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  • Welcome to ASM HERMES!
    • HERMES 10.6.8 Release Notes
      • 10.6.8.14379 AUG 24 MR Release Notes
      • 10.6.8.14627 SEPT 24 MR Release Notes
      • 10.6.8.14701 OCT 24 MR Release Notes
      • 10.6.8.14800 OCT 24 2 MR Release Notes
      • 10.6.8.14879 NOV 24 MR Release Notes
      • 10.6.8.14901 N0V 24 2 MR Release Notes
      • 10.6.8.15038 DEC 24 MR Release Notes
      • 10.6.8.15097 JAN 25 MR Release Notes
      • 10.6.8.15121 JAN 2 25 MR Release Notes
      • 10.6.8.15289 FEB 25 MR Release Notes
      • 10.6.8.15348 FEB 2 25 MR Release Notes
      • 10.6.8.15509 MAR 25 MR Release Notes
      • 10.6.8.15572 APRIL 25 MR Release Notes
    • HERMES 10.6.9 RC Release Notes
      • 10.6.9.14735 OCT 24 RC Release Notes
    • ASM Video Library
  • ITSM Solutions
    • Example Solutions - Best Practices for a Successful Outcome
      • Managing Changes to your ASM Application
      • Business Continuity Planning
      • Capacity Planning
      • Change Management
        • Planning Change Management
        • Build Your Workflow
      • Dynamic Ticket Routing
      • Environmental Impact Analysis (for TBL Accounting)
      • Knowledge Management
        • Planning Knowledge Management
      • Major Incident Management
        • Configure Major Incident Management
        • Allow Users to Subscribe to MI
      • Project Management
        • ASM Project Management How-To Videos
      • Service Validation and Testing
        • Example Configuration
      • User Survey Systems
        • Planning and Implementing Surveys
        • Survey Fields and Configuration
      • Workforce and Talent Management
        • Example Configuration
      • 2-Part Call Close Process
      • Incident Management
        • Planning Your Incident Management Implementation
        • Setup IPK Management
        • Build Screens to Support IPK
  • Use ASM
    • About the Alemba Service Manager Family
      • URLs and Access Parameters
        • System Access URLs
        • ASM Self Service Portal URLs
        • Pre-Populating Search Fields
    • Using the Self Service Portal
      • Logging on to Self Service Portal
        • Forgotten User ID and Password (Self Service Portal)
        • Password Expiry
      • Self Service Portal Home Page
      • Self Administration in Self Service Portal
        • Updating Your Contact Details
        • Changing Your Password
        • Delegating Work
      • Logging and Reviewing Tickets and Tasks/Approvals
        • Using the Logging Forms in Self Service Portal
        • Suggested Knowledge in the Self Service Portal
        • Reviewing Your Tickets in the Self Service Portal
          • Cloning Tickets in Portal
          • Chasing Ticket or Request
        • Off-Line Conversations with Support
        • Closing Your Tickets
        • Reopening Your Tickets
        • Cloning Your Tickets
      • Following Tickets
      • Self-Help/Self-Diagnosis in Portal: Scripts
      • Searching the Knowledge Bank in Self Service Portal
      • Chat
        • Alembot - Chatbot
      • Service Request Catalog
      • Your Surveys
    • Using Nano
      • Nano Feature List
      • NANO Video Tutorial - Quick Start
      • Nano Application
        • Viewing Your Workload in NANO
        • Viewing Bulletins
        • Nano Matching Panel
        • Using the Call, Request, and Task Details window
        • Working with Entities in Nano
          • Followers
        • Using Resource Manager in NANO
        • Viewing Your Outstanding Tasks
        • Keyboard Shortcuts
    • Using ASM Core
      • Getting Started
        • The ASM Core Window
          • The Information Panel
          • The View Option
          • The New Option
          • Configuring search results
        • Changing your Password
        • Generating an ASM statistics report
        • Printable Reports from within Core
        • Searching for Items
          • Using Wildcards in Search
          • Outstanding Item Searches
          • Saved searches
          • Viewing Search Results in Graphs
          • Creating Reporting Views from Search Results
        • Indicators - Icons
      • View Your Consolidated Workload
      • Viewing Daily Stats
      • Chat
      • Managing Followers
      • Managing Your Tickets - Calls and IPK
        • Working with Calls
          • About the Call Details Window
          • Cloning Option
          • Log New Request from Call
          • Watch Call
          • Change a Call from an Incident to a Problem, Known Error, Major Incident, or Service Request
          • About the Service Window
          • About the Call Information Panel
          • About the Matching Panel
          • Add Notes - Updating Your Tickets
            • Notes: Offline Conversations with the User
          • Managing and Using Call Activities
          • Assigning Work Based on Skills
        • Call Details Explorer Options
          • Call Activities Explorer Option
          • Linking Explorer Option
          • Forum Analysts Explorer Option
          • AI Ops Explorer Option
          • Viewing Event Transactions from a Call or Request
          • Email All Explorer Option
        • Overview of CTI in Alemba Service Manager
          • Storing Telephone Numbers for CTI
        • Logging a Call
        • Using Quick Solutions
        • Using Quick Forms
        • Deferring a Call
        • Reassigning/Forwarding a Call(s) Internally
        • Forwarding a Call Externally
        • Creating an Outage from a Call
        • Closing a Call
        • Global Updates
        • User Chased Tickets
        • Escalating Tickets
      • Sending Ad-Hoc Surveys
      • Requests and Tasks
        • Viewing your Request Workload
          • Viewing Outstanding Requests
          • Searching for Requests
        • Submit a New Request
        • Escalate a Request
        • Searching for Tasks
        • Suspending a Task
        • Completing a Task
        • Sending email from a task
        • Forwarding a Task Internally - Reassignment
        • Completing an Approval
        • Managing Change Calendars
        • Managing Resources
          • Preparing to Use Resource Manager
          • Using Resource Manager
          • Allocating Tasks in Resource Manager
      • Ordering Service Actions within ASM Core
      • Adding Attachments
      • Managing your CMDB
        • Managing CMDB Items
          • Cloning CMDB Items
          • Completing CMDB Item Details
          • CMDB Linking Diagram
          • Freezing CMDB Items
          • Linking CMDB Items
        • Managing Your Assets
          • Managing Inventory Items
