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User Guide
February 2013
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5
Populating Oracle field information for external data tables using a command
line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Using the Oracle adapter rule helper utility on UNIX platforms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Using the SQL Server Adapter Rule Helper utility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Populating SQL Server field information for multiple external data tables . . . . . 48
Populating SQL Server field information for multiple external data tables using a
Windows based application. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Populating SQL Server field information for BMC Atrium Integration Engine on
Windows and BMC Remedy AR System on UNIX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Using the XML Adapter Rule Helper utility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Using the File Adapter Rule Helper utility. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Chapter 4 Creating data mappings for BMC Atrium CMDB relationship classes 83
Overview of the relationship data mapping process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Methods for mapping relationship classes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Attributes in the member CI classes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Data in an external data store. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
High-level steps in the relationship data mapping process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Defining data mapping parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Defining relationship keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Defining attribute field mappings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Defining delete field mappings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Defining queries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Defining a primary class query . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Defining a secondary class query . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Defining a relationship class query . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Defining an external data store query. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Setting data mapping options. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
6 User Guide
Chapter 5 Creating data mappings for BMC Remedy AR System forms 109
Overview of the data mapping process for BMC Remedy AR System forms . . . . . 110
Defining data mapping parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Defining the primary key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Defining data field mappings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Setting response fields . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Defining delete field mappings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Defining queries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Defining a data key query . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Defining an update query . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Defining a response query . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Defining a delete query . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Setting data mapping options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Populating the rule control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
7
Chapter 7 Activating event-driven data exchanges 187
Creating a request on the Application Pending form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Creating a request using the aiexfer utility. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Examples of the event-driven request command syntax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Completion codes returned by aiexfer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Activating an event-driven data exchange through workflow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
8 User Guide
Glossary 245
Index 255
9
10 User Guide
Chapter
The BMC Atrium Integration Engine product enables you to transfer data between
an external data store and BMC Remedy Action Request System (BMC Remedy
AR System) forms or BMC Atrium Configuration Management Database (BMC
Atrium CMDB) classes. You can use the included adapters for Microsoft SQL
Server, Oracle®, IBM® DB2® Universal Database™, XML, and flat files such as
comma-separated value (CSV) files. You can also use the BMC Atrium Integration
Engine Adapter Development Kit to build your own adapters to meet your
organization’s specific needs.
Atrium Integrator replaces BMC Atrium Integration Engine. You can continue
using BMC Atrium Integration Engine for existing data mappings and exchanges,
but BMC recommends that you use Atrium Integrator for all new data transfers.
BMC Atrium Integration Engine will be deprecated in a future release.
The following topics are provided:
! Overview of BMC Atrium Integration Engine (page 16)
! Calbro Services user story in BMC Atrium Integration Engine documents
(page 17)
! BMC Atrium Integration Engine components (page 17)
! Data transfer process (page 21)
! Performance considerations (page 23)
! Using multiple data exchanges (page 25)
! Roles and permissions (page 26)
! BMC Atrium Integration Engine in a server group environment (page 28)
! Datasets (page 30)
! Getting started (page 32)
! Accessing the Data Exchange Console (page 32)
! Accessing the BMC Atrium Integration Engine monitoring console (page 34)
External
data store
BMC Remedy
AR System
BMC Atrium form
Integration
Data Engine
object
BMC Atrium
CMDB class
During the data transfer, BMC Atrium Integration Engine identifies the records to
be transferred and performs some or all of the following tasks, depending upon
how you have configured your data exchange:
! Reads records
! Creates new records
! Updates records
! Deletes records
16 User Guide
Calbro Services user story in BMC Atrium Integration Engine documents
Data Exchange
application
Application
Pending form
BMC Remedy BMC Atrium BMC Atrium
AR System CMDB Integration
APIs APIs Engine
Adapter Development
Kit interface
? ? ?
