Cascade Update function

  • Release version: Zurich
  • Updated July 31, 2025
  • 2 minutes to read
    • Summarize
    Summarized using AI
    This content was generated using new OpenAI-powered functionality. Results are provided on an as is basis and are not guaranteed to be accurate or complete.

    Summary of Cascade Update function

    The Cascade Update function in the Telecommunications Network Inventory application allows ServiceNow customers to update a configuration item (CI) attribute and automatically propagate that change across all related CIs within the inventory hierarchy. This function is particularly useful for maintaining consistency of CI attributes throughout complex network equipment structures. It integrates seamlessly as an action within Workflow Studio, enabling automated and efficient CI data management.

    Show full answer Show less

    Key Features

    • Automatic Attribute Propagation: Updates to a specified CI field cascade down all related CIs according to predefined hierarchy rules.
    • Workflow Studio Integration: Available as an action in Workflow Studio, enabling its use in automated workflows for inventory management.
    • Conflict Detection: If discrepancies or conflicts arise during cascading (such as when a CI is not in the affected CI list of a change request), the function returns an error with conflict details, ensuring data integrity.
    • Field Limitations: The function does not support cascading updates on Life Cycle Stage and Life Cycle Status fields.
    • Role Requirements: Only users with the admin role can configure and add the Cascade Update action to workflows.

    Input Parameters and Usage

    The function requires the following inputs to perform a cascade update:

    • Change Request: References the change request linked to the affected CI list.
    • CI: Specifies the configuration item where the update starts.
    • Field: Optional input specifying the attribute within the CI to cascade; if omitted, the function targets the relevant attribute.

    This setup allows precise control over which CIs and fields are updated during the cascade operation.

    Cascade Rules by CI Type

    The function follows specific cascade rules depending on the CI type to ensure attribute updates propagate correctly through the network inventory hierarchy:

    • Telco Equipment: Updates affect related equipment holders (slots), interface cards, subslots, and network interface records.
    • Telco Equipment Holder: Cascades updates to related interface cards, subslots, and network interfaces.
    • Interface Card: Propagates changes to related subslots and network interfaces.
    • Network Interface: Updates cascade to related network interface records, such as port bandwidth.
    • Physical Connection: Updates related physical connection records, including bandwidth attributes.
    • Logical Connection: Cascades changes to all next element CI records linked via connection elements.

    Practical Benefits

    By using the Cascade Update function, ServiceNow customers can:

    • Ensure consistent and accurate CI attribute data across complex telecommunications inventories.
    • Reduce manual effort and errors in updating multiple related CIs.
    • Leverage automation within workflows to streamline network inventory management.
    • Maintain data integrity through built-in conflict detection and error reporting.

    The Cascade Update function enables you to update a configuration item (CI) attribute in the Telecommunications Network Inventory application and cascade the change in all related CIs. You can use this function to automatically cascade the field values in related CIs when you use Workflow Studio.

    You can use the Cascade Update function to update any field in the inventory record and cascade the changes all the way down to the hierarchy mentioned in the inventory record.

    If there’s a conflict, such as any discrepancies found in the related CIs, this function returns an error. For example, let's say that you pass the change request and CI but the CI isn’t added to the affected CI list of the change request. Instead, it returns a sort error with the conflict information in execution.

    Note:
    This function doesn’t work on Life Cycle Stage and Life Cycle Status fields.

    You can use this function as a Workflow Studio action in the Telecommunications Network Inventory workflow.

    Roles and availability

    Users with the admin role can add an action to a flow and define the configuration details of the flow. This function is available as a Workflow Studio action in the Telecommunications Network Inventory application so that you can perform inventory-related data operations.

    Input fields

    The following table lists the input fields in the Cascade Update function and their descriptions.

    Table 1. Input fields of Cascade Update function
    Field Name Description Data Type Mandatory?
    Change Request Change request that is related to the affected CI list. Reference.Change Request No
    CI CI where you want to update the field. Reference.Configuration Item No
    Field Attribute in the CI that you want to cascade. String No

    To learn more about the variable data types, see Flow Designer input and output data variables.

    Output

    Use this function to update the CI attribute in all related CIs.

    Cascade rule for all common attributes of CI

    The following table lists the information about the cascade rules for the different types of CIs.

    Table 2. Cascade rules
    CI Cascade Rule Example
    Telco Equipment Attributes that are updated for the related equipment holder (slot), interface card, telco equipment holder (subslot), and network interface records. The Type field that is updated in the equipment record cascades all the way down to the hierarchy mentioned in the inventory record.
    Telco Equipment Holder Attributes that are updated for the related interface card, telco equipment holder (subslot), and network interface records. The Type field that is updated in the equipment record cascades all the way down to the hierarchy mentioned.
    Interface Card Attributes that are updated for the related telco equipment holder (subslot) and network interface records. The Type field that is updated in the equipment record cascades all the way down to the hierarchy mentioned.
    Network Interface Attributes that are updated for the related network interface record. The Port Bandwidth field that is updated in the equipment record cascades all the way down to the hierarchy mentioned in the inventory record.
    Physical Connection Attributes are updated for the related physical connection record. The Bandwidth field that is updated in the equipment record cascades all the way down to the hierarchy mentioned in the inventory record.
    Logical Connection Attributes that are updated for all the next element CI records, which are defined in the connection element that reference the logical connection record. The Bandwidth field that is updated in the equipment record cascades all the way down to the hierarchy mentioned in the inventory record.