carolai asked a question.
We use Snow's ServiceNow connector already some time.
But we have problems with the value of that uploaded data for Computerapplications or VMWare relationships.
ServiceNowow does not delete data in ServiceNow and I do accept this.
But the uploaded data is of no worth when it is old and not vaalid any more.
1. VMWare relationships
Especially in a DRS cluster the VM's are often moved from one host to another host
An example:
Snow uploaded the host - computer relationship Server1 virtualized by::virtualizes ESX1 on 1.May
Snow uploaded the host - computer relationship Server1 virtualized by::virtualizes ESX2 on 2.May
Snow uploaded the host - computer relationship Server1 virtualized by::virtualizes ESX3 on 3.May
Snow uploaded the host - computer relationship Server1 virtualized by::virtualizes ESX1 on 4.May
In ServiceNow we now have Server1 with 3 relationships to ESX1, ESX2, ESX3
And we don't know the current host. So this is not helpful.
The last upload on 4.May was ignored in ServiceNow because that relationship already exists. So we also don't have a current updateddate, that we coul duse to find the current host.
2. This is the same for computerapplications
We only get new installed applications, but no removal of uninstalled applications.
In some cases when we had Software metering in SLM, then Snow sets isinstalled = 0 and we can see that in ServiceNow as HasLocalInstallation = False
I would be very interested if someone perhaps already has a solution for this, so there is reliable information in ServiceNow ?
Sorry I wanted to write Snow does not delete data in ServiceNow and I do accept this.
Also, you can see how many changes are being made daily (if yours is running daily), by typing "import status" in the filter navigator in ServiceNow. Are you seeing any numbers in the Errors column?
If all transform mapping is correct, that should always have 0's for errors.
Numbers in the Inserts (new data) and Updates (updated data) columns show the number of changes imported from SNOW. If you do what I suggested above, those numbers will go up substantially.
Hi Mark, thank you very much for your reply.
I need to say, SIM connector exports and uploads our computers as expected to ServiceNow. And meanwhile also the VM relationships can be uploaded as I expect (at least in a newer beta SIM)
But the problem in ServiceNow is, that every information is added and so we don't have any overview, what is old information and what is new information.
Do you also have ESX hosts and upload that relationships to ServiceNow?
So do you also see many hosts for 1 VM?
When I Clear the last aggregationdate, then this means all computers from Snow are uploaded again with their current data.
But this unfortunately do not overwrite or remove the old relationships or applications?
Depending on how how often you want a good refresh, I would clear the "Last Aggregation Date" in both the Catalog and CMDB SIM connector properties. I usually do this at least once a month.
It refreshes older data.
As you mentioned, it does not remove older inventoried devices, but updates all Active.
We have added a new field in ServiceNow for "Disposition Status", in which the Help Desk or regional Leads can set a status.
We use: Deployed, Disposed, Hold for Parts, Repair, Retired, etc., in a drop down list. This allows the team to set status and create reports on same.
Hope this helps.
Hi Carola,
Re applications: I would definitely like to somehow update ServiceNow when software has been removed.
Sadly I don't has a solution.
I posted an idea about this
https://ideas.snowsoftware.com/ideas/IDEAS-I-1530
Tom
Hi Tom,
Also thanks for your answer. I just also upvoted your idea, because we need such information.
I'm in discussions with Snow regarding this for a longer time meanwhile, and I understand that they don't remove data in ServiceNow.
But the data should be marked as outdated in any way.
My first idea was, if I can use the updateddate in ServiceNow. In ServiceNow I can see this column updateddate in ComputerSoftware and also in VM relationships and thought I can use this and ask our ServiceNow team to show only data with the most current updateddate and hide old data.
But it seems the Import in ServiceNow ignores data, that already exists, and then also do not set a current updateddate.
So I thought, perhaps somebody else already had implemented a solution.