DB2 Oracle SQL Server XML Flat Other Other Other
database database database file file data store data store data store
Adapters provided by BMC Atrium Integration Engine Custom adapters (not included)
18 User Guide
BMC Atrium Integration Engine components
AIE service
The AIE service obtains the defined data exchange from the Data Exchange
application and completes the transfer of data by communicating with the adapter
specified in the data exchange definition. Adapters are software, either provided
by BMC or custom-built, that provide access to external data and responds to calls
from BMC Atrium Integration Engine during a data exchange.
The AIE service can connect to any BMC Remedy AR System server running on
Microsoft Windows or UNIX® operating system. It does not need to reside on the
same computer as the BMC Remedy AR System server or the external data stores,
but can be on any computer that is network-connected to both of these.
The AIE service runs as a client to the BMC Remedy AR System server using the
BMC Remedy AR System application programming interface (API). For
information about the BMC Remedy AR System APIs, see the BMC Remedy Action
Request System 7.7.00 C API Reference.
20 User Guide
Data transfer process
Initialization phase
The initialization phase prepares a data exchange to run. The AIE service performs
the following tasks:
The AIE service loads all the rules defined in the Data Exchange application and
prepares the C++ objects defined by the Adapter Developer Kit. The rules include
the data exchange definition, the data mapping rules, and all adapter-defined
configuration parameters and rules.
The AIE service connects to both the source and target data stores. A BMC Remedy
AR System form or BMC Atrium CMDB class can serve as either the source or the
target.
The AIE service does not transfer data at this point, but a connection to both data
stores is necessary to validate rules.
The AIE service validates rules owned by BMC Atrium Integration Engine. During
validation, the AIE service indicates if any errors or warnings were detected and if
the rules are ready to be used in a data exchange.
At the same time, the adapter is called to validate adapter-owned rules. During
validation, the adapter indicates if any errors or warnings were detected and if the
rules are ready to be used in a data exchange.
After the rules are validated, the AIE service disconnects from both data sources.
At the end of the initialization phase, the AIE service starts a thread to manage the
data exchange process.
During this phase, the BMC Atrium Integration Engine debug facilities record all
data exchange and data handling rules.
Processing phase
In the processing phase, the transfer of data takes place. This phase begins when a
data exchange is executed, which can be scheduled or event driven.
During the processing phase, the AIE service performs the following tasks:
Before data is exchanged, the AIE service checks the Data Exchange application to
determine if any changes were made to the data exchange definition. If changes
were made, the AIE service updates the loaded data exchange with the new
definition.
The AIE service connects to both the source and target data stores for each data
exchange. The AIE service communicates through the BMC Remedy AR System
API or BMC Atrium CMDB API to pull data out of and push data into those data
stores. The AIE service uses the adapter to pull data out of and push data into the
external data store.
The AIE service obtains a list of keys from BMC Remedy AR System or BMC
Atrium CMDB and prompts the adapter to create a list of keys. The AIE service
converts the keys to a common data type (if necessary) and then sorts the keys into
the same order so that it can compare the key lists.
The AIE service compares the keys and determines from the data exchange
definition how new and existing records should be treated. The AIE service
decides on a key-by-key basis whether to create, update, or delete records. For each
key, adapters can be called to read, write, update, or delete a record.
If during data transfer the AIE service or the BMC Remedy AR System server stops
responding, BMC Atrium Integration Engine provides failover support for the
incomplete data exchanges. The next time the AIE service starts, the data
exchanges resume from the point they had stopped, thus avoiding repetition of
data insertion.
After all keys are processed, the data transfer is considered complete. The AIE
service closes the connection to BMC Remedy AR System or BMC Atrium CMDB
and prompts the adapter to close the connection to the external data store.
NOTE
The thread and adapter remain active, unless the data exchange is deactivated in
the Data Exchange application or the AIE service is terminated. In either of those
events, the adapter .dll is released and the thread terminates.
22 User Guide
Performance considerations
In this phase, the AIE service debug file shows all rules retrieved from the Data
Exchange application and the type of the data defined by the rule. The debug file
also identifies the success or failure of the data transfer and shows a detailed error
message when any errors occur in the AIE service or in BMC Remedy AR System.
