The import and update functionalities are used to integrate new IT assets quickly and perform mass modifications to data for hosts and services.

• Data is processed in compliance with rules.  See the description
• Imports performed using CSV files must comply with certain conditions.  See Configuration of the CSV file
• You can create the file by exporting data from your IT assets.

Notes

• The user role must be authorized to access the menu item.
• By default, an import operation will process all of the rows in the CSV file. You can choose to process only the new or modified rows.
• You cannot export the internal data of IT assets alone, e.g. associated companies, sites and subsites, without customers.
• Import operations are linked to users.
  • An import operation run by a given user must be completed before another can be run by the same user.
  • However, a different user can run another import operation simultaneously within the same scope.
• Import operations run in the background. Users running an import processing can continue working in EV Observe.
• The import history is stored for 24 hours in the import log.

Caution

• When you open an exported CSV file in Excel, you must check that the columns are in Text format to ensure that their contents are not altered and, as such, unreadable.

• When you add one or more host templates, this will not automatically create the services associated with the new host. You must check the Manage the services associated with host templates option prior to running the import.

Best Practice

• If the import involves a large file or an unreliable data source, we recommend that you perform either an update or a creation to restrict processing. This facilitates the checking of the imported data.
• To export only the internal data of IT assets without customers, you should filter the CSV file containing all IT asset data using the Company Name and/or Collector name columns.

Configuration of the CSV file

• File format: CSV encoded in UTF-8
• The maximum size of the file depends on the configuration of the customer's platform.

• For a previously performed export:
  • The file must be imported in the same language as the one in which it was exported. If this is not the case, the values in the file will not be mapped correctly and certain rows may be rejected.
  • File columns and headers must be identical to those in the file you exported by selecting Configuration > Services > List or Configuration > Hosts > List in the menu.

Data import rules

• Field values in the CSV file are those originating from the export.
  • If the same values are kept, the fields are not modified.
  • If you modify the values, the fields will be updated.
  • If no value is specified, the field is empty. Caution: If a mandatory field is empty, the updating of the row will be rejected to ensure data consistency.

• Specific case of linked entities
  • Values are imported based on the ID of the linked entities.
  • The columns containing the names of the linked entities are exported only for information purposes. 

• Specific case of values exported from the Password, Encryption password and Application secret fields
  • The values will be ‘**********’ (10 asterisks) if the fields are protected in the service or host.
  • The values will be null if the fields are inherited.
  • Modified values will be updated and encrypted during the import.

• Specific case of field values for the monitoring account
  • Values cannot be specified if the account is inherited.
  • Values cannot be null if the account is protected.

• Specific case of hosts, host templates and tags
  • Fields must contain one or more associations in the following format, ID:Label separated by the | symbol.

    example  251:Dell PowerEdge host|266:Host - HP Blade|290:IBM DS host

Menu access

Configuration > General > Import

Screen description

File to import: Name the of data file to be imported.

Import mode: Used to restrict the import processing.

• By default, the import processing will include all rows, both new and modified.
• Click Creation if you want the import to process only new rows that do not exist in the database, i.e. rows without an ID.
• Click Update if you want the import to process only existing rows that have been modified, i.e. rows with an ID.

Entity: Name of the entity for which the hosts and services will be imported.

Procedure: How to import data

Step 1: Export the data

1. Go to the root company.

2. Select the data you want to export.

• You can select Sites and subsites to export all visible IT assets, i.e. sites, subsites, MSP customers, solution customers.

• You can unselect Sites and subsites to export only the IT assets for the current company.

The CSV file will be created.
 

Step 2: Update the CSV file

1. Make the required modifications to the CSV file.

Note: You must comply with the conditions.  See Configuration of the CSV file
 

Step 3: Import the CSV file

1. Select Configuration > General > Import in the menu.

2. Select the CSV file.

3. Select the relevant import mode and entity to be processed.

4. Click Start the import.

• Select the Manage the services associated with host templates option if you want to automatically create services associated with the new hosts.

A progress bar will appear. Depending on the data volume, the processing may take several minutes.
 

Step 4: Check the import

1. Download the import reports to check if there are rejected rows or rows containing errors.

2. Correct the errors and run the import processing again.