Integrating with the IBM License Metric Tool (ILMT) or BigFix Inventory using v1 APIs

  • Release version: Zurich
  • Updated July 31, 2025
  • 2 minutes to read
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    Summary of Integrating with the IBM License Metric Tool (ILMT) or BigFix Inventory using v1 APIs

    This integration enables ServiceNow customers to connect IBM servers running the IBM License Metric Tool (ILMT) or BigFix Inventory with the ServiceNow AI Platform using version 1 (v1) of the integration APIs. This connection allows importing software installation data into ServiceNow for effective tracking and optimization of IBM software licensing, specifically full capacity and sub-capacity processor value unit (PVU) and resource value unit (RVU) licenses.

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    Important: Version 1 APIs have been deprecated by IBM, but ServiceNow’s Software Asset Management application still supports them for existing integrations. New setups should use version 2 APIs instead.

    Key Features

    • Establish connections between IBM servers and ServiceNow AI Platform using HTTP or HTTPS.
    • Retrieve historical software installation data including products, components, editions, hosts, virtual machines, and license usage.
    • License usage data is measured at the product level rather than the component level.
    • Activation of the Software Asset Management Professional for IBM (com.snsampibm) plugin provides an IBM Server connection alias for setup.
    • Data import uses transform maps to accurately process IBM data into ServiceNow tables.

    Prerequisites and Setup

    • ILMT or BigFix Inventory must be installed, configured, and running on physical hosts or virtual machines.
    • ILMT version 9.2.7 or later is required.
    • All IBM configuration item (CI) data—such as serial numbers, names, and IP addresses—must be correctly configured for accurate CMDB record creation.
    • IBM ILMT agents must be configured to scan physical hosts and VMs following IBM usage measurement guidelines.
    • ILMT or BigFix Inventory must be enabled to discover configurations of both physical and virtual environments and their relationships.
    • IBM components must be classified and bundled into IBM products within ILMT or BigFix Inventory.
    • The Software Asset Management property Connect to ILMT using (snsampibmlic.ilmtapiversion) must be set to use v1 APIs.

    Next Steps

    For customers setting up new IBM integrations, it is recommended to use version 2 of the APIs instead of v1 due to deprecation. Guidance on version 2 API integration is available separately.

    Existing customers using v1 APIs can continue leveraging this integration with the outlined prerequisites and configuration steps to maintain IBM license tracking and optimization within ServiceNow.

    You can use version 1 of the IBM License Metric Tool (ILMT) and BigFix Inventory integration APIs to create a connection between your IBM servers and the ServiceNow AI Platform.

    This connection enables you to import software installation data into your ServiceNow instance so that you can track and optimize full capacity and sub-capacity processor value unit (PVU) and resource value unit (RVU) licensing for your IBM software products.

    Important:
    Version 1 of the ILMT and BigFix Inventory integration APIs have been deprecated by IBM. However, the Software Asset Management application continues to support integrations that are using this version of the APIs. If you are setting up an ILMT or BigFix Inventory integration for the first time, use version 2 of the APIs instead. For more information on setting up the integration using version 2 of the APIs, see Integrating with the IBM License Metric Tool (ILMT) or BigFix Inventory using v2 APIs. For more information on the deprecation of these APIs, see Deprecated REST APIs.

    Integration between ILMT and ServiceNow.

    The ILMT and BigFix Inventory integration enables you to create connections between one or more IBM servers and the ServiceNow AI Platform using HTTP or HTTPS. Upon activating the Software Asset Management Professional for IBM (com.sn_samp_ibm) plugin, you receive an IBM Server connection alias that you can then use to set up your IBM server connections. If a connection is successful, the Software Asset Management application retrieves historical software installation data within the aggregated period that you defined in ILMT or BigFix Inventory. This data includes products, components, editions, hosts, virtual machines, and license usage.
    Note:
    License usage is based on product use and not component use.

    Prerequisites

    To track your IBM full capacity and sub-capacity PVU and RVU licenses using this integration, you must complete the following prerequisites:
    • Install, set up, and run ILMT or BigFix Inventory on a physical host or virtual machine (VM).
      Important:
      When you are setting up ILMT, ensure that all required configuration item (CI) data, including serial numbers, names, and IP addresses, is configured correctly so that your ServiceNow instance can accurately create corresponding CI records in the Configuration Management Database (CMDB). Refer to KB0691430 for more details.
    • Install ILMT version 9.2.7 or later.
    • Configure your IBM ILMT agents to scan your physical hosts or VMs in compliance with IBM usage measurement guidelines.
      Note:
      Refer to Measuring License Use for more information on IBM usage measurement guidelines.
    • Enable ILMT or BigFix Inventory to discover the configurations of both physical hosts and VMs as well as the relationships between them.
    • Classify and bundle IBM components into IBM products through ILMT or BigFix Inventory.
    • Set the Connect to ILMT using (sn_samp_ibm_lic.ilmt_api_version) Software Asset Management property to v1 API's. For more details on this property, see Software Asset Management properties.