Converting an Application Service from Top Down to a CSDM Application Service

[richardbrounste]

Service Mapping is very important for the CMDB.  Configuration Management needs to understand the business value of the infrastructure components in the CMDB.  The fastest, easiest way to map application services is with Tag Based Service Mapping.  This involves leveraging the tags that are put on resources (usually cloud resources) when they are created.  In the ServiceNow CMDB, the tags are stored in a table called cmdb_key_value and this table is automatically populated when the CMDB is populated via ServiceNow Discovery or via Service Graph Connectors.

Many Service Maps may have been mapped using Top-Down Service Mapping.  Sometimes, a user decides they no longer want to use this mechanism to map the application and want to leverage tags.  If so, then they need to convert the application service.  The instructions in this guide can be used to convert an Application Service so that it can be mapped with a different mechanism.

1. Import update set: Convert_TD_populate_with_CSDM.xml.  Preview and commit this Update Set

2. When you open any Application Service Map that is mapped for Top-Down Service Mapping, in the Form View, you will find a new related link “Convert to CSDM Application Service”.

3. If you click that link, the class of the Service Map will change to cmdb_ci_service_auto and the entry points will be removed.

4. You can now go to CSDM -> Application Service and open the Application Service.  Open the Application Service.

5. You will find an entry in the “Comments” with a URL link to csdm_app_service.do.  Paste this link into your browser.  You will be placed in the Wizard to update and populate the Application Service.  At this point, you will be able to populate this Application Service with tags.

[ganeshpa]

This is for converting Top-down to tag based, what is the process for converting manual service map to tag based ?

Thanks,

Ganesh

[Sam Fowler]

@ganeshpa Both Manual and Top-Down service maps live in the same Service Class (cmdb_ci_service_discovered), so the process as described should be no different.

[Johannes]

Hi,

I have usually converted from Mapped to Tag-based by first changing the class directly (in list view) to Application Service (cmdb_ci_service_auto), and then opening the AS in the CSDM Wizard to make it tag-based.

Does this update set do anything else than changing the class to cmdb_ci_service_auto, and add the URL to the Description field? (i.e. is there something I should have done, but have not, they way I have done it?)

[Mathew Hillyard]

Hi @Johannes,

The extra step in the UI Action is locating entry points that are Endpoints related to the Application Service in the Service Config Item Assoc [svc_ci_assoc] table and deleting them.

If you don't do this then you'll still have the service to endpoint relationships, but they will be irrelevant and probably invisible to you in the App Service form once you've converted the App Service to Tag-Based.

If you do not have Service Mapping and are using Mapped or Calculated App Services there would also be CI Relationships to the App Service to remove in addition to the Manual Endpoints.

[Johannes]

Ah, yes, the endpoints should also be deleted to keep the CMDB "tidy".

Thanks, got a clean-up script to write 😄

[Johannes]

A couple of inputs:

1. there should probably be a pop-up asking for confirmation, so people dont accidentally convert ASs that should not be converted

2. Comment with a URL link to csdm_app_service.do should be added to existing text. Now it overwrites what is there initially