Software Asset Management Foundation plugin migration

  • Release version: Zurich
  • Updated June 16, 2026
  • 2 minutes to read
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    Summary of Software Asset Management Foundation plugin migration

    This migration guide explains how to move from the Software Asset Management (SAM) plugin to the Software Asset Management Foundation plugin in ServiceNow Zurich release. The Foundation plugin offers enhanced features and improvements over the previous SAM plugin. However, while the plugin activation performs many automatic changes, customers must also execute manual steps to complete the migration successfully, particularly regarding customized forms, lists, and certain field configurations.

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    Automatic Changes During Migration

    • Table Renaming: Key tables are renamed to align with the new plugin terminology:
      • almlicense changes from "Software License" to "Software Entitlement"
      • almentitlementuser changes from "User Entitlement" to "User Allocations"
      • almentitlementasset changes from "Device Entitlement" to "Device Allocations"
    • New tables and script includes are added to support new functionality.
    • License key values from Software Entitlements are added to the License Key table (sampswlicensekey).
    • Field value transfers occur for software models with suite components and software entitlements, including:
      • Inference field values move to a new Mandatory field in the Software Suite table.
      • Rights fields are renamed and values adjusted (e.g., Rights to Active rights, with Purchased rights added).
      • Software model references and allocation quantities on entitlements are set or aggregated appropriately.
    • Form and list layouts for Software Models, Entitlements, Discovery Models, and Software Installations are updated to fit the new application structure.

    Manual Actions Required

    • Customers must manually overwrite any customizations made to forms and lists after plugin activation to align with the new Foundation plugin layout and fields.
    • Certain fields in software models, entitlements, and allocation forms require manual configuration to ensure data integrity and proper function.
    • Customers should perform the "Overwrite customizations for Software Asset Management migration" to ensure all custom form and list changes are correctly applied.

    Disabled Functionality

    • License and Software Counters: The scheduled job for SAM License Counters is deactivated, disabling software counters.
    • Auto-match Functionality: The auto-match feature that connects discovery models with software models is turned off.
    • Navigation Menu: The previous SAM plugin navigation menu is deactivated and renamed.
    • Legacy Business Rules: Business rules applied to discovery models under the old plugin are disabled to prevent conflicts.

    What Customers Can Expect

    By migrating to the Software Asset Management Foundation plugin, customers gain access to a more robust and updated SAM framework with improved data model consistency and enhanced entitlement management. However, successful migration depends on completing manual customization overwrites and field configurations post-activation. Some legacy features and automated processes are disabled and should be reviewed for alternative approaches within the new Foundation plugin.

    Migrate from the Software Asset Management plugin to the Software Asset Management Foundation plugin to take advantage of more powerful features. Manual actions by the customer are required after plugin activation.

    After automatic changes are performed during plugin activation, successful migration from the Software Asset Management (com.snc.software_asset_management) plugin to the Software Asset Management Foundation (com.snc.sams) plugin requires a Overwrite customizations for Software Asset Management migration to be performed by the customer.

    Customizations to forms and lists may need to be manually overwritten by the customer after plugin activation. In addition, certain fields in software models, software entitlements, user/device allocations forms require manual configuration by the customer after plugin activation.

    Automatic changes

    The Software Asset Management Foundation (com.snc.sams) plugin performs these automatic changes:
    • Tables
      • Table labels renamed
        Table Original Label New Label
        [alm_license] Software License Software Entitlement
        [alm_entitlement_user] User Entitlement User Allocations
        [alm_entitlement_asset] Device Entitlement Device Allocations
      • Adds new tables and script includes.
      • Adds any string value in the Software Entitlements License key field to the License Key [samp_sw_license_key] table
    • Field names and values
      • Inference mandatory field

        For software models that have suite components (to bundle software models), the Inference mandatory field value in the Software Suite [cmdb_m2m_suite_model] table is transferred to a new Mandatory field

      • Rights field

        The Software Entitlements (formerly Software Licenses) Rights field value in the License Entitlements [alm_entitlement] table is transferred to a new Purchased rights field, and name changed from Rights to Active rights

      • The Software model field for a software entitlement allocation (Software Entitlement [alm_license] table) is automatically set to the software model on the entitlement (License Entitlements [alm_entitlement] table)
      • The quantity for a software entitlement allocation (License Entitlements [alm_entitlement] table) is set to 1 unless there are multiple allocations

        If there are multiple software entitlement allocations for the same user or device, the allocations are aggregated into one record, the quantity is set to the count of aggregated records, and duplicate allocations are not allowed.

    • Forms and lists
      Software Models, Entitlements (formerly Software License), Discovery Models, and Software Installations form and list layouts are modified to fit the new application
      Note:
      Any customizations to these forms and lists must be manually overwritten after plugin activation.
    • Functionality
      Table 1. Functionality disabled
      Functionality Description
      License and software counters The scheduled job trigger for SAM License Counters is changed to None so that it is deactivated, and software counters are disabled.
      Auto-match functionality The auto-match functionality, which attempts to match a discovery model to a corresponding software model, is deactivated.
      Navigation menu The navigation menu for the Software Asset Management plugin is deactivated and renamed.
      Business rules Legacy business rules applied to discovery models are disabled.