          • Managing Software Products
          • Thresholds Explorer Option
          • Managing Transactions
            • Purchasing Items
            • Reserving Items
            • Allocating Items
            • Transferring Ownership of Items
            • Retiring Items
            • Changing Availability Status of Items
            • Adding an order from a search field
          • Specifying Usage Criteria
        • Managing your Service Portfolio
          • Managing Services
          • Managing Service Actions
            • Defining the Outcome of Selecting a Service Action
          • Managing Service Bundles
        • Managing Organizations
        • Managing Locations
        • Managing Cost Centers
        • Managing Jurisdictions
        • Managing Subscriber Groups
        • Managing Stakeholders
        • Options in the CMDB Items Explorer Pane
        • Allocating Change Windows to CMDB Items
        • Managing People
        • Managing Contracts
        • Managing Availability
          • Managing Outages
          • Impact Criteria
          • Displaying Outages
        • SLM - Managing Agreements
          • Defining Agreement Thresholds
          • Linking Service Items to an Agreement
          • Attaching Selection Criteria to Agreements
          • Agreement Measurements
      • Configuring AI Ops
        • Using the AI Ops Wizard
        • Managing AI Ops Rules
      • Knowledge Management
        • Managing Knowledge Entries
        • The Knowledge Bank Explorer
        • Viewing Knowledge Entries
        • Knowledge Administration
      • Configuring Reminders
      • Using IPK Workflow Rules
        • Part 1 - Building the Workflows
        • Part 2 - Defining Workflow Criteria Rules
          • Defining Call Fields for IPK Rules
        • Part 3 - Assigning Workflows to Rules
        • Configuring Call Auto Close Rules
        • Running Multiple Workflow Types on a Call
      • The Bulletin Board
        • Viewing Bulletins
        • Managing Bulletins
      • Using Timesheets
      • Scheduling Calls and Requests
      • Using Quick Forms
      • Using Call Scripts in Core
      • Instant Messaging/Internal Messages
      • Sending an Email
        • Finding Recipients
      • Delegation Setup
      • Purging Data
  • SetUp & Configure ASM
    • Licensing
      • Licensing model
      • ASM Person Licenses
    • Installation and Patching
      • Alemba Service Manager On-Premise Architecture
      • HERMES Installation Guide
        • HERMES Prerequisites
        • Upgrading/Installing ASM to HERMES Step by Step Guide
      • Installation PowerShell Parameters
        • Administration Using PowerShell Scripts
      • Installation Guide for Syncfusion Dashboards
        • Part 1-Syncfusion Dashboard Server Installation
        • Part 2-Syncfusion Server Check HTTPS Binding has been Configured
        • Part 3-Syncfusion Server User Management Server (UMS) Configuration
        • Part 4-Syncfusion Server Configure the Dashboard Server
        • Part 5-Syncfusion Server Patching the Scheduler Service
      • Upgrading from vFire 9.2 or Below
      • Installing and upgrading on Multiple Web Servers
      • Patching where downloading files is not possible
        • Installation Using Setup.exe
      • Configuring external network access to ASM
      • About the Polling Services
      • Uninstalling ASM Core
    • Setting Up your System
      • On-Premise: System Console Configuration Settings
      • Logging in as Administrator
      • ASM Nano
        • Enabling Nano
        • Request Phases
      • Setup IM (Internal Messaging)
      • Setup Email
        • Setting Up Incoming and Outgoing Email
          • Email Server Configuration
          • Methods of Authentication for Mail Servers
          • Incoming Email
            • Recognized Incoming Email Subject Headings
            • Incoming POP3, and IMAP Email Server Settings
            • Incoming Email via API
            • How the Logging Analyst is Determined on an Incoming Email
          • Outgoing SMTP Email Server Settings
          • Outgoing Email via Webhooks
          • Configure Azure MS Graph API
          • Configuring Exchange Web Services (EWS)
            • Prerequisites
              • Web Redirect URL Configuration
              • Creating an Azure Client Secret
            • EWS - Configure Outgoing Email
            • EWS - Configure Incoming Email
            • EWS - Authorize the Connection
            • EWS - Troubleshooting
        • Mail Message Access (MMA)
      • Setup Chat
    • Configuring your System
      • Accessibility Features
      • ASM Solutions
      • Call Template Administration
      • Configuration Post Go-Live
        • Preparing Production for Sys Admins and Developers
        • ASM Application Configuration Change Management
          • ASM Application Configuration Change Screens
          • ASM Application Change Workflow Template
      • Configuration Post Go-Live using SDLC
      • Configuring Escalations and Chase
      • Configuring the Data Purge Service
      • Configuring Screens
        • Creating New Screen Sets
        • Screens Available for Configuration using ASM Designer
        • Building Screens in ASM Designer
          • Configuring Fields
          • Creating a Custom Field
          • Deleting & Unlinking Fields
            • ASM System Fields for Call Screens
            • ASM System Fields for Request Screens
            • ASM System Fields for Task Screens
            • ASM System Fields for Approval Screens
            • ASM System Fields for CMDB Item Screens
          • Screen Widgets
            • Data-Grid Widgets
            • Self Service Portal System Widgets
          • Knowledge Article Screens
          • Configuring Message Templates
          • Importing/Exporting Screens
          • Troubleshooting Screens: The Screen's Dead Zone
        • Dynamic Screens
          • Deep Linking Field Data Across Screen Sets
          • Field Calculations
          • Using Rules
          • Adding Images and Progress Indicators to your screens
        • Deleting a Custom Screen
        • Configuring Button Labels
      • Conversation History Widget For Nano
      • Customizing Options for the Self Service Portal
        • Add Me: Set up "Add-Me" for Subscribing to or Following Issues
        • Styling the Self Service Portal
        • Enable Request Correction and Resubmission
      • System Administration Settings
        • Custom Global Profile Fields
        • System Settings Menu
          • Your Organization
          • Partitioning