Performance considerations
Performance considerations for BMC Atrium Integration Engine are difficult to
quantify because performance is affected by your network, BMC Remedy
AR System, the BMC Remedy AR System server database, and the external data
store load. It is difficult to predict the effect of a specific change on BMC Atrium
Integration Engine performance, but configuration considerations can influence it.
Although it is easy to add field mappings or extra rules for each field, remember
that each item you add is compared against every record in your database.
Seemingly minor additions could have major effects if your database contains
many records. For example, if you have 1200 records in your database and the
change that you make adds an additional half-second to the run time for each
record, the data transfer might take an additional 10 minutes to run.
However, you can use multiple instances, multiple sessions, and multithreading to
increase throughput and improve overall system performance. The use of these
performance options is described in Table 1-1.
NOTE
Setting multiple instances, multiple sessions, and multithreading are all part of
creating a data exchange.
Best practices
Following are some best practices to improve the performance of BMC Atrium
Integration Engine:
! Transfer data in chunks and use separate AIE service instances to transfer the
chunks of data.
! Transfer data in chunks, using separate AIE service instances for the transfers,
as described in “Using multiple data exchanges” on page 25.
! Create index entries on:
! BMC_BaseElement class for keys that are used as primary keys
! Relationship keys for relationship data exchanges
! External data stores for exchanges with the External Data to CMDB data
direction and for relationship data exchanges
! Provide minimum and maximum values for the Fast Thread and List Thread
options in the BMC Remedy AR System Administration Console. For more
information about Fast Thread and List Thread and how to specify the number
ofthreads, see the BMC RemedyAction Request System 7.7.00 Configuration Guide.
! Specify the number of threads to be used to run the data exchange. The default
is three times the number of CPUs detected on the computer where BMC
Atrium Integration Engine is installed. The maximum number of threads that
you can specify is 49.
! Create separate disks for storing data and log information.
24 User Guide
Using multiple data exchanges
Storage
devices
Data
Data
Other
components
Software
NOTE
The users that you create for BMC Atrium Integration Engine must also have the
CMDB Data Change All role. Otherwise, they cannot create data exchanges.
Consider the following points when you create groups and users for the AIE
Definitions Admin and AIE User roles:
! You must use a Regular group with the Change group type for this role.
! The user must have a fixed license.
! You must map the same group to the CMDB Definitions Viewer role in the
Production state. For information about this role, see the BMC Atrium CMDB
7.7.00 Administration Guide.
26 User Guide
Roles and permissions
TIP
All instances of BMC Atrium Integration Engine in a server group should be
running on BMC Atrium Integration Engine host computers to support server
group environment.
Prerequisites
Before installing BMC Atrium Integration Engine in a server group, make sure that
you have configured BMC Remedy AR System servers in a server group setting
through the BMC Remedy AR System Administration Console. For more
information, see “Running servers as part of a group” in the BMC Remedy Action
Request System 7.7.00 Configuration Guide.
For BMC Atrium Integration Engine to work in a server group environment for
DB2 adapters, the DB2 Alias name must be the same on all BMC Atrium
Integration Engine host computers in the server group.
The SRVGROUP parameter in the aie.cfg file is set to Yes when you install BMC
Atrium Integration Engine in a server group environment.
TIP
When you have installed BMC Atrium Integration Engine in a server group, make
sure that the value of the SRVGROUP parameter is set to Yes in the aie.cfg file
before you execute data exchanges.
Set the following parameters in the aie.cfg file for a server group environment:
! DB2InstName
! FileDataPath
! OraDbDirPath
! PrivateRPCPort
WARNING
If you fail to set the correct value for these parameters in the aie.cfg file, errors
might occur during data transfer.
