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Configure the BMC Helix ITSM connector

The BMC Helix ITSM connector is configured in Snow Integration Manager (SIM). For more information on SIM, see Snow Integration Manager. You can also read Best practices for BMC Helix ITSM integration before you begin.

The BMC Helix ITSM connector uses an API connection to fetch data from Snow License Manager. The data is then uploaded to BMC CMDB. It utilizes the REST API to import objects into BMC Helix ITSM.

In Snow Integration Manager, add the BMC Helix ITSM connector and configure the settings.

Set up the SLM Connection​

Learn how to configure the SLM Connection settings.

SLM_Connection.png

Set up the Snow License Manager connection​

  1. In the Web API URL, enter the URL to the Snow License Manager web API.

    EXAMPLE

    http://[your SLM url]:[port]/api

    note

    Port is only necessary if Snow License Manager is running on other port than the default port 80.

  2. In the Username and Password fields, enter the credentials for the Snow License Manager web API user account.

    note

    The Password field is case-sensitive, and cannot be copied to the clipboard.

  3. To set up a proxy server, select the desired proxy in Proxy. Proxies can be configured in the Proxy Profiles tab in the Snow Integration Manager main interface.

  4. Select the Advanced settings to enter the SLM connection settings in the Snow License Manager advanced connection settings window that includes:

    • Timeout (minutes): The time required for the connector to receive a response from the server. (Min: 3min, Max: 30min)

    • Retries: The number of retries a connector should perform when a timeout takes place. (Min: 0min, Max: 100min)

    • Retries delay (minutes): The time taken between the SLM connection retries. (Min: 1min, Max: 100min)

    • Default: Selecting this would reset the settings in Step 4 to its default values.

    To save the changes made, select OK.

  5. To verify and establish a connection between the connector and the SLM server, select Test connection.

    note

    For a connection established successfully, the Customer field is populated with the customer list received from the SLM server. Otherwise, a Test connection failed popup is displayed.

Set up the Data Update Job​

  1. Do one of the following:

    • Enable the Wait for Data Update Job to finish if Snow Integration Manager is set to start after the Data Update Job (DUJ). This makes Snow Integration Manager wait for the DUJ to finish before starting the aggregation, giving the largest possible window to export all the data.

    • Disable the Wait for Data Update Job to finish so the connector does not consider the DUJ status when running the data aggregation process.

  2. If the Wait for Data Update Job to finish is enabled, select the Timeout in minutes, which represents the waiting time taken for the connector, once the SLM server stops responding. (Min:1 and Max:1200)

Set up the Aggregation Date​

  • Do one of the following:

    • Enable the Ignore last aggregation date and process all SLM data to include all the selected data from Snow License Manager without carrying out the Last aggregation date.

    • Disable the Ignore last aggregation date and process all SLM data to set up the configuration since when you want to aggregate the data as given below:

      • Initial aggregation length (months): The period interval of months for the initial aggregation of the inventory data.

      • Clear Aggregation Date: Resets the Last aggregation date by subtracting the Initial aggregation length (months) from the current real-time.

      • Last aggregation date: Updates when the Clear Aggregation Date is triggered and when the data aggregation process ends.

Set up the SLM Filters​

Learn how to configure the SLM Filters settings.

SLM_Filters.png

Set up the Filters​

  • Select the checkboxes for the data types to be transferred to BMC Helix ITSM. The selected details are included in the aggregation process.

    1. To enable the selection of all locked out filter options, select one or more of the computer types in Computers.

    2. In User Settings, to include either Most frequent or Most recent computer users in the aggregation process, select Include Users.

note

Under the Additional Settings, Mark missing computer applications as deleted is used when applications for a computer that exists in the Snow License Manager are removed, but they still exist in the BMC Helix ITSM. If the applications are reinstalled on the computer and get added to the Snow License Manager again, the computer application gets uploaded as a new product, regardless of whether the checkbox is selected or not.

Set up the BMC Helix ITSM Connection​

Learn how to configure the BMC Helix ITSM Connection settings.

BMC_Helix_ITSM_Connection.png

Set up the BMC Helix ITSM connection​

  1. In the Web API URL, enter the URL to the BMC Helix ITSM web API.

    EXAMPLE

    http://[your FQDN url]:[port]

    note

    The port is added where the BMC Helix ITSM API is listed. See Confirm REST connection for BMC Helix ITSM.

  2. In the Username and Password fields, enter the credentials for the BMC Helix ITSM API user account. See Create a user account with access to the BMC Helix ITSM API.

  3. To set up a proxy server, select the desired proxy in Proxy. Proxies can be configured in the Proxy Profiles tab in the Snow Integration Manager main interface.

  4. To verify the connection, and to enable the Dataset name, select Test connection.

  5. In the Dataset name, select the dataset into which the Snow License Manager data is imported. See Create a dataset in BMC Helix ITSM.

  6. Select the Advanced settings to enter the BMC Helix ITSM connection settings in the BMC Helix ITSM advanced connection settings window that includes:

    • Timeout (minutes): The time required for the connector to receive a response from the server. (Min: 3min, Max: 30min).

    • Retries: The number of retries a connector should perform when a timeout takes place. (Min: 0min, Max: 100min)

    • Retries delay (minutes): The time taken between the BMC Helix ITSM connection retries. (Min: 1min, Max: 100min).

    • Default: Selecting this would reset the settings in step 6 to its default values.

    To save the changes made, select OK.

Set up the Batch configuration​

  1. Enter a value for the Internal Batch size and Export Batch size to allow for manual selection of batch sizes. The size should be lowered if timeouts or apex errors appear during aggregation.

    note

    The export batch size can be greater than or equal to the internal batch size. In most cases, the export batch size is dependent on the value provided for the internal batch size. The default value for the Export Batch size is 100 instances per batch.

  2. Select the number of Parallel operations to adapt the configuration performance with your available hardware resources.

  3. Enter a value for the Dependency batch size for all the BMC_BaseRelationships to be uploaded to the BMC Helix ITSM server. The default value is 20 instances per batch.