Asset Management for virtual machines

[Leonard Brown]

Hi All,

I have a server team member who would like to use asset management to track virtual machines just like we track all other model categories such as ESX, Linux, and Windows severs. This is something new that was not intended to be handled at first and i'm just looking for some feedback on how some of you may have handled this for your businesses. I was think maybe create a new table called alm_virtual that extends the alm_asset table then setting the out of box model categories "Virtual Machine" and "Virtual Machine Instance" to my new custom asset class. What are your thoughts on this and how do you think this should be handled?

Thanks, 

[Damhoej]

My first question would be: "why an asset for a virtual machine??"

Assets are used to track physical entities (or license) primarely for financial purpose.

Cost management feature allow you to track costs of any CI in ServiceNow.

What I have done with virtual windows servers (and other virtual CIs) is that I have a hardware model called virtual server" and that is set to "do not create assets". Then a UI Policy that hides the asset fields when the field "is virtual" = true

So I would look into "model management" if I were you, but then again I do not know the value you are seeking.

[Mike Condon]

I agree, the virtual machine itself is a CI, but is not usually an asset. The physical box that hosts the virtual machines is an asset, but each virtual machine should only be counted as a CI.

[Leonard Brown]

Thanks for the feedback guys. I did not see any reason why this became a requirement as well but we went ahead and moved forward with creating assets for all Virtual Machine instances referenced in the CMDB. I used the out of box model category " Virtual Machine Instance" to track these while also creating a new asset class called "Virtual". Not sure if they will decide to change this later on but for now this is okay for them to move forward. 

[M-JHG]

Hi @Damhoej ,

Could you tell me where the "do not create assets" option is found?

I haven't been able to find it on either the CI, Asset or Model records.