Dear list,
I'm looking for some instructions (or just a simple sequence of events) that will allow me to import and reconcile assets into the CMDB in our ITSM installation. First, details about our environment: ARS 7.0.1 ITSM 6.0 (Asset, HPD, CHG) CMDB 1.1 Assume I've got a clean ITSM installation with no asset data (except for whatever configurations and data are installed when you install Asset). >From my understanding, there are a couple of data sets already defined (namely BMC.Asset). Now, assume I've got two spreadsheets (which I can save as CSVs for the sake of importing with ARImport). These spreadsheets contain asset data from two separate data sources (say DS1 and DS2), and some of the asset data may be duplicated or have conflicting information for particular records between the data sources. Lastly, assume that these data sources only contain data fields which appear on Asset Base. First, the import piece. I've experimented with importing asset data from CSVs into the CMDB using ARImport on our development system with some success. For each record in the CSV, I need to specify the data set and asset class. Then I create a field mapping in ARImport and import these records directly into Asset Base. Next, I have to export all of the records (again to a CSV) by class so I can get the InstanceID (amongst other system generated fields) which was assigned to each asset during the import. Lastly, I import this exported data to appropriate sub-classes in the CMDB. For example, if I import (say 100) computer system records, I first import to Asset Base, then export the fields common between Asset Base and Computer System to a new CSV and import that to Computer System. To date, this method has worked for me (from what I can tell) even though it is a bit "clunky". Second, the reconciliation piece This is where I'm a little lost. I've read through the guides, and they tell you how to use each piece of the recon engine (kind of), but they really don't explain a start to finish process of reconciling imported data. Let's assume that I've created two new data sources using Asset Manager (call them DS1.Import and DS2.Import). Furthermore, assume I've followed the import steps above and have imported the two data sources, ensuring that the appropriate data set was specified in the CSV. So now I've got two sets of asset data in: DS1.Import and DS2.Import. What I'd like to do is have the recon engine run through these assets and merge them into the BMC.Asset data source (which we'll consider our "golden set" of asset data). How do I do this? What jobs need to be scheduled and run, and in which order? Furthermore, assume that for DS1, I've made up my mind that data in a certain field (Field A) is the sole source for this data. Essentially, in the merged records, all data for field A in Asset Base will be populated with data from DS1. Likewise, the same may hold true for a certain field in DS2. How can I configure the recon engine to handle this? Any help would be greatly appreciated, Ben _______________________________________________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE or access ARSlist Archives at www.arslist.org ARSlist:"Where the Answers Are"
