Difference Between Software Metering and Software Usage Information in SAM and Usage Issues

[Nikhil Nishant]

Hi,

Can anyone please tell me the difference between Software Metering and Software Usage information in SAM Application as it sounds very confusing to me?

We have SAM Professional activated in our instances, and are trying to collect Software Usage information with the help of this (Integration - Microsoft SCCM 2012 v2 (com.snc.integration.sccm2012v2)) plugin. We are facing two issues which are listed below:

1) I have got all the details from my SCCM team to setup the Data Source required for the above plugin, but when ever I am trying to test the connection by clicking on the Hyperlink(UI action) in the Data Source called "Test 20 Records" I am getting the below error:

Mid Server Reported Error: java.sql.SQLException: com.microsoft.sqlserver.jdbc.SQLServerException : Login failed for user 'xxxxxx'.

I am referring the below Doc Link to configure the same:

https://docs.servicenow.com/bundle/kingston-software-asset-management/page/product/software-asset-ma...

2) As part of our SAM implementation, we want to collect information about the software's which are not being used by the user so that we can reclaim it by uninstalling the same using CSD workflow. So how to collect that information regarding the same where I am confused i.e. is it the above plugin going to collect the same for us or something else(Software metering).

Kindly assist. Please let me know if I sound confusing, happy to add further details needed.

Regards,

Nikhil

[Nikhil Nishant]

Hi,

Any thoughts or suggestion on the above query? 

Regards,

Nikhil

[Daniel Slocum]

Hi Nikhil,

The plugin you are using is the plugin which pulls back all hardware and software installation records from SCCM.  This integration will create CI's and populate the details about those CI's such as CPU/Cores, OS, and a full list of Installed Software.

To bring in Software Usage/Metering data you need to request one of the following plugins be installed in your system.  Chose the one which corresponds to your current version of SCCM. 

• Integration — Microsoft SCCM 2012 v2 Software Usage (com.snc.samp_usage_sccm) plugin
• Integration — Microsoft SCCM 2016 Software Usage (com.snc.samp.usage_sccm_2016) plugin

Below are some notes/tips for SCCM Usage.

If No usage data is bought back

• Make sure a reclamation rule exists with products chosen in the products related list. The usage information is pulled only for those products
• Make sure the users whose usage data is available in the SCCM DB are in the SN instance
• Usage scheduled import is conditioned to run only on the second day of each month, if you need to pull usage on-demand, go to Integration – Microsoft SCCM -> Scheduled Import -> SAMP Usage and uncheck the condition field and save the record. Once you are done, check it back on.
• Running the data source “Load all records” or “Load first 20 records” won't bring in the usage since it’s a dummy query. The correct SQL is populated on the fly. Always execute from scheduled import on-demand. 
• • To see the actual SQL query executed, run the usage scheduled import and quickly jump into the data source associated to the usage import and copy the SQL Query. Run this SQL on the SCCM DB to make sure it returns records
• Usage pull only gets the previous month’s usage data, nothing prior to that.

[Michael Walsh]

Is the plugin name com.snc.samp_usage_sccm still the same?  Reason i'm asking is that i'm looking in an instance with 2012 v2 on it and I see the com.snc.integration.sccm2012v2 plugin active, but can't find the com.snc.samp_usage_sccm plugin anywhere, but, we do seem to have the usage piece.  When i look in the scheduled import and look at the data sources, we have one called SCCM 2012 v2 Software Last Used, which i believe is the one that creates usage records.

Also, is there documentation anywhere on the differences between the 2012 v2 integration and the 2016 one?  The doc site doesn't seem to say too much and in looking over a bunch of transforms in the two, i can't really find any differences apart from a few missing semi-colons fixed in one script so far (haven't reviewed every script, just some of the ones related to software).  Just trying to decide if there is any reason to switch to the 2016 one.

[Daniel Slocum]

Mike,

The Usage plugins are listed below:

• Integration — Microsoft SCCM 2012 v2 Software Usage (com.snc.samp_usage_sccm) plugin
• Integration — Microsoft SCCM 2016 Software Usage (com.snc.samp.usage_sccm_2016) plugin

If you reinstall the full SCCM Plugin after enabling SAM, the Last Used Date Data Source will be added to the SCCM Data Sources automatically.

I don't believe there is specific documentation outlining the differences between the two plugins.  I think the primary difference is that they have been tested with different versions of SCCM.  The docs do identify SCCM release compatiblity. 

The Integration — Microsoft SCCM 2016 plugin is compatible with SCCM version 1702, 1802, and 1906.

Just like the primary SAM plugins, the Usage plugins are hidden and must be requested via the HI Customer Support Portal.