What are the conditions for calculating CI as Software Asset Management?

[Le Son]

Hi Everyone,

I have a question about ITAM Lincensing Resource Count.

I want know condition for calculating CI as SAM in ITAM Lincens.

Example:

      It is trigger from table?

      How is it and HAM calculated differently?

[Deepak Shaerma]

Hi @Le Son 

Software Asset Management (SAM)

SAM is focused on managing and optimizing the purchase, deployment, maintenance, utilization, and disposal of software applications within an organization.

How SAM Licenses Are Calculated:

1. Discovery and Normalization: SAM first involves discovering software installed across the organization’s network. This can be achieved through various discovery methods provided by ServiceNow, such as the Discovery tool, SCCM integration, or manual input. Once discovered, these software installations are normalized to identify what software titles they belong to, using the ServiceNow Software Library, a comprehensive database of software titles and publishers.

2. Reconciliation: The next step is reconciliation, where the normalized software installations are compared against purchased software licenses. This process helps identify any over-usage (compliance risk) or under-usage (opportunity for cost savings) of software licenses.

3. Calculation Conditions: The conditions under which a software installation is counted against a license depend on the license model. Common models include per-device, per-user, per-processor, or subscriptions. ServiceNow’s SAM module can handle various licensing models, allowing organizations to configure how each software title is to be licensed. The configuration includes defining whether a software installation on a physical machine, virtual machine, or user-specific software should be counted towards a license.

#### Trigger Point

- The trigger for counting a Configuration Item (CI) as a software asset typically comes from the discovery source or manual input, which then undergoes the normalization and reconciliation process in the SAM Professional application within ServiceNow.

### Hardware Asset Management (HAM)

HAM deals with the physical components of an organization’s IT environment, such as computers, servers, and network equipment.

How HAM Assets Are Counted:

1. Discovery: Similar to SAM, the first step in HAM is discovering physical assets through automated discovery tools or manual inputs. Each discovered hardware asset is recorded as a CI in the CMDB (Configuration Management Database).

2. Asset Tracking: HAM involves tracking each asset from procurement to disposal, including its status (in use, in stock, retired, etc.) and location. The lifecycle status helps in understanding asset utilization and planning for future needs.

3. Calculation Differences from SAM: Unlike SAM, where the key concern is compliance with software license agreements, HAM focuses on the physical tracking, maintenance, and usage optimization of assets. The count of hardware assets is more straightforward, as it is typically based on the actual physical count of devices discovered and tracked in the CMDB.
Note: Please Mark this Helpful and Accepted Solution. If this Helps you to understand. This will help both the community and me..
- Keep Learning ‌‌
Thanks & Regards 
Deepak Sharma

[Le Son]

Hi Deepak Shaerma,

Thank you for answer. However, I want more question.
Example our system, ITAM Licensing caculated SAM with category is server have total is 814.
So, I want check what is conditions to caculated CI is Software Asset Management?

[Deepak Shaerma]

Hi @Le Son 
I prefer these point if i need to check the CI`s linked to SAM as category is server.
- Familiarize yourself with the relevant tables (e.g., cmdb_ci, alm_asset, or cmdb_software_instance) and fields.

Step 1: Access the CMDB or SAM Module

Navigate to the CMDB or SAM module in ServiceNow, depending on where you want to start your search. If you’re beginning with servers as the primary CI category, the CMDB is a logical starting point.

Step 2: Filter or Query for Software CIs

Create a filter or query to extract CIs related to software asset management that are associated with servers. You might need to use the Advanced Search or Query Builder features, applying conditions such as:

- Category = Server (or however the category is specifically named in your CMDB schema).
- Class = Software or any class designation that might explicitly denote software CIs tied to servers.

Step 3: Use Related Lists or Join Conditions

Software installed on servers can be linked through related lists or JOIN conditions in your query:

- Look for relationships or related lists that associate software instances (cmdb_software_instance) with server CIs (cmdb_ci_server or relevant subclass).
- Utilize ServiceNow’s capabilities to join these data points based on their relationship (e.g., software running on servers).

Step 4: Calculate and Analyze

Once you’ve successfully filtered or queried the relevant software CIs associated with servers:
- Use ServiceNow’s reporting or dashboard functionalities to aggregate and visualize the data. This could involve counting the number of unique software instance records linked to server CIs.
- Analyze the data for insights regarding software asset management, compliance, and optimization opportunities.

Note: Please Mark this Helpful and Accepted Solution. If this Helps you to understand. This will help both the community and me..
- Keep Learning ‌‌
Thanks & Regards 
Deepak Sharma