Define the interface card details

Review, update, or create a network asset instance for an interface card that you use in your telecommunications equipment. You define these attributes so that you can track and manage your network assets in the Telecommunications Network Inventory application.

Before you begin

Role required: sn_ni_core.inventory_admin, sn_ni_core.inventory_agent, sn_ni_core.inventory_template_manager, sn_ni_core.telco_inventory_catalog_manager

About this task

The equipment ports can be physical or logical (virtual). The network interface data includes the port availability, bandwidths, slots, software version, MAC address, firmware manufacturer, and version. When you create a network interface card record, it creates a corresponding configuration item (CI) record in the Interface Card [cmdb_ci_ni_interface_card] table. To learn more, see Data model for Telecommunications Network Inventory.

Procedure

1. Navigate to Workspaces > Network Inventory Workspace.
2. Click the list icon (), and then go to Inventory > Interface Cards.
   Note:

   You can also access the Interface Card list by clicking the Interface Card count in the Network entities by categories widget of the Network Inventory Workspace landing page. To learn more, see Reviewing and updating your network inventory with the Network Inventory Workspace.
3. Click New.
4. On the Details tab, in the Interface Card section, fill in the general information for the network interface card.
   Interface Card form describes fields that are unique to the Interface Card form.

   To learn about the remaining identification fields that are common to most of the Inventory and Inventory number allocation menu forms, see Commonly used network asset instance identification fields.

5. On the Details tab, in the Configuration section, fill in the configuration information for the interface card.
   The following table lists the fields that are unique to the Configuration section.

   To learn about the remaining configuration fields that are common to most of the Inventory menu forms, see Commonly used network asset instance configuration fields.

   Table 1. Interface Card form - Configuration

   Field	Description
   Software Version	Version of the firmware that is used in this network asset.
   MAC Address	Assigned Media Access Control (MAC) address for the network asset. It’s the network address that is used in communications within a network segment.
   Firmware manufacturer	Manufacturer of the firmware.
   Firmware version	Version of the firmware that is used in this network asset.

6. To create the Telecommunications Network Inventory attributes for the Interface Card form, click Set Inventory Attributes.
   When you click the Set Inventory Attributes button, it creates a reference in the CI table.

   Note:

   If you click Save without clicking Set Inventory Attributes, it creates a CI record but not a Telecommunications Network Inventory CI record.

7. On the TNI CI Attributes form, fill in the fields.

   To learn more about the Telecommunications Network Inventory attribute fields, see TNI CI Attributes form.

8. Click Save.

   The Telecommunications Network Inventory attribute fields are displayed on the Interface Card form after you save the TNI CI Attributes form. The Set Inventory Attributes doesn't appear when you reopen the CI record.

9. To add the attachments, such as graphics or documents, click the attachment icon () in the right panel.
10. Click Save.
    The related tabs appear on the form. You can view or modify the related tab information. To learn more about the related tabs, see Related tabs in the Network inventory forms.
11. Optional: To view the Dependency views map, select Dependency View.

    The Dependency Views map graphically displays the CIs that support the specific network asset and the relationships between the CIs.

12. To view the visual representation of the selected record, select Open Map button.
    Note:

    Install CMDB Workspace 3.5.0 or greater version to get this button in your instance. To learn more, see CMDB Workspace.
13. Optional: Select Add Packs to capture the attributes for a configuration item (CI) record.
    To learn more, see Using an attribute pack for a CI record.
14. Optional: Select Decommission to decommission a CI record.
    To learn more, see Decommission an inventory record.
15. To view the associated network inventories, click the brick icon ().

    The Infrastructure Relationships section shows all the associated network inventories grouped by the individual network asset instances.

What to do next

• If you want to establish relationships with the other network assets, enter the details in the related tabs. To learn more, see Related tabs in the Network inventory forms.

• To delete an inventory record, see Delete an inventory record.