Simpler applications in CSDM

[mark_oldroyd]

Could anyone give me any guidance on slightly simpler less behemoth type applications\application services in CSDM.

1) A basic application is represented in CSDM? Something like Notepad++, that is just a local install and not part of a bigger stack. I'm not sure whether you create an App Service for these, or the best approach is just to link the Application CIs straight to the related Service Offering (e.g End User Apps)

2) Something like Adobe Creative Cloud (I'm thinking CC is an Application Service and the individual parts are Application CIs). I realise we could make each part e.g. Fireworks, Photoshop etc. an app service. I suppose here I am struggling with what question\s to ask whom to determine the granularity needed.

Thanks in advance for any tips.

[Daniel Carvalho]

Hi

Notepad++ I understand would fit best under the ServiceNow CMDB concept of Software then of the Applications footprint of records.

For software there are a few chained tables: Software Model cmdb_software_product_model, Software Package cmdb_ci_spkg and Software Instance cmdb_software_instance (not going around license rights and purchases on this answer).

For Adobe CC, I believe it will start from your own interpretation (I myself am not an Adobe user so I do not have this perception well developed): If you understand it more like a software such as Notepad++ or more like an Enterprise application or a Platform. 

 If you do not take the software route, already described above, then I suggest:

Adobe CC as Business Application, with the flag "Platform host" @architecture type field. Each sub-part of it also as a Business Application, but with the flag "Platform app". Finally, I personally do not agree on linking "Platform app´s" to Application Services (Instance Level), so I would have some sort of "Adobe Creative Cloud PRODUCTION" as Application Service; linking this to the "Platform host" item.

Cordial

Daniel

[Ben Rowny]

Hello,

People often thing of different definitions for the term "Application".  As far as the CSDM goes, Application generally refers to a hosted/connected application, something that runs on servers or in the cloud, that multiple users connect to (either through a web browser or client software). An Application Service represents an entire deployed stack that is available to some set of users. Generally users of an Application Service are connecting to the service to share a common database or collaborate with one another. Some examples of Application Services might include your production deployments of ServiceNow, MS O365 Apps (Teams, Sharepoint, Exchange, etc), SAP, etc..

As far as anything installed locally on an end-user's workstation, these things don't usually cross paths with the CSDM very much. They are generally represented in ServiceNow using Software Asset Management. ServiceNow also offers a Premium version of Sofrware Asset Management that can automatically populate your software models, reconcile license/entitlement info, and even connect to Adobe CC to reconcile subscriptions.

[Mary Vanatta]

Hello

There is a bit of difference when thinking about "Services"  Application Services typically have a infrastructure whether be on prem, in the cloud, 3rd party hosted or a SaaS solution.  They can be business and or applications used by IT - (like Splunk, LogicMonitor, Active Directory).

Some of these applications may have a client piece installed on a workstation/laptop/VDI.  These would be represented as "business service offerings" that have a "Parent" Business Service.

Items like Notepad or things that are part of a operating system - would be part of the Laptop as the CI.

Business Service = Desktop Services>  Service Offering= Windows 10 offering >   CI - Name of Laptop. 

Likewise  

Business Service = Client Software Services>Service Offering = Microsoft Office > CI - Name of Laptop

[kjh1138]

I'm almost following ...

So how would you handle a less 'flat example'?  i.e. MS Teams with some optional features enabled:

O365->MS Teams->MS Teams Transcription Service

Application Service=O365 -> Service Offering= MS Teams -> ???=MS Teams Transcription Service

For the thick client I'm assuming:

Client Software Services (Business Service) -> Service Offering=MS Teams client application