--- sourceDocument: Australia ServiceNow AI Platform Capabilities sourceDocumentLink: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/australia/servicenow-platform Release : - australia ft:locale : - en-US ft:publication_title : - Australia ServiceNow AI Platform Capabilities ft:clusterId : - platcap bundleId : - platcap workflow : - Platform --- # Synchronizing life-cycle values # How life-cycle values for Asset, CI, and IBI are synchronized {#ariaid-title1} Release version: Australia Updated May 11, 2026 ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 4 minutes to read Summarize ![AI sparkle icon](https://servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ai-sparkle-icon) 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 How life-cycle values for Asset, CI, and IBI are synchronized ServiceNow enables synchronization of life-cycle values among Assets, Configuration Items (CI), and Install Base Items (IBI) to ensure consistent tracking of items provided as services or sold to customers. This synchronization leverages the Common Service Data Model (CSDM) life cycle stage and life cycle stage status values, improving alignment between legacy status fields and modern CSDM standards. Show full answer Show less ## Synchronization Mechanisms The synchronization process depends on system property settings and the configuration of the model category as a product instance, which links Asset, CI, and IBI records: * **Between Asset and IBI:** When configured as a product instance, life cycle values are synchronized using CSDM life cycle stage and status pairs. * **Between Asset and CI:** Controlled by two system properties: * `csdm.lifecycle.migration.activated` (must be true to enable synchronization) * `csdm.lifecycle.sync.between.ci.and.asset.activated` (controls sync method; default is false) ## Synchronization Behavior Based on System Properties ### When `csdm.lifecycle.sync.between.ci.and.asset.activated` is `false` (default) * Updates to an Asset's legacy status and substatus values synchronize to IBI and CI using mapped CSDM values. * IBI updates to life cycle stage/status sync back to Asset's legacy status/substatus and then to CI. * CI status/substatus updates sync to Asset, which then syncs to IBI using CSDM mapping. * Example: Asset state change to "In use" updates life cycle stages and syncs corresponding CI and IBI values. ### When `csdm.lifecycle.sync.between.ci.and.asset.activated` is `true` (or when "Enable life cycle sync" is selected) * Legacy status/substatus updates on Asset are mapped and synced directly to CI's status/substatus and CSDM life cycle stages. * Asset and CI status/life cycle stage values are synchronized directly, enhancing synchronization accuracy. * IBI synchronization occurs only via CSDM life cycle value pairs. * Updates from IBI life cycle stages sync legacy Asset status/substatus, which then sync with CI. * CI life cycle stage/status updates sync directly to Asset and then cascade to IBI. ## Benefits for ServiceNow Customers * Ensures consistent and accurate life cycle tracking across Asset, CI, and IBI records. * Supports migration from legacy status values to CSDM-aligned life cycle stages, enabling modernization of data models. * Provides flexibility through system property settings to control synchronization behavior based on organizational needs. * Enables better reporting and management of items through aligned life cycle states, improving service delivery and asset management. ## Next Steps ServiceNow customers should review and configure the relevant system properties to activate synchronization appropriate to their environment. Enabling life cycle synchronization on the Life cycle mappings list view simplifies setup and ensures direct syncing between CIs and Assets. Understanding these synchronization flows helps maintain data integrity across Asset, CI, and IBI records aligned to CSDM standards. Your organization gains significant value from your ServiceNow AI Platform applications when you take advantage of the option to directly map legacy status values to CSDM life cycle stage and life cycle stage status values and auto-synchronize the values going forward. ## How Asset, CI, and IBI life-cycle values are synced {#cmdb-asset-CI-IBI-sync-options__section_kbn_hnx_vbc} Any item that is provided as a service or sold to your customer is tracked as an Install Base Item (IBI). The Model category table associates Asset, CI, and IBI for the item. Synchronization between asset and IBI : When the model category is configured as a product instance, the system synchronizes the life cycle values between asset and IBI using the CSDM life cycle stage and life cycle stage status life-cycle value pairs. Synchronization between asset and CI : When the csdm.lifecycle.migration.activated system property is set to true on your instance, synchronization between the asset and CI tables depends on the csdm.lifecycle.sync.between.ci.and.asset.activated system property setting: * When the csdm.lifecycle.sync.between.ci.and.asset.activated property is set to false (default), synchronization occurs through the legacy status and substatus values. * When the csdm.lifecycle.sync.between.ci.and.asset.activated property is set to true, the system syncs the CSDM life cycle stage and life cycle stage status values directly. This option provides significant benefits to your organization. Important: The property is set to true when you select Enable life cycle sync on the Life cycle mappings list view. {#cmdb-asset-CI-IBI-sync-options__ul_cqc_wmn_vbc} ## Life-cycle synchronization