            • Configuring Partitions
            • Partition Settings
          • System Settings
          • Security Profiles
          • Server Time Zone
            • Storing Time Zone Information
            • Time Zone Settings
          • Defining Working Hours
          • Defining public holidays
          • Reset References
          • System Source Titles
          • Browse Limits
          • Messaging
          • Message Types
            • Message Type Definitions
          • Pager Settings
          • Pager Types
          • Activity Log
          • Stored Procedures
          • System Titles
          • Quick Launch
          • Quick Notes
          • Auditing
            • Administration Audit Trail
          • User and Analyst Search Field Settings
          • Email Header and Footer
        • Security
          • Security Settings
          • Security Settings (Partitioned)
          • IPK Groups
          • Workflow Management Groups
          • Controlling log in
          • Email and Pager Options for IPK and Workflow Groups
        • Security Roles
          • General Access Security Role
            • Admin Tab
            • Timesheets Tab
          • IPK Management Security Roles
            • IPK Management Role: Options Tab
            • IPK Management Security Role: Groups Tab
            • IPK Management Security Role: IPK Streams Tab
            • IPK Management Security Role: IPK Statuses Tab
            • IPK Management Security Role: Forms Tab
            • IPK Management Security Role: Quick Launch Tab
            • IPK Management Security Role: Fwd Groups Tab
          • Workflow Management Security Roles
            • Workflow Management Security Role: Shared Tab
            • Workflow Management Security Role: Requests Tab
            • Workflow Management Security Role: Tasks Tab
            • Workflow Management Security Role: Processes Tab
            • Workflow Management Security Role: Groups Tab
            • Workflow Management Security Role: Request Screen Sets Tab
            • Workflow Management Security Role: Task Screen Sets Tab
            • Workflow Management Security Role: Appr. Screen Sets Tab
            • Workflow Management Security Role: User Approval Screen Sets Tab
            • Workflow Management Security Role: External Supplier Screen Sets Tab
            • Workflow Management Security Role: Closure Task Screen Sets Tab
            • Workflow Management Security Role: Forms Tab
            • Workflow Management Security Role: Template Tab
            • Workflow Management Security Role: Request Quick Launch Tab
            • Workflow Management Security Role: Task Quick Launch Tab
          • Configuration Management Security Roles
            • Configuration Management Security Role: CMDB Items Tab
            • Configuration Management Security Role: People Tab
            • Configuration Management Security Roles: Organizations Tab
            • Configuration Management Security Role: Locations Tab
            • Configuration Management Security Role: Contracts Tab
            • Configuration Management Security Role: Subscriber Groups Tab
            • Configuration Management Security Role: Cost Centers Tab
            • Configuration Management Security Role: Jurisdictions Tab
            • Configuration Management Security Role: Forms Tab
          • Service Level Management Security Roles
            • Service Level Management Security Role: Options Tab
            • Service Level Management Security Role: Forms Tab
          • Availability Management Security Roles
          • Knowledge Management Security Roles
            • Knowledge Management Security Role: Options Tab
            • Knowledge Management Security Role: Content Access Tab
            • Knowledge Management Security Role: Statuses Tab
          • Bulletin Board Security Roles
          • Dashboard Management Security Role
          • Integration Security Role
        • IPK and Workflow
          • Incident, Problem & Known Error (IPK) Management
            • Configuring IPK Settings
            • IPK Settings (Partitioned)
            • Action Type
            • Call Attributes
            • Call History Types
            • Call Impact
            • Call Physical Statuses
            • Call Priority
            • Call Screen Sets
            • Stakeholder Roles
            • Call States
            • Call Status Titles
            • Call Urgency
            • Closure Groups
            • Custom Call Profiles
            • User Survey
            • User Survey Screen Set
            • IPK classes
            • IPK Streams
            • IPK Statuses
            • Link Stream/Status to Call Screen Set
            • Link Type/Stream/Status to Call Screen Set
            • Link Screen Set to Reasons
            • Link Type to Reason
            • Limit Type by IPK Status
            • Link Type to Call Screen Set
            • Priority Matrix
            • Quick Forms
            • Quick Solutions
            • Reasons
            • Call Scripts: Scripting
            • Type Tiers
          • Workflow Management
            • Workflow Management Settings
            • Workflow Attributes
            • Approval Types
            • Request Action Types
            • Request Implementation Profiles
            • Request Implementation States
            • Request Link Types
            • Request Physical Statuses
            • Request Phases (Nano)
            • Request Priority
            • Request Risks
              • Request Risk Assessment
              • Request Impact
              • Request Complexity
              • Request Risk Assessment Matrix
            • Screen Sets for Requests, Tasks and Approvals
            • Request Stakeholder Roles
            • Request Completion Statuses
            • Request Types
            • Task Action Types
            • Task Phases
            • Task Physical Statuses
            • Task Priority
            • Task Status Titles
            • Task Types
            • Workflow Management History Types
            • Request History Filters
            • Workflow Processes
            • Workflow Export and Import - Workflow Porting
            • Linking Approval Screens to Partitions
        • Service Level Management
          • SLM Settings
          • Agreement Attributes
          • Agreement Selection Priority
          • CMDB Selection Priority
          • Agreement Stakeholder Roles
          • Agreement Statuses
          • Exclusion Reasons
          • Agreement Types
          • Event Activity Types
          • Agreement Matrices
          • Measurement Types
