Clone Admin Console release notes

  • Release version: Washingtondc
  • Updated February 1, 2024
  • 3 minutes to read
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    Summary of Clone Admin Console release notes

    The ServiceNow® Clone Admin Console application in the Washington DC release offers a streamlined admin experience and improved visibility for managing data cloning between instances. This tool enhances one of the most utilized automation processes within the platform.

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    Key Features

    • Simplified Clone Request Experience: New request page provides guidance on settings affecting clone operations.
    • Scheduling Tool: Helps prevent timing conflicts between clone operations and maintenance schedules.
    • Enhanced Dashboard: Offers visibility into current clone activities.
    • Personalization Options: Allows for more customization on the homepage list view.
    • Internationalization: Available in multiple languages.
    • On-Demand Backup: Ability to use fresh backups for immediate inclusion of recent changes in clones.
    • Recurring Clones: Options for scheduling clones weekly or bi-weekly, with each being a separate request.
    • Clone Storage Management: New clones and legacy clones are stored separately for better organization.
    • Rollback Options: Provides the ability to rollback completed clones within specified timeframes.

    Key Outcomes

    With the Washington DC release, ServiceNow customers can expect a more efficient cloning process, enhanced visibility of clone operations, and improved management capabilities. The updates aim to reduce potential conflicts and streamline the overall cloning workflow, enabling better handling of instance data across deployments.

    The ServiceNow® Clone Admin Console application relies on the existing clone engine. It provides a unified admin experience and enhanced visibility for cloning data between instances, which is one of the most-used automations. The Clone Admin Console was enhanced and updated in the Washington DC release.

    Clone Admin Console highlights for the Washington DC release

    • Experience a simplified clone request experience.
    • Help prevent timing conflicts with a new scheduling tool.
    • Use the dashboard to view current clone activity with enhanced visibility.
    • View additional personalization options on the homepage list view.
    • Internationalization provides Clone Admin Console in multiple languages.

    See Clone Admin Console for more information.

    Important:
    Clone Admin Console is available in the ServiceNow Store. For details, see the "Activation information" section of these release notes.

    New in the Washington DC release

    Request a clone in Clone Admin Console
    The app features a simplified clone request page with guidance and explanations for how various settings affect your clone. The new request page also features a scheduling tool to help prevent timing conflicts between the automatic rescheduling of clones and infrastructure maintenance windows.
    Guidance
    Learn how some clone options may affect your clone time with added information and guidance.
    On-demand backup option
    Use a fresh backup as part of your clone. This option can be useful if you want to include newly published changes in your clone and you don’t want to wait for the next nightly backup.
    Clone Logs
    See the Show Logs link that is added to display the Clone Logs on the Clone Status page when selected.
    Recurring clones
    Create recurring clones using the clone frequency options on the clone request page. The clone frequencies are Weekly, Every two weeks, and Every four weeks.
    Note:
    Each occurrence is created as a separate clone request. If changes are required, you must change the individual clone requests that are created.
    Target instance modal
    Add an instance or select an existing instance without leaving the page using the add an instance option in the clone request target instance field.
    Use the same backup as another clone
    Use the same backup as another clone when selecting a backup option. If the backup no longer exists, it triggers an on-demand backup instead.
    Clone storage
    Legacy clones and new clones are stored separately. Clones requested via the Clone Admin Console are stored on a new table and displayed within the new console.  Legacy clones aren't shown in the console. Clones initiated via the legacy Request Clone page are stored on the legacy Clone History table.

    UI changes

    Clone status
    On the homepage, you can see the status of clones created via the console. If you select an in-progress clone, you can see all the settings you picked and the exact step where the clone currently is. Completed clones provide you with a rollback option and how long you can roll back your clone. Rollback is typically available for seven days after your clone has been completed or two days for sharded databases.
    Create new clone preserver
    On the Create New Clone Data Preserver page, a message notifies you of the Clone Duration Impact when using preservers. The message also instructs you to consider using conditions to preserve only the data you need.

    Removed in this release

    The requirement to have at least one custom preserver in any custom clone profile for a clone request to be placed has been removed. You can now have a custom clone profile with only base system preservers to place a clone request.

    Activation information

    Clone Admin Console is a ServiceNow AI Platform feature that is active by default.

    Related ServiceNow applications and features

    System clone
    Use the System Clone application to copy everything in a database from one instance to another.