App Portal 2017
You can use App Broker for ServiceNow to extend the power of your ServiceNow service catalog, enable software license governance and on-going optimization, and automate and accelerate the fulfillment of software requests to any device. Using App Broker for ServiceNow enables you to provide your employees with a single service portal for all request types: software, hardware, and other IT services. App Broker for ServiceNow provides two levels of integration with ServiceNow:
| • | Integration with ServiceNow self-service portal—With App Broker for ServiceNow, instead of using the App Portal end user interface to request catalog items, employees are able to request software directly in the ServiceNow self-service portal. See Integration with ServiceNow Self-Service Portal |
| • | Employee App Provision Request wizard in ServiceNow—Employee are also able to submit OS deployment/application migration requests using a custom App Portal Employee App Provision Request wizard from within the ServiceNow interface. See Employee App Provision Request Wizard in ServiceNow to Request Task Sequence Catalog Items. |
Integration with ServiceNow Self-Service Portal
App Broker for ServiceNow enables organizations to provide intelligent license checking and reclamation as well as the automated deployment of applications to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and maintain continual license compliance.
The following diagram provides an overview of how App Broker interacts with ServiceNow and FlexNet Manager Suite to complete a software request.
App Broker / ServiceNow Integration Overview
As illustrated in this diagram, the following steps take place when an employee requests software in ServiceNow.
| • | Employee requests software in ServiceNow—An employee submits a software request from either the service portal or service catalog interface of ServiceNow. |
| • | ServiceNow sends request to App Broker—ServiceNow, through ServiceNow Orchestration, sends the request to App Broker. |
| • | App Broker obtains license information—App Broker obtains license information from FlexNet Manager Suite, which can include performing an advanced license check (considering second use rights, upgrade/downgrade rights, and exceptions). |
| • | License and cost information is sent to ServiceNow—The license information obtained from FlexNet Manager Suite, along with cost information, is displayed in ServiceNow, where the approver can review the cost that will be incurred and decide whether to approve the request. |
| • | Request is sent through approval process, if required—If the requested catalog item requires approval, the request is sent through the ServiceNow approval process. |
| • | License is reserved—If a license is required and the request is approved, App Broker reserves a license. |
| • | App Broker deploys software via deployment system—App Broker automatically deploys the software to the specified device using the appropriate deployment system. |
| • | Status information displayed in ServiceNow—The status of the software deployment is displayed in ServiceNow. During the delivery stage, App Broker continually monitors the status of requests, updates the status in ServiceNow. |
Each of these steps are incorporated into the App Portal Software Request Workflow, which uses App Broker REST API to perform these tasks in App Portal.
For more information, see Requesting App Portal Catalog Items Using the ServiceNow Interface.
Employee App Provision Request Wizard in ServiceNow to Request Task Sequence Catalog Items
Employees can use App Broker’s Employee App Provision Request wizard within the ServiceNow interface to submit requests for OS deployment and/or application migration. Each request generates a the checkout of a task sequence catalog item in App Portal, which is deployed by System Center Configuration Manager.
Figure 1: Employee App Provision Request Wizard in the ServiceNow
The Employee App Provision Request wizard was designed to automate the provisioning tasks that are required when a new employee joins an organization or an existing employee changes roles. A service catalog request can be submitted from ServiceNow and the entire workflow will be taken care of by App Portal, including creating and importing a new machine, and installing all of the software applications that the employee needs. While the requests are submitted in ServiceNow, the deployment tasks are perform by App Portal using App Broker’s REST API.
For more information, see Using the Employee App Provision Request Wizard to Request Task Sequence Catalog Items.
See Also
App Portal Software Request Workflow
App Portal / App Broker 2017 Administration Guide18 July 2017 |
Copyright Information | Flexera Software |