          • Payment Types
        • CMDB (Configuration Management Database)
          • CMDB Settings
          • CMDB Service Levels
          • CMDB Item Classes
          • CMDB Item Criticality
          • CMDB Item Physical Statuses
          • CMDB Item Types
          • CMDB Link Status
          • CMDB Link Types
          • Contract Support Type
          • Contract Types
          • Cost Center Category
          • Custom CMDB Profiles
          • Person Profile
          • External Contact Type
          • User VIP Statuses
          • Disposal Methods
          • Financial Statuses
          • Financial Category
          • Freeze Statuses
          • Link Manufacturer to Model Type
          • Manufacturers
          • Model Types
          • Organization Profiles
          • External Supplier Statuses
          • Purchase Method
          • Service Link Types
          • Service Portfolio Statuses
          • Service Cost Types
          • Service Periods
          • Asset Management - Asset Lifecycle Status
          • Asset Management - License Type
          • Asset Management - Transaction Status
          • Self Service Portal Display Categories
          • Stakeholder Roles
          • Auditing Configuration Items
        • Availability
          • Configuring Availability Management
          • Outage Types
          • Schedule Definition
        • Depreciation
          • Batch Run Parameters
          • Depreciation by CMDB Item Type
          • Depreciation Methods
          • Depreciation Schedules
        • Knowledge Bank
          • Knowledge Bank Settings
          • Knowledge Base Types
          • Knowledge Entry Types
          • Knowledge Profiles
          • Knowledge Ratings
          • Knowledge Statuses
          • Knowledge Document Import
        • Bulletin Board
          • Configuring the Bulletin Board
          • Bulletin Board Priorities
          • Bulletin Stakeholder Roles
        • Text Retrieval
          • Common Words
          • Keywords
          • Synonyms
        • Analytics
          • Analytics Settings
          • Classic Syncfusion Dashboard Server Configuration
        • Self Service Portal
          • Self Service Portal Settings
          • Self Service Portal Settings (Partitioned)
          • Self Service Portal Roles
            • Options Tab
            • CMDB Tab
            • Content Access Tab
            • Workflow Templates Tab
            • Call Templates Tab
            • IPK Status Tab
            • Dashboard Management Tab
          • Self Service Portal Systems
          • Self Service Portal My Options
          • Self Service Portal Tables
          • Service Order Status Titles
          • Question Mappings
          • Catalog Promoted Items
          • Suggested Knowledge in the Self Service Portal
          • Creating Custom Pages
          • Link Organization to Portal Key
        • Nano
        • Preview Features/Advanced Options
          • Settings
            • Multi Language
              • Languages
                • Portal Label Language Updates
                • Service Title Language Updates
            • Call Activities
            • Enable Active Directory Mappings to Sub Groups
            • CTI
              • Setting up the Alemba Service Manager CTI
            • SignalR Scale Out Options
            • External Chat tool Integrations
          • Portal Settings
          • Global Search
          • Chat Bot
      • Workflow Template Administration
        • Basic Process for Building a Workflow
          • Task List for Workflow (Request Template) Creation
            • Create a Service Action and Attach a Workflow to it
        • Managing Tasks - Adding Tasks to the Dependency Diagram
          • About Tasks - General
          • Task Types in the Task Palette
            • Defining Request Start Details
            • Creating a Standard Task
            • Create Request Task
            • Creating an Approval Task
            • Creating a User Approval Task
            • Conditional Branching Tasks
              • Defining a Dependency Rule
              • Defining Dependency Actions
            • Creating a Messaging Task
            • Creating a Delay Task
            • Creating a Manage CMDB Task
              • Recursive CMDB Task
              • Adding Transactions to a Manage CMDB task
              • Asset Management Transactions in a Manage CMDB Task
              • Mapping Fields to be Updated by a Transaction
            • Creating an Outbound Action Task
            • Creating an SLM Start Clock/Stop Clock Task
            • Creating an External Supplier Task
            • Creating a Run External Procedure Tasks
            • Creating a Change Window Task
            • Creating a Closure Task
            • Creating an Activation Task
        • Component Workflows
        • Setting Up Amendable Requests
        • Troubleshooting Workflow and Service Action Linking
        • Sharing Parent Request Items with Child Requests
    • Dashboards and Reporting
      • Dashboard Configuration and User Learning Guide
      • Descriptions of Default Reports and Dashboards (SDI Classifications)
        • 8.3 Number of Incidents and Service Requests
        • 8.4 Average Time to Respond
        • 8.6 Average time to resolve incidents or fulfill service requests
        • 8.7 First Contact Incident Resolution and Request Fulfilment Rate
        • 8.8 First Level Incident Resolution and Request Fulfillment Rate
        • 8.9 Reopned Incident Rate
        • 8.10 Backlog Management
        • 8.11 Percentage of hierarchic escalations
        • 8.21 Percentage of Functional Escalations copy
        • 8.23 Average incident resolution time by priority
        • 8.24 Average request fulfilment time by priority
        • 8.25 Average resolution time by incident category
        • 8.26 Average fulfilment time by service request type
        • 8.27 Comparison of service level targets to performance
        • 8.28 Service Desk Knowledge Usage
        • 8.29 Customer Facing Knowledge Usage
        • 8.30 Service Desk Knowledge Quality and effectiveness
        • 8.31 Customer facing knowledge quality and effectiveness
        • 8.33 Monitoring Incidents caused by changes measured against target
        • 8.34 Total cost of service delivery
        • 8.35 Average cost per incident by channel
        • 8.36 Average cost per service request by channel
        • 8.43 Problem records created through proactive problem management
        • 8.44 Incident reduction through problem management
      • Install SDI Reporting Pack
