SCCM - ITAM Gateway

Last modified on 2022/11/30 17:24

IntegrationIntroduction

You can integrate third-party systems with Service Manager in many ways. The method you select will depend on business requirements, architectural and security constraints as well as the characteristics specific to each third-party application or service.

This document describes an integration process that has already been implemented in a customer context. 

To find out more about this integration (e.g. scripts to be used), please do not hesitate to contact your EasyVista contact, or your service provider and integrator.

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

          SCCM Gateway Process.png

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.
        Equipment Catalog - SCCM Example.png
       
    • For software, enter the field outlined in red, Software.
        Software Catalog - SCCM Example.png
  • In the field outlined in blue, SCCM Reference, indicate the SCCM names to be monitored via the catalog entry.  Open url.png  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

Examples of normalization

Example 1

Caneco references in the {third-party} table

Caneco BT 4.1 (EN)

Caneco BT 4.1.4 (FR)

Caneco BT 4.1.6 (FR)

Caneco BT 4.2 (FR)

Caneco BT 4.3 (EN)

Caneco BT 4.3 (FR)

Caneco BT 5.1 (EN)

Caneco BT 5.1 (FR)

Caneco BT 5.5 (EN)

Caneco BT 5.5 (FR)

How to monitor Caneco software in Service Manager
To monitor... In the catalog, create... In the Software field, enter... In the {third-party} Reference field, enter... Grouping performed
For all versions and languages A single entry Caneco BT Caneco BT Caneco BT
By major version One entry for each major version Caneco BT 4 Caneco BT 4%

All versions 4* =

4.1 (EN), 4.1.4 (FR), 4.1.6 (FR), 4.2 (FR), 4.3 (EN), 4.3 (FR)

Caneco BT 5 Caneco BT 5%

All versions 5* =

5.1 (EN), 5.1 (FR), 5.5 (EN), 5.5 (FR)

By language One entry for each language Caneco BT (EN) Caneco BT%(EN)

All EN versions =

4.1 (EN), 4.3 (EN), 5.1 (EN), 5.5 (EN)

Caneco BT (FR) Caneco BT%(FR)

All FR versions =

4.1.4 (FR), 4.1.6 (FR), 4.2 (FR), 4.3 (FR), 5.1 (FR), 5.5 (FR)

Example 2

Caneco references in the {third-party} table

Caneco Design 2013

Caneco Design 4.4

Caneco HT 1.2

Caneco HT 2.0

Caneco HT 2.5

Caneco HT 2013

Caneco Implantation 2.3

Caneco Implantation 2010

Caneco Implantation

Caneco Implantation 2011

Caneco Implantation 2013

Caneco Implantation V2.4.0

Caneco Implantation V2.5.1

Caneco Implantation V2.5.2 Beta

Caneco EP 3.2

Caneco EP 3.3

Caneco EP 2013

How to monitor Caneco software in Service Manager
To monitor... In the catalog, create... In the Software field, enter... In the {third-party} Reference field, enter... Grouping performed
For all versions and languages A single entry Caneco Caneco%Design%/+-+/Caneco%Implantation%/+-+/Caneco%HT%/+-+/Caneco%EP% All Caneco Design, Caneco Implantation, Caneco HT, Caneco EP products
By product One entry for each product Caneco Design Caneco%Design% All Caneco Design products, regardless of year or version
Caneco Implantation Caneco%Implantation% All Caneco Implantation products, regardless of year or version
Caneco HT Caneco%HT% All Caneco HT products, regardless of year or version
Caneco EP Caneco%EP% All Caneco EP products, regardless of year or version
By year One entry for each year Caneco 2010 Caneco%2010

Year 2010 =

Caneco Implantation 2010

Caneco 2011 Caneco%2011

Year 2011 =

Caneco Implantation 2011

Caneco 2013 Caneco%2013

Year 2013 =

Caneco Design 2013, Caneco HT 2013, Caneco Implantation 2013, Caneco EP 2013

Warning: In this case, {third-party} references by version will be ignored in Service Manager: Caneco Design 4.4, V2.4.1 - Caneco HT 1.2, 2.0, 2.5 - Caneco Implantation 2.3, V2.4.0, V2.5.1, V2.5.2 Beta - CanecoEP 3.2, 3.3