28 User Guide
BMC Atrium Integration Engine in a server group environment
When you upgrade from an earlier version of BMC Atrium Integration Engine to
7.5.00 or later, you must manually add an entry for BMC Atrium Integration
Engine installed in a server group in the AR System Server Group Operation
Ranking form. For information about this form, see the BMC Remedy Action Request
System 7.7.00 Configuration Guide.
TIP
Make sure that all BMC Atrium Integration Engine host computers in the server
group have the same alias name as their internal instance name.
Table 1-3 describes the instances created on the secondary server when BMC
Atrium Integration Engine is installed.
Table 1-3: BMC Atrium Integration Engine instances in a server group
The instance names on the secondary servers are the same as those on the primary
server. Consequently, even when you select a secondary server to execute a data,
the name of the primary server is displayed.
When an AIE service executes a data exchange, it queries the BMC Remedy
AR System server for the status of each instance of the AIE service. The AIE service
chooses the instance that is running to execute the data exchange.
Debug files
The debugging information for a BMC Atrium Integration Engine instance in a
server group is available in the following files:
! atriumcore_install_log.txt and AppsEntryModify.out: These files are
created after you install BMC Atrium Integration Engine on secondary servers
in a server group. The Atrium_core_install.log file shows if the server
group installation is successful.
A data exchange debug file is also generated on the BMC Atrium Integration
Engine host computers on which the instances have run the data exchanges.
! _aieEventListener.dbg: A message is logged in this file when the AIE service
starts for the data transfer or if a BMC Remedy AR System server goes down
during a data exchange.
! aiexfer.out: This file is generated in the BMC Remedy AR System server
installation directory that is useful in debugging.
Datasets
A dataset is a logical group of data in BMC Atrium CMDB. It is a collection of CIs
and relationships for a given purpose. A dataset can represent data from a
particular source or a snapshot from a particular date.
You can also use datasets for other methods of partitioning data, such as to
represent production data or obsolete data. You can use datasets to hold:
! Subsets of your overall data such as departments or regions
! Data from different companies for multitenancy
! Test data
The primary purpose of datasets is to partition data according to the data
providers. Each discovery application you use should store the data it stores in a
separate dataset. You can also use datasets for any other logical group of data.
A dataset can contain only one instance of a given CI. Another instance might exist
in a different dataset to represent the same CI. Instances that represent the same CI
or relationship across datasets share the same reconciliation identity or
reconciliation ID. All CIs and relationships in BMC Atrium CMDB reside in a
particular dataset, which is specified by the value of their DatasetID attribute.
You cannot have an instance that is not in a dataset.
30 User Guide
Datasets
BMC discovery products and BMC Asset Management provide the default
datasets in BMC Atrium CMDB as shown in Table 1-4:
The BMC Asset dataset is used as the production dataset and is used by BMC
products for reconciled data. The Reconciliation Engine merges data from multiple
import datasets in the BMC Asset dataset. Data consumers should use this
consolidated view of your data and you should base your business decisions on
the data in this dataset.
NOTE
You should not use BMC Atrium Integration Engine to transfer data directly into
BMC Asset. Instead, transfer it into another dataset and reconcile it into BMC
Asset.
If you use a non-BMC product to discover products, you should create a different
dataset to bring in this data. For information about creating datasets, see the BMC
Atrium CMDB 7.7.00 Normalization and Reconciliation Guide.
You can use the default datasets provided in BMC Atrium CMDB or the custom
datasets that you create for your data in BMC Atrium Integration Engine.
When you transfer data using BMC Atrium Integration Engine, you can select the
dataset to or from which data should be transferred by selecting the Restrict to
Dataset option. When you select this option, the data is transferred to or from a
single dataset that you specify. This option always uses a regular dataset.
For more information about configuring datasets, see the BMC Atrium CMDB
7.7.00 Normalization and Reconciliation Guide.
Getting started
The following outline illustrate the high-level steps that you take to prepare for
transferring data. See the recommended area of the BMC Atrium Integration
Engine documentation for specific instructions on each step.