      • Dashboards and Reports (.sydx Files)
      • Connecting to Other Data Sources
      • Sample SQL Queries
      • Migrating your Syncfusion Dashboards to a New Server
    • FAQ
      • Limited Support/End of Life Capabilities
        • Configuration Portability
          • Overview & Best Practices
          • Porting Configuration Data
          • Viewing the Export and Import Logs
        • Server Console
          • Accessing the Server Console
          • Creating a New ASM System
          • Server Console system tasks
          • Customization nodes
          • SQL Server and Table Ownership
          • Updating Scripts
          • ASM Core Registry Keys
        • Concurrent Licensing
          • License Corrals
        • Alemba Classic API
          • Programming with the Classic API
            • WCF Client
          • Code Examples
          • Return Values
          • API Message Types
          • API Lookups
          • API Transactions
            • Availability Transactions
            • Call Transactions
            • CMDB Item Transactions
            • Contract Transactions
            • Cost Center Transactions
            • Jurisdiction Transactions
            • Location Transactions
            • Organization Transactions
            • Person Transactions
            • Subscriber Group Transactions
            • Knowledge Transactions
            • Bulletin Transactions
            • System Transactions
              • Session Transactions
              • Add Note Transactions
              • Attribute Transactions
              • Development Transactions
              • Message Transactions
              • Object Transactions
              • Stakeholder Transactions
            • Workflow Transactions
              • Workflow (Request) Transactions
              • Task Transactions
          • API Classes
          • API WSTester Application
      • Configuration or Customization
  • Integrate
    • Integration Overview
    • Managing Integration
      • Setting Up the Integration Platform
        • Defining Connectors
        • Defining Sources
        • Configuring an Integration Source
        • Resource Mapping
        • Defining Property Transforms
        • Defining Profile Maps
        • Defining Resolution Rules
        • Defining Link Type Mapping
      • Single Sign-On using SAML
        • Integrated Security vs. Single Sign On
        • Technical and Access Requirements
        • Configuring ASM for Single Sign-On
        • Importing Identity Provider Metadata
        • Service Provider Signing Certificate
        • Configuring the Service Provider
        • Exporting Service Provider Metadata
        • Importing Service Provider metadata into the Identity Provider
        • SSO Troubleshooting
        • SSL Binding
        • Creating a Self Signed Certificate
        • Extending the Single Sign-On Connector
      • Configuring Azure Active Directory discovery
      • Azure Multi-factor Authentication
      • Viewing Integration Activity
        • Viewing Integration Log
      • Connectors to ASM Core
        • Connector Matrix
        • Installing Connectors
        • CMDB Connectors
          • Altiris Network Discovery Connector
          • CA Cohesion Connector
          • Centennial Discovery/FrontRange Connector
          • EMC Smarts NCM Connector
            • Service Assurance Manager Connector
          • LANDESK Connector
          • Microsoft Azure Connector
          • Microsoft SCOM Connector
          • Microsoft SMS and SCCM Connector
          • Snow Connector
          • SolarWinds Connector
          • VMware Application Discovery Manager Connector
          • VMware vCenter Configuration Manager Connector
          • VMware vCloud Director Connector
          • vRealize Orchestrator Connector
        • LDAP Connectors to ASM Core
          • Microsoft Active Directory Server Connector
          • Novell eDirectory Server Connector
        • Generic Connectors to ASM Core
          • Email Event Connector
          • External Process Connector
          • Stored Procedure Connector
          • ASM to ASM Connector
          • Jira Connector
            • Developer Notes for the Jira ICNF
          • CSV File Connector
          • MS Azure DevOps Connector
          • Connector Suite for MS SQL Server Tables
          • Resource Databases Connector
            • Tutorial for Configuring the Database Resources Connector
        • Microsoft Alemba ITSM Connector
      • Build your Own Connector
        • Microsoft Entra ID (Azure Active Directory) - Connector Builder
        • Microsoft Intune - Connector Builder
      • Managing the Federated CMDB
        • Managing Scheduled Integration Scans
        • Auditing Configuration Items
      • Managing External Resources
      • Selecting Fields for Mapping
      • Managing Inbound and Outbound Actions
        • Configuring Inbound and Outbound Actions
          • Configuring Outbound Actions
            • Using Outbound Actions
          • Configuring Inbound Actions
        • Inbound or Outbound Action Source Parameters
      • Managing Events
        • Configuring Event Management
          • Event Management Source Parameters
          • Viewing Event Types
          • Managing Event Type Mappings
        • Using Events
      • Webhooks
        • Webhook Payloads
      • Canvas App Widgets
      • Microsoft Teams Chat Integration
      • Microsoft Project Integration
      • Connector Diagnostics
    • API's
      • Alemba RestFul API
        • Alemba API Architecture
        • Installing the Alemba API
        • Logging In to the Alemba API Explorer
        • Navigating the Alemba API Explorer
        • Alemba API Programmers’ Guide
        • Alemba API Programmers' Cookbook
          • Recipes
        • Alemba API Related Database Tables
        • Using API Reporting Views
        • Authentication
          • Configuring Authentication for the Alemba API
          • Configuring Windows Authentication for the Alemba API
          • Configuring Single Sign On using SAML for the Alemba API
      • Azure/ Web API/Logic Apps
      • ASM API Quick Reference Guide
        • Getting Started: The ClientId
        • Postman for Testing
        • Search for Existing Calls
        • Locking and Updating Calls
        • Creating New Calls
  • Earlier Versions of ASM
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On this page
  • Federated CMDB and Item Types
  • Benefits of Multi-level CMDB Item Types
  • Creating a CMDB item type
  • Updating and renaming a CMDB Item Type
  • Deleting a CMDB item type
  • Restoring a Deleted CMDB Item Type

