> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.xloud.tech/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Scheduling Audits

> Automate Xloud Optimization audits with audit templates and schedules — configure recurring optimization runs and manage the audit template lifecycle.

## Overview

Scheduled audits run automatically on a recurring basis without manual initiation.
The scheduling workflow has two steps: create an audit template that defines the goal
and scope, then create a scheduled audit from that template with a cron expression or
interval. Scheduled audits are ideal for nightly consolidation runs, peak-hour workload
stabilization checks, and post-recovery zone rebalancing.

<Note>
  **Prerequisites**

  * Administrator privileges
  * At least one data source configured for the selected goal
</Note>

***

## Audit Templates

Audit templates are reusable configurations that serve as the basis for both manual
one-off audits and scheduled recurring audits.

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Dashboard" icon="gauge">
    <Steps titleSize="h3">
      <Step title="Navigate to Audit Templates" icon="compass">
        Navigate to
        **Optimization → Audit Templates**.
      </Step>

      <Step title="Create a template" icon="plus">
        Click **Create Audit Template** and fill in:

        | Field           | Description                 | Example                        |
        | --------------- | --------------------------- | ------------------------------ |
        | **Name**        | Template identifier         | `daily-consolidation`          |
        | **Goal**        | Optimization objective      | `server_consolidation`         |
        | **Scope**       | Target scope                | `CLUSTER`                      |
        | **Description** | Optional documentation note | `Nightly server consolidation` |
      </Step>

      <Step title="Save" icon="circle-check">
        Click **Create**. The template is now available for manual audits and scheduling.

        <Check>Audit template created and visible in the template list.</Check>
      </Step>
    </Steps>
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="CLI" icon="terminal">
    ```bash title="Create an audit template" theme={null}
    watcher audittemplate create daily-consolidation \
      --goal server_consolidation \
      --description "Nightly server consolidation"
    ```

    ```bash title="List audit templates" theme={null}
    watcher audittemplate list
    ```

    ```bash title="Show template details" theme={null}
    watcher audittemplate show daily-consolidation
    ```
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

***

## Schedule a Recurring Audit

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Dashboard" icon="gauge">
    Navigate to **Audit Templates** and click **Actions → Create Audit** on your
    template. In the audit creation form, enable **Auto Trigger** and set a cron
    expression in the scheduling field.

    | Cron Example  | Schedule                     |
    | ------------- | ---------------------------- |
    | `0 2 * * *`   | Daily at 02:00 AM            |
    | `0 */6 * * *` | Every 6 hours                |
    | `0 2 * * 0`   | Weekly on Sunday at 02:00 AM |

    <Tip>
      Schedule consolidation audits during off-peak hours (02:00–06:00 AM) to minimize
      the impact of live migrations on active workloads.
    </Tip>
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="CLI" icon="terminal">
    ```bash title="Create a scheduled audit" theme={null}
    watcher audit create \
      --audit-template daily-consolidation \
      --auto-trigger True \
      --goal server_consolidation
    ```

    ```bash title="List all audits including scheduled" theme={null}
    watcher audit list
    ```

    <Note>
      The `--auto-trigger True` flag instructs the Decision Engine to execute the
      resulting action plan automatically after audit completion, without manual approval.
      Use this only for non-production environments or after thoroughly validating the
      strategy on your topology.
    </Note>
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

***

## Auto-Trigger vs Manual Approval

| Mode                      | Behaviour                             | Recommended For                        |
| ------------------------- | ------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------- |
| Manual approval (default) | Plan requires explicit `execute` call | Production environments                |
| Auto-trigger              | Plan executes immediately after audit | Dev/test, or validated strategies only |

<Warning>
  Enable `auto_trigger` only after thoroughly testing the strategy behaviour on your
  cluster topology. Auto-trigger can initiate live migrations during business hours
  if the schedule is misconfigured.
</Warning>

***

## Manage Scheduled Audits

```bash title="List all audits" theme={null}
watcher audit list
```

```bash title="Delete a scheduled audit" theme={null}
watcher audit delete <audit-uuid>
```

```bash title="Delete an audit template" theme={null}
watcher audittemplate delete daily-consolidation
```

***

## Action Plan Expiry

Action plans become stale when the cluster state changes significantly after audit
completion. Configure expiry to prevent old plans from being executed.

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="XDeploy" icon="browser">
    <Steps titleSize="h3">
      <Step title="Open Advanced Configuration" icon="settings">
        Open **XDeploy** and navigate to **Advanced Configuration**. In the **Service Tree**
        (left panel), select **watcher**.
      </Step>

      <Step title="Edit the Expiry Setting" icon="file-pen">
        Click **New File** or select an existing `watcher.conf` from the **File Browser**
        (right panel). Add the following in the **Code Editor** (center panel):

        ```ini title="/etc/xavs/config/watcher/watcher.conf" theme={null}
        [DEFAULT]
        action_plan_expiry = 24
        ```

        Plans older than `action_plan_expiry` hours are automatically invalidated. A new audit
        must be run to generate a fresh plan.
      </Step>

      <Step title="Save and Apply" icon="circle-check">
        Click **Save Current File**. Return to **Operations** and run **reconfigure** to
        apply the expiry setting.

        <Check>Action plan expiry configured and applied via XDeploy.</Check>
      </Step>
    </Steps>
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="CLI" icon="terminal">
    Edit the configuration file directly:

    ```ini title="/etc/xavs/watcher/watcher.conf" theme={null}
    [DEFAULT]
    action_plan_expiry = 24
    ```

    Plans older than `action_plan_expiry` hours are automatically invalidated. A new audit
    must be run to generate a fresh plan.
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

***

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Action Plan Policies" href="/services/optimization/admin-guide/action-policies" color="#197560">
    Configure manual vs automatic action plan execution policies.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Strategy Configuration" href="/services/optimization/admin-guide/strategy-config" color="#197560">
    Tune strategy parameters for scheduled audits.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Audit History (User)" href="/services/optimization/user-guide/audit-history" color="#197560">
    Review scheduled audit results and trends over time.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Troubleshooting" href="/services/optimization/admin-guide/troubleshooting" color="#197560">
    Diagnose scheduled audit failures and data source issues.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>