About this integration

Integration summary

This gateway is used to integrate the SCCM (System Center Configuration Manager, formerly Microsoft Systems Management Server or SMS) Equipment/Software/Attribute tables in the Service Manager equipment/software catalogs.

• The gateway is automatically managed through the creation and update of catalog entries that indicate the SCCM data to be extracted and normalized, if required.
• SCCM and Service Manager tables are mapped using two unique IDs:
  • Brand Name/Model for equipment
  • Software for software

In this way, all SCCM gateway processes are used to synchronize Service Manager catalogs with third party inventory tools using only the desired references based on the corporate strategy adopted. The catalogs must then be updated daily to integrate new SCCM references.

Operating principle

The process is made up of 3 phases:

• Enter the Equipment/Software catalog entries for SCCM references to be monitored in Service Manager.

• Run a preimport task using the smoBackOfficeClient tool to:
  • Extract and store information from SCCM tables in Service Manager work tables by using a filter to retrieve only the data corresponding to the catalog entries to be monitored in Service Manager.
  • Normalize data by grouping SCCM names together.
  • Run various processing to normalize and standardize data.
  • Store all data in the final Service Managertables.

• Integrate data in the final Service Manager tables using Equipment/Software/Attribute integration models.

Example

• Software SCCM table:

  The third party inventory tool detects three versions of FastStone, resulting in three records in the SCCM table: FastStone 5.1, FastStone 5.5, FastStone 6.1.

• Service Manager Software Catalog: different options are possible:
  • You can create a single catalog entry that groups together the three SCCM names, FastStone.
  • You can create one catalog entry for each major version, FastStone 5, FastStone 6.
  • You can create one catalog entry for each version, FastStone 5.1, FastStone 5.5, FastStone 6.1.

Notes

• Data not processed automatically by the SCCM gateway:
  • Allocation of users to workstations: third party data is loaded to user-defined fields containing information in Service Manager Equipment forms.
  • Allocation of sites and entities to workstations: not loaded by the SCCM gateway.
  • Management of software licenses: not performed by the SCCM gateway.
  • Management of the status of Equipment/Software forms: not performed by the SCCM gateway.
• Service Manager Equipment/Software/Attribute integration models are shipped with the SCCM gateway. Only those that are enabled at integration are taken into account.
• For SaaS customers, SCCM tables are read using a VPN connection to ensure restricted and encrypted access to data.
• Depending on the type of third party database, SCCM data may be case-sensitive.

Best Practice

• To avoid performance issues, whenever possible, you should integrate only data that is new or modified since the previous processing.

SCCM gateway rules

• The SCCM Reference field of each Equipment/Software catalog entry is used to indicate the SCCM data to be extracted and filtered, and if required, to group SCCM names together. It must comply with certain rules:
  • SCCM references must be separated using the sequence of characters /+-+/
  • The wildcard % can replace any string of characters

• Rules for equipment: The SCCM table and the Service Manager catalog are mapped using the unique ID, Brand Name/Model.
• Rules for software: The SCCM table and the Service Manager catalog are mapped using the unique ID, Software.
• Rules for attributes: The SCCM table is integrated as it is in Service Manager, without normalization.

Procedure: How to monitor SCCM references in catalogs

1. In Service Manager, create or modify the Equipment/Software catalog entries you want to monitor.

• Enter the unique ID of the catalog entry:
  • For equipment, enter the fields outlined in red, Model and Brand Name.
      
     
  • For software, enter the field outlined in red, Software.
      

• In the field outlined in blue, SCCM Reference, indicate the SCCM names to be monitored via the catalog entry.    See Examples of normalization
  • Separate each reference using the sequence of characters /+-+/
  • Use the wildcard % to replace any string of characters

2. In the menu, select Integration > Integration Models. Enable and schedule the Equipment/Software/Attribute integration models for the data you want to integrate in Service Manager.

TranscodageExamples

Mapping SCCM tables and catalogs

Equipment

Software

Attribute tables