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  1. SetUp & Configure ASM
  2. Configuring your System
  3. System Administration Settings
  4. CMDB (Configuration Management Database)

CMDB Item Types

All CMDB items in the system must be classified as item types. ASM Core comes with a standard set of item types, but you can add further sub-types in order to classify your CMDB items.

A CMDB (Configuration Management Database) Item Type represents the categories of items that are tracked and managed within a CMDB system. These items can range from tangible assets, like servers and routers, to intangible entities, such as software licenses or services. The diversity in item types allows organizations to have a comprehensive view of their IT environment, encompassing both physical and virtual components.

Federated CMDB and Item Types

In a federated CMDB model, data is integrated from multiple sources or CMDBs, providing a unified view without having to centralize all data physically. This approach allows for more flexibility in managing diverse item types, including those that are intangible. For example, software as a service (SaaS) applications may not physically reside within an organization's servers, but they are crucial components of the IT environment. By incorporating such intangible item types into a federated CMDB, organizations can better manage and track the usage, performance, and costs associated with these resources.

Examples of Item Types

  • Tangible: Hardware devices like laptops, printers, and network equipment.

  • Intangible: Software licenses, SaaS applications, and services like email or cloud storage.

Best Practices for Organizing CMDB Item Types

  1. Hierarchical Structure: Organize item types in a hierarchical fashion, starting with broad categories and drilling down to more specific sub-types. This approach provides clarity and helps in managing inheritance of attributes.

  2. Standardization: Standardize the naming conventions, attributes, and relationships for each item type across the CMDB to ensure consistency and reliability of the data.

  3. Inheritance: Leverage the inheritance of properties from parent to child item types to reduce duplication and simplify the management of common attributes.

  4. Security and Access Control: Define and implement strict access controls for different item types, ensuring that sensitive information is only accessible to authorized users.

  5. Continuous Review and Update: Regularly review and update the CMDB item types and their relationships to reflect the changes in the IT environment. This includes adding new item types for emerging technologies and phasing out deprecated ones.

By adhering to these best practices, organizations can effectively organize and structure their CMDB item types, ensuring a comprehensive, accurate, and dynamic representation of their IT environment.

In ASM, you can configure up to nine levels of sub-types:

  • The additional types can be configured to inherit the properties of their parents, or have their own custom screen sets.

  • You can restrict access to specific types and sub-types available to analysts through the CMDB tab of their Configuration Management Security Role.

For example, for the 'Configuration Item' Type (provided out of the box), you can define a sub type Hardware, and further sub-types below it for, say, Printer and Server. The 'Hardware' Type can inherit the properties of 'Configuration Item', or you can configure it to use a custom screen set so that when you add a new printer to the CMDB, the appropriate Details window appears.

