Transform maps for IBM License Metric Tool (ILMT) and BigFix Inventory integration v1 APIs

  • Release version: Zurich
  • Updated July 31, 2025
  • 4 minutes to read
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    Summary of Transform maps for IBM License Metric Tool (ILMT) and BigFix Inventory integration v1 APIs

    When importing data from IBM License Metric Tool (ILMT) or BigFix Inventory using version 1 of their integration APIs, ServiceNow uses predefined transform maps to convert this data into ServiceNow tables. These transform maps enable the processing and organization of data related to virtual machines, hosts, software installations, and license usage within your ServiceNow instance.

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    Key Features

    • Default Transform Maps Provided: ServiceNow offers default transform maps for ILMT and BigFix Inventory data that transform source tables into target ServiceNow tables, facilitating the integration process.
    • ILMT Computer Identity V1 Transform Map: Converts identification data from the source Computer table to the CMDB Computer table, creating configuration item (CI) records for VMs or hosts using the CMDB Identification and Reconciliation Engine (IRE) API. It ensures that if a VM shares a hardware serial number with its host, only the host’s CI is created. Note that hardware serial numbers containing periods (.) are not supported.
    • ILMT Software Instance Transform Map: Processes IBM software component and product installation data, storing records in the IBM Peak Consumption table. It treats software products as installations for license tracking and reconciliation purposes.
    • ILMT Software License Usage Transform Map: Processes license usage data for IBM software products, updating or creating records in the IBM Peak Consumption table. License usage is reported only against physical hosts since IBM licenses based on physical host usage, not VMs.
    • Use of Field Maps and Transform Scripts: Each transform map uses field mappings to align source and target fields, combined with event-driven transform map scripts (onStart, onAfter, onComplete) to control processing stages during import.

    Data Processing Details

    • ILMT Computer Identity V1: Maps key fields such as IP address, domain name, CPU details, hardware serial number, and host name. It uses an onAfter script to finalize processing after each row transformation.
    • ILMT Software Instance: Uses an onComplete script to process data after the entire import finishes, ensuring comprehensive handling of software installation data.
    • ILMT Software License Usage: Utilizes an onStart script to process license usage data at the beginning of the import, allowing pre-processing before data mapping.

    Practical Benefits for ServiceNow Customers

    • Automates the integration of IBM ILMT and BigFix Inventory data into ServiceNow’s CMDB and related tables, reducing manual data entry and errors.
    • Enables effective tracking and reconciliation of IBM software licenses by linking installation and usage data to configuration items.
    • Supports license compliance efforts by providing accurate, up-to-date license usage information tied to physical hosts.
    • Leverages ServiceNow’s Identification and Reconciliation Engine (IRE) to ensure accurate CI creation and management.

    When you import data from the IBM License Metric Tool (ILMT) or BigFix Inventory using version 1 of the ILMT and BigFix Inventory integration APIs, your ServiceNow instance uses transform maps to process this data into ServiceNow tables.

    Default ILMT and BigFix Inventory transform maps

    By default, ServiceNow provides the following transform maps for ILMT and BigFix Inventory data when you are using version 1 of the ILMT and BigFix Inventory APIs:

    Table 1. Default ILMT and BigFix Inventory transform maps
    Transform Map Source Table Target Table Description
    ILMT Computer Identity V1 Computer [imp_samp_ilmt_computer_system] Computer [cmdb_ci_computer]

    Processes identification data for your virtual machines (VMs) and hosts.

    The ILMT Computer Identity V1 transform map uses the CMDB IRE API to create a configuration item (CI) record for each VM or host in the Computer [cmdb_ci_computer] table. If a VM uses the same hardware serial number as its host, the transform map creates a CI record for only the host. For more information on the CMDB IRE API, see Identification and Reconciliation engine (IRE).

    Note:
    ServiceNow does not support hardware serial numbers containing periods (.).
    ILMT Software Instance ILMT Software Instance [imp_samp_ilmt_sw_instance] Global [global]

    Processes installation data for each IBM software component and product on your VMs and hosts.

    Software components are the independent units of software that you install or run on a VM. You can identify but not license software components individually. Software products are the units of software packaging on a host that can comprise of a collection of software components. You can license the software product as a whole. For more information on software components and products, refer to the IBM Knowledge Center.

    The ILMT Software Instance transform map creates a record for each IBM software component and product installation in the IBM Peak Consumption [samp_ilmt_sw_install] table.

    Note:
    Although software products are not actual software installations, the transform map treats them as installations so that you can update and track license usage against each software product for reconciliation and compliance purposes.
    ILMT Software License Usage License Consumption [imp_samp_ilmt_license_usage] Global [global]

    Processes license usage data for your IBM software products. You can use this data to reconcile your IBM software products and verify compliance.

    Note:
    License usage data is reported against physical hosts only, as IBM software products are licensed based on physical host usage and not virtual machine (VM) usage.

    The ILMT Software License Usage transform map updates license usage data on corresponding records in the IBM Peak Consumption [samp_ilmt_sw_install] table. If a corresponding record does not exist, the transform map creates a record for your license usage data with the version set to Not reported.

    ILMT and BigFix Inventory data processing

    Each ILMT and BigFix Inventory transform map processes data using field maps or transform map scripts.

    ILMT Computer Identity V1 transform map

    The ILMT Computer Identity V1 transform map processes data from the source Computer [imp_samp_ilmt_computer_system] table to the target Computer [cmdb_ci_computer] table using both field maps and a transform map script.

    By default, the ILMT Computer Identity V1 transform map includes the following field maps:

    Table 2. Default field maps
    Source Field Target Field Description
    u_ip_address ip_address IP address of the host or virtual machine.
    u_dns_name dns_domain Domain name of the host or virtual machine.
    u_server_processors cpu_count Number of CPUs or virtual CPUs (vCPUs) on the host or virtual machine.
    u_host_name name Name of the host or virtual machine.
    u_processor_brand_string cpu_name Brand name of the CPU or vCPU on the host or virtual machine (for example, IBM).
    u_server_cores cpu_core_count Number of CPU or vCPU cores on the host or virtual machine.
    [Script] discovery_source Discovery source that pulls in IBM software installation data. Possible values are ILMT or BigFix Inventory.
    [Script] virtual Option indicating whether a machine is virtual.
    u_processor_brand cpu_type Type of CPU or vCPU on the host or virtual machine (for example, dual core CPU).
    u_hardware_serial_number serial_number Serial number that identifies the host.

    In addition to using field maps, the transform map processes data using the onAfter transform map script, which is an event script that processes at the end of each row transformation. For more information on this transform map script, see Map with transformation event scripts.

    ILMT Software Instance transform map

    The ILMT Software Instance transform map processes data from the source ILMT Software Instance [imp_samp_ilmt_sw_instance] table to the target IBM Peak Consumption [samp_ilmt_sw_install] table using the onComplete transform map script. The onComplete transform map script is an event script that processes at the end of an import. For more information on this transform map script, see Map with transformation event scripts.

    ILMT Software License Usage transform map

    The ILMT Software License Usage transform map processes data from the source License Consumption [imp_samp_ilmt_license_usage] table to the target IBM Peak Consumption [samp_ilmt_sw_install] table using the onStart transform map script. The onStart transform map script is an event script that processes at the beginning of an import. For more information on this transform map script, see Map with transformation event scripts.