent run with same instance name
allow concurrent run only with unique instance name
In addition to that you may, but don't have to, indicate which instance should use which parameter file, so it won't be need to mention it while executing. But that's a separate feature.
Now, if you've chosen the first one, you will be able to invoke the WF multiple times with the very same command. If you've chosen the second one and try this, you will get the 'WF is already running' error.
The trouble is that your example seems correct at first glance. As per the log message:
Workflow wf_Temp started with run id [22350], run instance name [], run type [Concurrent Run with Unique Instance Name]
So you're allowing unique instances only. It seems that the instance name has not been used. First execution does not set the instance name, so similar second execution won't use it either and will get rejected as this is the same instance name (i.e. None).
You may try to change the setting to Allow concurrent run with same instance name, this shall allow the secon execution, but does not solve the main issue. For some reason the instance name does not get passed.
Please verify your command against the docs referenced below. Try to match the order perhaps. Please share some more info if it still fails.
Looking at the docs:
pmcmd StartWorkflow
<<-service|-sv> service [<-domain|-d> domain] [<-timeout|-t> timeout]>
<<-user|-u> username|<-uservar|-uv> userEnvVar>
<<-password|-p> password|<-passwordvar|-pv> passwordEnvVar>
[<<-usersecuritydomain|-usd> usersecuritydomain|<-usersecuritydomainvar|-usdv>
userSecuritydomainEnvVar>]
[<-folder|-f> folder]
[<-startfrom> taskInstancePath]
[<-recovery|-norecovery>]
[<-paramfile> paramfile]
[<-localparamfile|-lpf> localparamfile]
[<-osprofile|-o> OSUser]
[-wait|-nowait]
[<-runinsname|-rin> runInsName]
workflow