Ask the Expert: Live Chat | Assets and Models and CIs, Oh My!

[ServiceNow]

Original Air Date: Thursday, July 9, 2015 | 10:00 AM (PDT) | 1:00PM (EDT)

Do you struggle with the difference between Assets and Configuration Items? And why do we need Model records? Isn't that just another thing to maintain? Get a better understanding of these items, how they are different, and how they work together in this session with Ben Sweetser.

Ben Sweetser is a ServiceNow "old timer" with experience on the full platform with focus on Asset and Configuration Management and Automation, such as Orchestration and Discovery.

[Community Alums]

Hi Roy,

Have you been upgrading for a while and just activated the Asset plugin around the time you started to see this happen? This seems like something you may be able to configure in Discovery to not try to populate Model ID in situations where it doesn't make sense.

Ben

[roy_walton]

Thanks, Ben. I was starting to lean towards it being a Discovery thing. I just took over Discovery for a our company, so I'm still learning -- any idea where this would be set and whether/how you can turn it off?   Is it in the sensors?   I've been digging into them but haven't been able to pinpoint anything.

Thanks again,

Roy

[VivekSattanatha]

Hi Ben,

I am seeing a lot of unknown models created by Discovery. I believe all these unknown models are creating because of the OOB Model category. I don't want to delete those Model categories because if I delete then all CI's are showing with empty models. I am Ok with Discovery creating Unknown models but when I look into the list view of Product models there are a lot of unknown models with different model categories. The name unknown confuses non-technical people. So if discovery didn't identify any models then I don't want that to create the name unknown instead I want that to create the name of Model category itself.  

Say for an example I have a model category called "DNS name" when discovery inserts the record into cmdb_ci_dns_name table I don't want that to create the model name as unknown instead I want that to create DNS name itself.

Also, do you know which sensor is responsible for creating this unknown model?

bsweetser

Regards,

Vivek

[Pravin17]

Hi Vivek,

Do you find the solution to restrict creation of these unknow model. Could you please confirm how you fixed it?

Regards,

Pravin

[david_hreben]

Hello Ben,

I wanted to get a better orientation regarding facility management and its equipments. Currently the facility equipments are configured as a CI with its unique class within the CMDB and can be selected through the affected CI field. I wanted to know if this would be the correct approach or if these equipments can be considered as a Business Service? Thanks in advance!