NOTE
If you are working in a server group environment, make sure that you have
installed workflow binaries on all servers of the server group; otherwise the BMC
Atrium Integration Engine workflow will not function.
This simplifies the process of creating data mappings by allowing you to choose
field names from a menu instead of manually typing them. For instructions, see
“Using the adapter rule helper utilities” on page 40.
Step 2 Create a data mapping to specify which data should be transferred and where it
should go.
For instructions, see “Creating data mappings for BMC Atrium CMDB CI classes”
on page 53, “Creating data mappings for BMC Atrium CMDB relationship classes”
on page 83, or “Creating data mappings for BMC Remedy AR System forms” on
page 109.
Step 3 Create a data exchange to control the execution, direction, and other characteristics
of your data transfers.
32 User Guide
Accessing the Data Exchange Console
c Click Accounts and select the BMC Remedy AR System server where the Data
Exchange application is installed.
d Click Options to set the Preference Server settings.
e In the Preference Server field, specify the server name if your administrator has
set up a preference server for centralized user preferences. If a Preference Server
has not been set up, you can manually add a preference server (and the TCP and
RCP port information, if necessary). For more information about preference
servers, see the BMC Remedy Action Request System 7.7.00 Configuration Guide.
f In the Authentication field, specify the authentication string provided by your
administrator.
3 Click OK.
Depending on your setup, the application will open to the BMC Remedy
AR System Home Page or the BMC Remedy AR System without the Home Page.
The Home Page includes a navigation pane with various links to BMC Remedy
AR System forms and applications including BMC Atrium Integration Engine. The
link to BMC Atrium Integration Engine is abbreviated as AIE Console.
4 If the Home Page appears, click AIE Console on the navigation pane.
The Data Exchange Console appears.
5 If the Home Page does not appear, Choose File > Open > Object List.
The Object List appears.
6 Double-click AIE Console.
The Data Exchange Console appears.
The Data Exchange Console shows the sample data exchanges that are installed
with the product. Using this console, you can create a new data exchange, select an
existing data exchange to modify or delete, copy a data exchange, verify a data
exchange configuration, run a data exchange on demand, and activate a data
exchange.
34 User Guide
Accessing the BMC Atrium Integration Engine monitoring console
! To access the BMC Atrium Integration Engine monitoring console in the BMC
Atrium Core Console
1 Launch your browser and enter the URL designated by your administrator:
http://midtier:port/atrium/AtriumConsole
! midtier is the name of the web server where the BMC Remedy Mid Tier is
installed.
! port is the port number of the web server where the BMC Remedy Mid Tier is
installed, which is required only if the web server is not using the default port
(80).
2 In the login screen, enter:
! User name
! Password
! Authentication string (if one was provided by the administrator)
3 Click Log In.
4 On the Welcome screen of the BMC Atrium Core Console, click Application
Launcher on the left-hand side.
5 Mouse over the Applications icon, click AIE to open the BMC Atrium Integration
Engine monitoring console.
6 View the data exchanges in the monitoring console by selecting them in the
navigation pane.
The details of the data exchange appear in the display pane.
By default the History tab is selected. You can sort the data exchange runs
according to the status and also specify the dates using the calendar to view the
data exchanges.
7 Select a run of the data exchange and expand it to view the details about the data
exchange run.
For more information about the data exchange details that you can view, see “The
History tab” on page 36.
8 Select the Data Mappings & Schedule tab.
You can view the details of the data exchange such as Exchange Name, Instance
Name, AR Server Name. The data mappings associated with the data exchange
and their respective execution schedules are also displayed. For more information
about the details on this tab, see “The Data Mapping & Schedule tab” on page 37.
A status bar showing the progress of each run is also displayed, along with the
following details of the data exchange run:
Table 1-5: Fields on the History tab
Field Description
Job Run ID Displays the ID of the job.
Status Displays the status of the data exchange run.
Start time Displays the time at which the data exchange run was started.
End time Displays the time at which the data exchange run was completed.
If the data exchange run is running, aborted, or not responding,
this field remains blank.
