Concurrent running scripts
In IBM RPA, you can optimize the automation process by running multiple bots concurrently on the same computer. This type of processing is called concurrent running scripts.
Concurrency is when two or more processes try to access the same shared resource on a system, like a file, data in memory or in a database, or an application. You can run multiple bots simultaneously on the same user session of a computer, which makes them share the computer's resources, or you can run them on different user sessions, but that limits the bots actions significantly. For a detailed explanation, see Running scripts on the same user session and Running scripts on different user sessions on Limitations when running concurrent scripts.
Concurrent bots can automate different processes or the same process during their runtime. When they automate the same process, you maximize throughout.
See Prerequisites to run concurrent scripts for a list of prerequisites to run concurrent scripts.
See Limitations when running concurrent scripts to learn the limitations when running concurrent scripts.
The Bot Runtime
IBM RPA bots run in an independent runtime environment called Bot Runtime for each bot you run. You can run as many Bot Runtimes as possible based on the computer's available resources.
The Bot Runtime is the component responsible for understanding the IBM RPA script and running it. Only the Bot Agent, IBM RPA's local service, can create a Bot Runtime instance. The Bot Agent is responsible for coordinating all Bot Runtime operations within the same hosted computer.
The Bot Runtime runs under an interactive Microsoft Windows session in a different encapsulated process, which is called a sandbox. This sandbox is a security measure to prevent unauthorized users from using the system by running bots outside the Bot Agent component.
The computer's capacity
The computer's capacity limits the amount of Bot Runtimes that a computer can run. By default, the computer's capacity is 1. When you change the computer's capacity to a value greater than one, you allow your bots to run concurrently.
For more information about how to change the computer's capacity value, see Modifying computer's capacity.
Critical region
When you run concurrent scripts, you often need to manage critical regions. A critical region is a shared resource that needs protection from concurrent access. Sometimes, the critical region can be accessed only by one or a limited number of concurrent bots. For example, you can't open the same file for writing twice.
See Commands to limit access to critical regions for a list of the IBM RPA commands available to manage critical regions when programming bots for concurrent processing.