This is a purely theoretical question with simplified conditions.
Setup:
A third-party integration (say Qualys) brings in a discovered item (DI) with almost nothing in the source data, only a Qualys Host ID.
Two CI lookup rules exist:
- Qualys Host ID (order 100)
- Serial Number (order 200)
There is an actual CI in the CMDB for this asset, but it has only a serial number, no Qualys Host ID.
On the first run nothing matches, so IRE creates a placeholder in Unclassed Hardware carrying only the Host ID. The DI now points at that placeholder via Qualys Host ID: the CI matching rule shows Qualys Host ID, but the DI stays Unmatched, since the match is to a placeholder in the Unclassed Hardware class.
Question:
Later, Qualys sends a richer payload for the same asset that now includes the serial number matching the real CI, and the "Re-apply CI Lookup Rules on the Changed Discovered items" job is enabled and runs.
Since the DI is already bound to the placeholder by its Host ID, wouldn't Qualys Host ID (order 100) keep winning before Serial (order 200) is ever evaluated? Would it ever be possible for the DI to reach the real CI on serial number on a later reapply?
If not, is removing or reconciling the placeholder the only way the DI would ever match the real CI?
(Note: reordering the rules is not the fix I'm asking about.)