ASM Core provides the following CMDB Item Types by default:

Default CMDB Item Types and Their Features

  1. Configuration Items - Primary type provided out of the box to represent any item that needs to be managed.

    • Inventory

      • Tracks assets from purchase to disposal including ordering, purchasing, allocating, reserving, transferring ownership, and retiring inventory items.

    • Software Products

      • Manages the lifecycle of software products as assets, similar to inventory management.

    • Structures

      • Classifies groups of related CMDB items such as departments or teams, with a default asset flag that can be reconfigured.

  2. Service Entities - Encompasses services, service actions, and service bundles to manage and define the service portfolio offered by an organization.

Also in the Federated CMDB:

  1. People - Manages analysts, users, and external contacts within the CMDB.

  2. Organizations - Manages external suppliers and companies or departments associated with users or external contacts.

  3. Locations - Manages physical addresses of users and/or organizations.

  4. Contracts - Manages warranties, support, or maintenance agreements with external suppliers related to configuration items and services.

  5. Agreements - Manages agreements with users and external suppliers to enhance service delivery.

  6. Cost Centers - Manages cost centers within the organization.

  7. Jurisdictions - Manages groups of cost centers and assigns access to these groupings to analysts.

  8. Subscriber Groups - Manages groups allowed to order service actions and bundles through the Service Request Catalog.

Benefits of Multi-level CMDB Item Types

Hierarchical CMDB Configuration: Advantages and Best Practices

The implementation of a hierarchical structure in the Configuration Management Database (CMDB) comes with notable benefits, along with a few caveats to acknowledge. One of the primary advantages is the streamlined management and categorization of CMDB Item Types, tailored to meet organizational needs. This approach not only enhances the precision in modeling assets but also introduces a flexible platform for the creation and modification of item types and subtypes.

Key Benefits:

  • Enhanced Security and Role-Based Access Control: Assign specific CMDB items to designated analysts by leveraging configuration management security roles. This granularity allows for the restriction of modification rights based on the nature of the item, such as limiting server management to server-specific analysts or email services to respective personnel. Different security levels can be established to differentiate access rights among various analyst groups, enhancing the overall integrity and governance of CMDB data.

  • Flexible and Scalable Structure: Adopt a multi-level tier system to accurately represent your organization's asset landscape within the CMDB. By creating distinct item types like 'Computer', and further categorizing them into subtypes such as 'Laptop', 'Server', and 'Desktop', organizations can ensure a more organized and navigable CMDB. This structure also permits the enforcement of usage policies, such as prohibiting the general use of a generic 'Computer' type in favor of more specific categorizations.

Best Practices to Employ:

  1. Engage in proactive role management to ensure that access rights and permissions are meticulously assigned and reviewed regularly. This minimizes the risk of unauthorized changes and maintains data integrity.

  2. Continually refine and update the hierarchy of item types to reflect the evolving technological landscape and organizational changes. Adaptability is key to a functional and effective CMDB.

Particular types can be assigned to different analysts through configuration management security roles.

You can restrict the Analysts who are responsible for Servers to only modify Server CMDB items, or those responsible for email to modify only the Email Service. You can apply different levels of security to different groups of Analysts in the organization, for example, service desk Analysts can only view and search for certain types of CIs but may not modify them.

You can create a hierarchical tier structure to as many levels as you need and flexibly and accurately model your organization’s assets in the CMDB, creating the types and sub types you need.

You can create a Configuration Item type for Computer, then, for the Computer type, you can create child types for Laptop, Server, and Desktop. Then, you can configure the Computer type so that Analysts are not allowed to use this type, but must choose a specific type of computer.

You can classify the items within your CMDB by configuring your own sub types.

Avoid setting up specific assets here. The CMDB Item Type table is meant only to list the kinds of CI (configuration items) you have in your organization; Laptop, Mobile Device, Tablets, Servers, Error Codes, etc...

Child types can inherit the properties set up for the parent type, including availability, and auditing settings, as well as the image associated with the parent CMDB type. In addition, if a particular screen set has been configured in the ASM Designer for a particular CMDB item type, it will also be inherited by the child types.

You can create a Service type for IT Services. Within this you can then set up child types for each particular type of service provided by the IT department, such as Email, Installation, Connection, or Maintenance. When analysts add services, they can classify them according to the Service types you have defined.

Avoid naming your organizations services here. You will create the services that your organization delivers in the CMDB. The CMDB Item Type for Services is meant to create categories of services the organization provides such as "IT", "Customer", or "Facilities".

Consider your reporting requirements when choosing how to configure this option.

Creating a CMDB item type

Before you start

You must have CMDB Setup enabled within your General Access security role in order to configure any CMDB administration settings. Depending on if or how your system is partitioned, ensure that you are working in the correct partition.

  1. Select the Menu button, then Admin, and then select System Administration. The System Administration window is displayed.

  2. In the Explorer pane expand CMDB.

  3. Select CMDB Item Types to open the window.

  4. Select the type of CMDB entity for which you want to define your own sub type.

  5. Select the New icon . The CMDB Item Type Details window appears.

  6. Complete the details.

Name
Name of the CMDB item type. This is a mandatory field

Ref Prefix

Prefix for the CMDB item type. When analysts create CMDB items under this CMDB item type, this prefix will display in the Ref field on the CMDB Item Details window. Similarly, when CMDB items are created automatically, for example through the Federated CMDB, this prefix is added to the Item ID.

