IRE does not mark CIs as duplicate. No de-duplication task is created.

dimitrios_l
Tera Expert

3 weeks ago

Here is the case: 

 

2 CIs belong in the same Class (cmdb_ci_win_server)

Same Name

Same Serial Number and Types

Same MAC Address

Same IP

 

Identification Rules checked.

Glide properties checked.

Inclusion rules (both Health and IRE) checked.

 

IRE creates tasks for other classes as normal. What could be the issue here?

 

0 Helpfuls
  • 394 Views
1 REPLY 1

Prahlad Kumar
Tera Guru

3 weeks ago

Hello @dimitrios_l 

 

This is a very common and frustrating IRE edge‑case, IRE will NOT create a de‑duplication task if it believes both records are already compliant with the identification rules.
For cmdb_ci_win_server, two records with identical identifiers are often treated as separately valid root matches, not duplicates.

Why This Happens (Internals of IRE)
1. IRE is not equal to Find duplicates and merge
IRE’s primary goal is identification, not cleanup.
If, Two CIs independently satisfy the same identification rule
And neither CI violates the rule priority
And there is no ambiguity during a single payload execution

As you mentioned: “IRE creates tasks for other classes as normal”

  • That’s expected, because other classes:
    - Have weaker or more flexible identifiers
    - Are more commonly reconciled (e.g., applications, services)
    - May involve partial matches or identifier conflicts
  • For Windows Servers:
    - Identification is intentionally strict and non-destructive
    - Auto‑merging servers is considered high risk
  • IRE creates a de‑dup task only when:
    - A single payload matches more than one CI
    - And the match cannot be resolved by identifier priority
    - And one CI is clearly a better match than the other
  • If the two CIs were:
    - Created by separate discoveries
    - At different times
    - Independently “valid”

 

Please mark it as helpful or correct solutions as such. That helps others find their solutions.

 

Thanks & Happy to Help,
Prahlad Kumar (Tera Guru)
Solution Architect at HumIT
ITOM | ITAM | ITSM | CMDB | HRSD
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prahlad-kumar-92a877117/

If this helps, please mark it as Helpful.

0 Helpfuls