Asset/CI and custom fields

[KB15]

If my understanding of how this works is completely wrong, I apologize and would greatly appreciate some correction. I'm planning on taking the asset course in a few weeks however I'd like to get a little bit of a head start with populating printers in to ServiceNow.

I'd like to add a custom field that only applies to printers. Which asset and CI table should I add this field? Lastly, are the fields synchronized with the out of box business rule or does it have to be custom?

[KB15]

For this data, it may make sense to only add it the asset table as it's possible the customer number could theoretically change. Is there a good set of rules I could follow to determine if it should be in one or both?

[Community Alums]

General rule of thumb:

• Is the information consistent   for models of a device? For example, every asset or CI for a MacBook Pro is going to be a laptop.
  • Put the information on a Model record.
• Does the information vary from device to device, and is it related to the financial or contractual aspects of it?
  • Add the information to the Asset record.
• Is the information related to operational details of the device?
• Is it something that could be discovered by automated discovery tools?
  • Add the information to the Configuration Item record.

Regardless of the Model/Asset/CI location, first consider if there is already a field that meets your needs first before you create new fields.

If you need to create a new field, determine where the most appropriate location is. This is especially important in the CMDB where there is a big hierarchy. You wouldn't want fields that display toner levels displayed for a server or router.

[Community Alums]

It depends on the purpose of the field more than whether or not it could change. How is the Customer Number used?

[KB15]

It's simply used, I believe, for Xerox's reference but it's helpful to have this info for our records. I only see this information change if this data is manually changed during a transfer to a different company, if ever.

I'll likely place this only in asset based on the examples you provided. I'm not sure of placing this information in contracts the way it's currently setup.

[Community Alums]

If you don't mind me asking, what is the information you are looking to track about printers. It could be something that belongs on the CI, but if it is details that are the same for a specific model of device, then it may belong on the Hardware Model table or a new extension of that instead.