Total Number of For CI or BMC Remedy AR System form data mappings, this field
Records displays the total number of records from the source or destination,
whichever is greater in number.
For relationship data mappings, this field displays the total
number of records from the relationship class or vendor-based
table, whichever is greater in number.
Number of Records Displays the number of records that have been processed.
Processed
Number of Records Displays the number of records that have not been transferred.
Failed
Number of Records Displays the number of records that have been successfully
Successful transferred.
36 User Guide
Accessing the BMC Atrium Integration Engine monitoring console
38 User Guide
Chapter
In BMC Atrium Integration Engine, you can populate the field menus that are used
for creating data mappings. You can populate these field menus in the Database
Field Menus Console. This section describes how to use the adapter rule help
utilities.
The following topics are provided:
! Using the adapter rule helper utilities (page 40)
! Using the DB2 Adapter Rule Helper utility (page 40)
! Using the Oracle Adapter Rule Helper utility (page 44)
! Using the SQL Server Adapter Rule Helper utility (page 47)
! Using the XML Adapter Rule Helper utility (page 52)
! Using the File Adapter Rule Helper utility (page 52)
Populating DB2 UDB field information using the Database Field Menus
Console
The following steps describe how to populate DB2 UDB fields for multiple external
data tables.
40 User Guide
Using the DB2 Adapter Rule Helper utility
! To populate DB2 UDB field information for multiple external data tables
1 From the BMC Atrium Core console, click Configuration > Database Field Menus
to view the Database Field Menus Console.
2 On the DB2 tab, specify your database instance, database alias, login name, and
password.
NOTE
Make sure that you specify the database alias of your local BMC Remedy Action
Request System (BMC Remedy AR System) database.
9 From the Available Tables and Views list, select a table or view, and click Add.
The table or view is added to the Selected Tables and Views list. The Loading
Database Tables and Views status initially appears in the bottom left portion of the
window. When BMC Atrium Core has loaded all tables and views, this status
changes to Finished Loading Tables and Views.
10 Click Update Database Field Menus.
The rule menus with the table and view names are populated into the
AIE:VendorFieldNames form. This form provides the field names to the rule
menus in the data mapping windows.
The status of the Load Table & View Names and Update Database Field Menus
operations appears in the Status field.
Populating DB2 UDB field information for external data tables using a
command line
The following steps describe how to populate DB2 UDB fields for external data
tables using a command line.
! To populate DB2 UDB field information for multiple external data tables
using a command line
1 Type the following command:
aieInstallationDir/service/bin/db2helper -ax
BMCRemedyARSystemServerName -ar 0 -al Demo -ap -da DB2Alias -dl
DB2Login -dp DB2Password -to DB2User or DB2Owner -di
DB2InstanceName
2 If you want to use the rule helper utilities located in the installation directory of
BMC Remedy AR System, type the following command:
On Windows:
BMCRemedyARSystemServerInstallationDir\db2helper -ax
BMCRemedyARSystemServerName -ar 0 -al Demo -ap -da DB2Alias -dl
DB2Login -dp DB2Password -to DB2User or DB2Owner -di DB2InstanceName
On UNIX:
BMCRemedyARSystemServerInstallationDir/bin/db2helper -ax
BMCRemedyARSystemServerName-ar 0 -al Demo -ap -da DB2Alias -dl
DB2Login -dp DB2Password -to DB2User or DB2Owner -di DB2InstanceName
3 After you execute the command, click Refresh Table List on the Database Field
Menus Console window to populate the Available Tables and Views list.