Example 3

Caneco references in the {third-party} table

Caneco Design

Caneco Design Module

CanecoDesign

Caneco Des

Caneco EP

Caneco HT

Caneco Module Design

Design Caneco

Adobe Module Design

Design Adobe Creative

How to monitor Caneco software in Service Manager
To monitor... In the catalog, create... In the Software field, enter... In the {third-party} Reference field, enter... Grouping performed
All names A single entry Caneco Design Caneco%Des%/+-+/Design Caneco All Caneco Design products
Warning
%Design%

All Caneco Design products

But also: Adobe Module Design - Design Adobe Creative

Caneco Design

All Caneco Design products

But not: Caneco Design Module - CanecoDesign - Caneco Module Design - Design Caneco

Caneco Design%

All Caneco Design products

But not: CanecoDesign - Caneco Module Design - Design Caneco

Mapping SCCM tables and catalogs

Equipment

SCCM Service Manager
Equipment Table EZV_ASSET Table Views: Column
Computer_System_DATA_RCM.Name ID ID
PC_BIOS_DATA_RCM.SerialNumber00 SerialNumber SerialNumber
WorkstationStatus_DATA_RCM.LastHWScan LastScanDate LastScanDate
  Category LanCatalog
WorkstationStatus_DATA_RCM.Manufacturer00 Manufacturer Manufacturer
WorkstationStatus_DATA_RCM.Model00 Model Model
WorkstationStatus_DATA_RCM.UserName00 LoginName LoginName
  PrimaryOwner PrimaryOwner
  ComputerLocation ComputerLocation

Software

SCCM Service Manager
Software Table EZV_SOFTWARE Table Views: Column
Computer_System_DATA_RCM.Name00 ID ID
INSTALLED_SOFTWARE_DATA_RCM.ARPDisplayName00 SuiteName SuiteName
INSTALLED_SOFTWARE_DATA_RCM.VersionMajor00 Version Version
INSTALLED_SOFTWARE_DATA_RCM.ProductVersion00 LongVersion LongVersion
INSTALLED_SOFTWARE_DATA_RCM.Publisher00 Publisher Publisher

Attribute tables

SCCM Service Manager
Attribute Tables EZV_CHARACTERISTIC Table Views: Column
Computer_System_DATA_RCM.Name00 ID ID   /  
PC_BIOS_DATA_RCM.SerialNumber00 Characteristic Characteristic   /   SCCM_Serial Number
Computer_System_DATA_RCM.Manufacturer Characteristic Characteristic   /   SCCM_Manufacturer
WorkstationStatus_DATA_RCM.LastHWScan Characteristic Characteristic   /   SCCM_Inventory Date
Computer_System_DATA_RCM.Model00 Characteristic Characteristic   /   SCCM_Model
Computer_System_DATA_RCM.UserName00 Characteristic Characteristic   /   Last connected user
Network_DATA_RCM.IPAddress00 Characteristic Characteristic   /   SCCM_IP Address
Network_DATA_RCM.MACAddress00 Characteristic Characteristic   /   SCCM_Mac Address
Operating_System_DATA_RCM.Caption00 Characteristic Characteristic   /   SCCM_OS
Processor_DATA_RCM.Name00 Characteristic Characteristic   /   SCCM_CPU
Processor_DATA_RCM.count(*) Characteristic Characteristic   /   SCCM_CPU Qty
Processor_DATA_RCM.NormSpeed00 Characteristic Characteristic   /   SCCM_CPU Frequency
Netcard_DATA_RCM.Name00 Characteristic Characteristic   /   SCCM_Network Card
Logical_Disk_DATA_RCM.Size00 Characteristic Characteristic   /   SCCM_Disk
CD_ROM_DATA_RCM.count(*) Characteristic Characteristic   /   SCCM_CD-ROM
PC_Memory_DATA_RCM.TotalPhysicalMemory00 Characteristic Characteristic   /   SCCM_Total Memory
Logical_Disk_DATA_RCM.FreeSpace00 Characteristic Characteristic   /   SCCM_Disk available
  Unit Unit   /   Go,Mhz, -,
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