How are assets created for CIs with the class of Personal Computer?

[Claire Ashdown2]

We have CIs from an integration coming in with the class Personal Computer. I see that assets can be auto-created (either synchronously or asynchronously) via the Create Asset on insert OOTB Business Rule. However, that business rule and the method createAsset (in the AssetandCI script include) that is calls appear to terminate if one of several situations occurs, including if there is no model category for that CI's class.

OOTB, there is no model category associated with the Personal Computer class. Does anyone know why this is the case? Are assets not supposed to be created for CIs with a class of Personal Computer, and if so, why? Or should they be being created OOTB, and I am misunderstanding how the business rule and script include function?

Many thanks for your insights.

[Kieran Anson · Accepted solution]

Hi Claire,

The "Personal Computer" is designed to store non-corporate devices such as BYOD devices that are enrolling in an MDM solution in inTune or WorkspaceOne. For this reason you wouldn't track the asset lifecycle of the device as it's not one the organisation owns. This isn't to say you can't use the Personal Computer class for tracking org assigned devices, you'll just need to create a model category in the cmdb_model_category table.

[Claire Ashdown2]

Thank you for the insight! Do you know if that information about how Personal Computer is designed to be used is anywhere in ServiceNow's product documentation?

[Kieran Anson]

Hmm I can't find any but I know it was a table added only recently. As it extends the cmdb_ci_computer table it inherits its functionality. There are just some areas of the platform that look at that parent table by default as it's one of the core tables that came with the platform originally.

ServiceNow Describe cmdb_ci_pc_hardware as:

Multi-purpose electronic computer whose size, capabilities, and price make it feasible for individual use.

Computer [cmdb_ci_computer] class

[Damhoej]

Is this answer still correct?

When I enter my PDI (Xanadu) and opens SOW and go to PC under lists I come to the PC class.
So I would say ServiceNow intend to use this class for personal computers belonging to the company.