4 From the Available Tables and Views list, select the table or view.
42 User Guide
Using the DB2 Adapter Rule Helper utility
5 Click Add to add the selected table or view to the Selected Tables and Views list.
6 After the Selected Tables and Views list is populated with table names, use the
following command to populate the table fields in the AIE:VendorFieldNames
form:
aieInstallationDir/service/bin/db2helper -ax
BMCRemedyARSystemServerName-ar 0 -al Demo -ap -da DB2Alias -dl
DB2Login -dp DB2Password -di DB2InstanceName -c
where
-c (Create menu to AIE:VendorFieldNames form)
! To populate DB2 UDB field information for a single external data table using
a command line
Type the following command:
aieInstallationDir/service/bin/db2helper -ax
BMCRemedyARSystemServerName-ar 0 -al Demo -ap -da DB2Alias -dl
DB2Login -dp DB2Password -di DB2InstanceName -to TableOwner -tn
TableName -c
You must use the following additional parameters:
! -c — Create menu to AIE:VendorFieldNames form
! -to tableOwner —Valid table name in capital letters.
! -tn tableName —Valid table name owned by the table owner named in the
-to parameter.
NOTE
The DB2InstanceName variable is case-sensitive.
Using the DB2 UDB adapter rule helper utility on UNIX platforms
For UNIX platforms, you can run the db2helper.sh script located in the
BMCRemedyARSystemServerInstallationDir/bin directory. This script
internally invokes the rule helper utility for DB2 UDB.
NOTE
For the DB2 UDB rule helper, if you have the BMC Remedy AR System server
installed on UNIX, you must change the db2helper.sh script to set the DB2 UDB
client installation directory.
NOTE
You must enter the path to the parent of the lib/lib32 directory only. For Oracle,
the path derives from the command-line parameter.
2 On the Oracle tab, specify the SID, database directory, login name, and password.
44 User Guide
Using the Oracle Adapter Rule Helper utility
3 In the DB Directory field, type the Oracle home directory where you will execute
the Oracle rule helper utility.
4 Click Test Connection to verify the Oracle connection parameters.
The Test Connection button label changes to Get Result.
5 Click Get Result.
A dialog box displays the test result.
6 If the verification was unsuccessful, correct the listed errors and test the connection
again.
7 Click OK and Save.
8 In the Limit tables and views in schema field, perform one of the following actions:
! Leave this field blank to have BMC Atrium Integration Engine retrieve all tables
and views.
! Type a user (owner) name in this field to retrieve only the tables and views
owned by that user. This field is case-sensitive.
9 Click Load Table & View Names to populate the tables and views in the Available
Tables and Views list.
10 From the Available Tables and Views list, select the table or view, and click Add.
The table or view is added to the Selected Tables and Views list. The Loading
Database Tables and Views status initially appears in the bottom left portion of the
window. When BMC Atrium Core has loaded all tables and views, this status
changes to Finished Loading Tables and Views.
11 Click Update Database Field Menus.
The rule menus with the table and view names are populated into the
AIE:VendorFieldNames form. This form provides the field names to the rule
menus in the data mapping windows.
The status of the Load Table & View Names and Update Database Field Menus
operations appears in the Status field.
! To populate Oracle field information for multiple external data tables using
a command line
1 Type the following command:
aieInstallationDir\service\bin\rlohelper -ax
BMCRemedyARSystemServerName -ar ARPort -al ARUser -ap ARPassword -
os SID -ol DBUser -op DBPassword -oh OracleDBDirectory -oa SID -to
DBOwner -d
where
-d (Debug)
2 If you want to use the rule helper utilities located in the installation directory of
BMC Remedy AR System, type the following command:
On Windows:
BMCRemedyARSystemServerInstallationDir\rlohelper -ax
BMCRemedyARSystemServerName -ar ARPort -al ARUser -ap ARPassword -
os SID -ol DBUser -op DBPassword -oh OracleDBDirectory -oa SID -to
DBOwner -d
On UNIX:
BMCRemedyARSystemServerInstallationDir/bin/rlohelper -ax
BMCRemedyARSystemServerName -ar ARPort -al ARUser -ap ARPassword -
os SID -ol DBUser -op DBPassword -oh OracleDBDirectory -oa SID -to
DBOwner -d
3 After you execute the command, click Refresh Table List on the Database Field
Menus Console window to populate the Available Tables and Views list.
