Implementing normalization data services using guided setup
Summarize
Summary of Implementing normalization data services using guided setup
This guide explains how to implement Normalization Data Services in your ServiceNow instance using a guided setup. The guided setup streamlines configuration by providing a sequence of tasks to activate the necessary plugin, download normalized data, update reference qualifiers, activate normalization properties, and normalize data across key tables.
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Note that Normalization Data Services requires an internet connection to download mapping information, so it is not supported on on-premise instances.
Key Features
- Plugin Activation: Activates the Normalization Data Services plugin (com.glide.dataservicescanonicalization.client), which installs the schema needed to normalize references to Company records in the CMDB and Asset Management modules.
- Downloading Normalized Data: Downloads a repository of enterprise vendor names and their normalized mappings. This data is viewable in the Normalized Company Names [cdsclientname] table and verified in the Normalized Mappings [cdsclientmapping] table.
- Updating Reference Qualifiers: Modifies reference qualifiers on fields linked to the Companies [corecompany] table so users select from normalized company names only, improving data consistency (e.g., users will select “Dell Inc.” instead of variants like “Dell” or “Dell (UK)”). Some manual updates may be necessary for certain qualifiers.
- Activating Normalization Properties: Allows you to enable specific properties such as “Normalize existing canonical corecompany records” to ensure only one canonical record exists when duplicates were previously marked normalized. This prevents conflicts and ensures consistent normalized values in CMDB records.
- Data Normalization: The final step applies normalization to data in key tables including Configuration Items (CMDB), Models, and Software Asset Management tables, ensuring all relevant records reference normalized company names.
Practical Benefits
- Ensures consistency and accuracy in company name references across your CMDB and Asset Management data.
- Improves data quality by consolidating duplicate or variant company names into a single normalized form.
- Streamlines data governance and reporting by using standardized company references.
- Facilitates easier maintenance and integration by relying on normalized data structures.
Getting Started
To begin, navigate to Normalization Data Services > Guided Setup in your ServiceNow instance and follow the sequential tasks. Ensure your instance has internet connectivity to download necessary mapping data. Refer to the knowledge base article KB0784201 for manual normalization guidance if some reference qualifiers are not automatically updated.
You can implement Normalization Data Services using a guided setup.
Normalization Data Services guided setup provides a sequence of tasks that help you configure the Normalization Data Services plugin on your instance. To open Normalization Data Services guided setup, navigate to . For more information about using the guided setup interface, see Using guided setup.
Activating the plugin
In the first task of the guided setup, you activate the Normalization Data Services plugin (com.glide.data_services_canonicalization.client). Activating the plugin installs all the necessary schema to support normalizing references to Company records in the customer management database (CMDB) and Asset Management.
Downloading normalized data
In this task, you download the repository of all enterprise vendor names and the mappings to their normalized counterparts. After the download finishes, you can view the downloaded data in the Normalized Company Names [cds_client_name] table. You can verify mappings in the Normalized Mappings [cds_client_mapping] table. For example, you can verify that “Dell”, “DELL”, “Dell (UK)” are mapped to “Dell Inc.”.
Updating reference qualifiers
This task modifies the reference qualifiers in reference fields linked to the Companies [core_company] table, helping to ensure that users can only select from a list of normalized company names. For example, when creating a Computer (cmdb_ci_computer) record, users can only select “Dell Inc.” and not “Dell” or “Dell Incorporated”.
Some reference qualifiers may not get updated. To normalize these reference qualifiers manually, see KB0784201.
Activating normalization properties
In this task, select the properties you want to activate. See Normalization properties.
Enable the Normalize existing canonical core_company records property if the Companies [core_company] table has two or more records that were both set to Normalized ("canonical=true") before any mapping. This option ensures only one [core_company] record is set to Normalized. When you normalize the CMDB tables later in guided setup, the normalization job reassigns the proper normalized value.
For example, prior to mapping, both “DELL Inc” and “Dell Inc.” are set to Normalized ("canonical=true"). You define a new mapping for “DELL Inc” to “Dell Inc.”. If this property is true, guided setup denormalizes "DELL Inc", and updates the manufacturer field in the CMDB records to “Dell Inc." when the CMDB tables are normalized.
Normalizing data
To finish the guided setup, complete the remaining tasks by normalizing data in the following tables:
- Configuration Items (CMDB)
- Configuration Items (CMDB) Model
- Software Asset Management tables