The default prefix is set in the System Titles window.

Parent Type(s)

A read only field that displays the parent CMDB item type on which the current CMDB item type is based.

Allow Creation of CMDB Items

This option is useful if, for example, you have defined a CMDB item type “Computer” and below that child CMDB item types for “Laptop”, “Workstation” and “Server”, and want to ensure analysts choose the specific computer type, rather than the more generic parent type. By clearing Allow creation of CMDB Items for the CMDB Type Computer, and selecting the option for the child types, Analysts will have to choose a specific computer type when they add a computer item.

If you clear Allow Creation of CMDB Items, CMDB items classified under this CMDB item type can still be searched on.

Display New Menu Item in Wrapper

This option is enabled if you select Allow Creation of CMDB Items. Select to allow analysts to create new CMDB items under this CMDB item type straight from the New menu option.

Turn Audit On

Select to enable auditing on CMDB items of this CMDB item type. This enables the Audit explorer option on the CMDB Item Details window.

If this option has already been selected on the parent CMDB item type, it will be pre-selected and disabled on the current CMDB item type.

Categorize as an Asset

Select to flag this CMDB Item as an Asset. This flag enables you to identify those CMDB items you want to track as assets for financial purposes. By default the Software Product, Inventory, and Structure configuration item types are flagged as assets.

Track Availability

Allows Analysts to link outages against CMDB items of this CMDB item type. If you are using availability on your system, analysts can select the Availability explorer option for CMDB items.

Auto-create Outages

This is enabled when you select Track Availability.

Select to automatically select the Create/Link Outages checkbox when a Call or Request is logged for a CMDB item of this CMDB Item Type, allowing the Analyst to create or link an outage from the call or request.

If Auto-create Outages is already selected on the parent CMDB item type, it will be pre-selected and disabled on the current CMDB item type.

Description & Images

A text box below this heading enables you to provide a description of the CMDB type. If it is HTML enabled, you can format the text, adding tables, hyperlinks and so on.

Add an Image

You can link an image (icon) to the CMDB item type by selecting . Images may be in JPEG, GIF, or BMP format. This image appears to the left of the item type in the CMDB Item Types window.

If an image has already been added, it appears in the window. To remove it, select .

Portal Submit Button

Enter the text to display on the Order button of Service Actions in the Self Service Portal Service Request Catalog that are created for this CMDB Item Type. Text entered here replaces the default button label "Order".

Open Designer

This button allows you to configure the screens associated with this item type in the ASM Designer.

You must have Designer selected in your General Access Security Role.

Screens

The Screens browse table displays the screens in the screen set associated with this CMDB item type. If you have permission to access the ASM Designer, you can personalize these screens by either modifying the standard screen or adding and configuring your own.

Select the Save icon to save the changes and close the window. Provide the Change Reasons if prompted to do so. You may need to scroll back up to see the button.

Updating and renaming a CMDB Item Type

  1. Select the Menu button, then Admin, and then select System Administration. The System Administration window is displayed.

  2. In the Explorer pane expand CMDB.

  3. Select CMDB Item Types to open the window.

  4. Select the CMDB item type you wish to update.

  5. Select the item by double-clicking or by clicking the Action icon.

  6. In the CMDB Item Type Details window, edit the details of the CMDB item type.

  7. Select the Save icon to save the changes and close the window. Provide the Change Reasons if prompted to do so.

Deleting a CMDB item type

You cannot delete a default CMDB item type. The delete button is grayed out on the CMDB Item Types window for default CMDB item types.

If you delete a CMDB Item Type, any existing CMDB items that use this CMDB item type still retain that CMDB item type which will be displayed with an asterisk beside the name to indicate it is deleted.

  1. Select the Menu button, then Admin, and then select System Administration. The System Administration window is displayed.

  2. In the Explorer pane expand CMDB.

  3. Select CMDB Item Types to open the window.

  4. Select the CMDB Type you want to delete.

  5. Select the Delete icon.

Known Issue: Deleted CMDB Item Types appear in Search criteria

Impacted Release(s): 10.6.8.14253

Workaround/Fix: Delete Child items before deleting Parent Items, a future release will display a warning message and will not allow deleting the parent before the children.

Restoring a Deleted CMDB Item Type

  1. Select the Menu button, then Admin, and then select System Administration. The System Administration window is displayed.

  2. In the Explorer pane expand CMDB.

  3. Select CMDB Item Types to open the window.

  4. Select the Show Deleted checkbox to include deleted CMDB item types in the listing. The deleted items are indicated by a red circle icon.

  5. Highlight the item you want to restore and select the Undelete icon. Provide Change Reasons if prompted to do so.

  6. After a moment, the display refreshes and the red circle is removed from the item, indicating that it has been restored.

  7. If you wish, you can deselect the Show Deleted checkbox to see that the item appears among the active items.

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Many organizations do not create additional services types. It is perfectly acceptable to only have a service CMDB Item type of "Services", which is provided out of the box. Instead, many organizations delineate the different lines of business with

CMDB Item Classes.