when the system property is set to false (the default setting) {#cmdb-asset-CI-IBI-sync-options__section_zty_tj4_vzb} When the csdm.lifecycle.migration.activated system property is set to true and the csdm.lifecycle.sync.between.ci.and.asset.activated system property is set to false: Synchronization of updates from asset to IBI and CI : Updates made to the status or substatus value of an asset are synced with the associated IBI and CI. For example, when the State value of the asset is updated to In use, synchronization happens as follows: * The life cycle stage and life cycle stage status values of the asset are set to Operational and In use, these values are then synced with life cycle stage and life cycle stage status values of IBI asset. * The status and substatus values of the CI change to Installed and In use. {#cmdb-asset-CI-IBI-sync-options__ul_h4j_hn4_vzb} Synchronization of updates from IBI to asset and CI : Updates made to the life cycle stage and life cycle stage status values of an IBI asset are synced with the legacy status and substatus values of the asset through the CSDM values. The status and substatus values of the asset are then synced with the associated CI. For example, when the life cycle stage and life cycle stage status values of an IBI asset are updated to Defective and In Stock, synchronization happens as follows. 1. The life cycle stage and life cycle stage status values of the asset change to In Stock and Defective. These values are synced with the status and substatus values of the asset. 2. The status and substatus values of the asset are then synced with the associated CI. {#cmdb-asset-CI-IBI-sync-options__ol_gwn_wm4_vzb} Synchronization of updates from CI to asset and IBI : Updates made to the status and substatus values of a CI are synced with the associated asset. The status and substatus values of the asset are then synced with the life cycle stage and life cycle stage status values of the IBI asset through the CSDM values. For example, when the status and substatus values of a CI are updated to Retired and Donated, the corresponding values of the asset change. The changes from the asset are synced with the IBI asset and the life cycle stage and life cycle stage status values change to End of Life and Retired. ## Life-cycle synchronization when the system property is set to true {#cmdb-asset-CI-IBI-sync-options__section_z2s_rqd_ybc} When the csdm.lifecycle.migration.activated system property is set to true and the csdm.lifecycle.sync.between.ci.and.asset.activated system property is set to true (or you select the select Enable life cycle sync on the Life cycle mapping table list page, as described in [Enabling life-cycle synchronization from legacy to asset](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/4foLtvBk5wcmwzK9GMXHtA#csdm-life-cycle-standard-values "You can align life-cycle values for each product instance on the asset, CI, and IBI tables. A one-time process moves legacy status values for asset and CI across the platform to standard CSDM life-cycle value pairs (life cycle stage and life cycle stage status). Business rules then run regularly to promote identical IBI, asset, and CI life-cycle data for each product instance.")): Synchronization of updates from asset to CI and IBI : Updates made to the legacy status and substatus values of the asset are synced between the asset and CI as follows: * The life cycle stage and life cycle stage status values of the asset are updated with values mapped to the legacy status and substatus values of the asset. * The status and substatus values of the asset are then directly synced with the status and substatus values of the associated CI. * The life cycle stage and life cycle stage status values of the asset are then directly synced with the associated CI. {#cmdb-asset-CI-IBI-sync-options__ul_phy_yst_vbc} However, synchronization of updates from asset to IBI is only through the CSDM life-cycle value pairs. Synchronization of updates from IBI to asset and CI : Updates made to the life cycle stage and life cycle stage status values of the IBI are synced as follows: * The legacy status and substatus values of the asset are synced with the CSDM life-cycle value pairs. * The status and substatus values of the asset are synced with the status and substatus values of the associated CI. * The life-cycle value pairs of the asset are directly synced with the associated CI. {#cmdb-asset-CI-IBI-sync-options__ul_ryn_nqt_vbc} Synchronization of updates from CI to asset and IBI : Updates made to the life cycle stage and life cycle stage status values of a CI are synced as follows: * The life cycle stage and life cycle stage status values of the CI are directly synced with the associated asset. * The status and substatus values of the asset are then updated with the values mapped to the CSDM values. * The status and substatus values of the asset are then synced with the associated CI. * The status and substatus values of IBI are synced with the asset through the CSDM life-cycle value pairs. {#cmdb-asset-CI-IBI-sync-options__ul_ql2_xqt_vbc} **Related reference** * [Asset status values aligned to CSDM life cycle values](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/hhTJ61dq3WLkWGggMW8wSQ "Legacy status values for Asset and Hardware Asset CIs are aligned with CSDM life cycle stage and life cycle stage status values.") **Related topics** * [Asset and CI management](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/access?context=c_ManagingAssets&version=australia&pubname=australia-it-asset-management&ft:locale=en-US)