Scheduling Inventory Exports

IT Asset Management (Cloud)
Now that you have a MID server installed, two further configuration points for ServiceNow remain:
  • Identifying the MID server as the one to use for the inventory exports to IT Asset Management
  • Scheduling the exports from ServiceNow.

Continue the following while still logged into ServiceNow with administrator privileges.

To schedule inventory exports from ServiceNow:

  1. In ServiceNow, go to Flexera Integration > Integration Properties.
  2. In the list of Integration Properties, scroll down to the MID server name field (in the ServiceNow → FNMS section), and enter the full name of the MID server.
  3. Optionally, in the Export file path field, enter an alternative file path location to store the .csv files.
    By default, the .csv files are saved in a folder called export under the installation folder of the MID server software. You may use this folder, or another. Keep in mind that the inventory connector on the inventory beacon must have access to this file location, in order to read the .csv files. Take note of the name used so that you can correctly configure the connection from the inventory beacon.
  4. Scroll down (if necessary), and click Save.
  5. Still in ServiceNow, go to Flexera Integration > Advanced > Scheduled Data Exports.
    The Scheduled Data Exports node includes standard jobs to export inventory from ServiceNow, including:
    • Flexera Scheduled Computer Export
    • Flexera Scheduled Software Export
    • Flexera Scheduled Software Install Export.

    Each of these jobs needs to be configured for your environment.

  6. Click the first export task to schedule (such as Flexera Scheduled Computer Export). (Check the alerts bar at the top, as you may need an additional click there to allow editing the values for your chosen export task.)
    The Scheduled Data Export properties are displayed. As you consider your timing, remember that this export forms only a part of the overall process, which also includes the inventory connection from your inventory beacon, the following upload to the central application server, and the import in time for the nightly license reconciliation calculations.
  7. Change the value in the Run field to your desired schedule.
    These data exports may be large, based on the size of your ServiceNow repository. A common practice would be to choose Weekly exports.
    Tip: ServiceNow by default limits its exports from the database to 10,000 records. You can modify the maximum number of records exported from ServiceNow by having your ServiceNow administrator add the property glide.db.max_view_records and setting a new limit. For instructions on adding the property, see http://wiki.servicenow.com/index.php?title=Adding_a_Property#gsc.tab=0.
  8. Use the additional fields that appear to complete configuring your scheduled job.
    For example, for Weekly exports, set the Day, and Time of day, when the export should occur. An off-peak time is preferable.
  9. Click Update to save your changes.
    Repeat the scheduling for the Flexera Scheduled Software Export and Flexera Scheduled Software Install Export tasks.
  10. With all exports now scheduled, run a test of each by clicking Execute Now on the associated Scheduled Script Execution properties page.
    (This same button can be used to run the export if you chose the Run On Demand setting for the schedule.) Use the test to assess the time taken to complete the export and finish a well-formed .csv file on the MID server, as a check on your scheduling plans. The test also allows you to troubleshoot any problems.
  11. Monitor overall progress in ServiceNow by going to Flexera Integration > Export History > Export Runs.
    The State column on this view shows the progress of export, and the Stage column displays File Completion when the .csv files are done.
  12. On the MID server, check for complete .csv files.
    Note: If you are not using the SAM plugin with ServiceNow, the exported flexera_software_install_export_set.csv file will be empty.
This completes the configuration of ServiceNow for data flows from ServiceNow to IT Asset Management. The final stage is to configure IT Asset Management to import the inventory information.

IT Asset Management (Cloud)

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