4 From the Available Tables and Views list, select the table or view.
5 Click Add to add the table or view to the Selected Tables and Views list.
6 After the Selected Tables and Views list is populated with table names, use the
following command to populate the table fields in the AIE:VendorFieldNames
form:
aieInstallDir\service\bin\rlohelper -ax
BMCRemedyARSystemServerName-ar ARPort -al ARUser -ap ARPassword -
os SID -ol DBUser -op DBPassword -oh OracleDBDirectory -c -d
where
! -c — Create menu to AIE:VendorFieldNames form
! -d — Debug
46 User Guide
Using the SQL Server Adapter Rule Helper utility
! To populate Oracle field information for a single external data table using a
command line
Type the following command:
aieInstallationDir\service\bin\rlohelper -ax
BMCRemedyARSystemServerName-ar ARPort -al ARUser -ap ARPassword -
os SID -ol DBUser -op DBPassword -oh OracleDBDirectory -c -d -to
TableOwner -tn TableName
where -d (Debug)
You must use the following additional parameters:
! -c — Create menu to AIE:VendorFieldNames form
! -to table Owner — Valid table name in capital letters.
! -tn tableName — Valid table name owned by the table owner named in the -
to parameter.
NOTE
The SQL Server adapter is not supported on UNIX and Linux® platforms, because
the SQL OLEDB API that is used is proprietary to Microsoft and not supported on
UNIX and Linux. An instance of BMC Atrium Integration Engine installed on
UNIX cannot communicate with a SQL Server database.
! To populate SQL Server field information for multiple external data tables
1 From the BMC Atrium Core console, click Configuration > Database Field Menus
to view the Database Field Menus Console window.
2 Click the SQL Server tab.
3 In the Server Name field, type the name of your SQL Server.
4 In the Database Name field, type the name of your SQL Server database.
5 Perform one of the following actions:
! Type your user name in the Login Name field and the password in the Password
field.
! Select the Enable Windows Authentication check box if you want to use
Windows authentication for your database. When you select this option, you do
not need to type a login name or password.
NOTE
If you specify Windows Authentication for your database, make sure that the
Windows service is set to run as a Windows Log On As user that has permissions
to the vendor database. For more information about Windows authentication, see
“SQL Server authentication” on page 158.
48 User Guide
Using the SQL Server Adapter Rule Helper utility
! To populate SQL Server field information for multiple external data tables
using a Windows based application
1 From the Windows Start menu, choose Run.
2 In the Open field of the Run dialog box, browse to select the path of the Rule
Helper utility.
NOTE
The utility is located in the aieInstallationDir\service\bin and
BMCRemedyARSystemServerInstallationDir directories.
Use the Database Connection tab to define connection information to locate the
SQL Server database (used as a rule source) and the BMC Remedy AR System
server where the Data Exchange application is installed.
5 In the Microsoft SQL Server Connection area, perform the following tasks:
a In the Database Server field, type the name of the Windows host where the SQL
Server database is installed.
b In the Database Name field, type the name of the SQL Server database from
which the Rule Helper utility obtains table and view definitions.
c In the User Name field, type the user name for connecting to the SQL Server
database.
The user must have privileges to read the system catalog to obtain the definition
of the database objects used in the exchange. The user must also have access to
the objects used in the data exchange.
d In the Password field, type the password associated with the user name used to
connect to the SQL Server database.
e To enable Windows authentication for database connection, select the Enable
Windows Authentication check box.
For example, the user who is logged on to BMC Atrium Core will be considered
for database authentication. For more information about Windows
authentication, see “SQL Server authentication” on page 158.
50 User Guide
Using the SQL Server Adapter Rule Helper utility
6 In the BMC Remedy AR System Server Connection area, provide the following
information about your BMC Remedy AR System server:
a In the AR Server field, type the host name.
b In the TCP Port field, type the port number.
c In the User Name field, type the user name for the administrator.
d In the Password field, type the password for the administrator.
7 Click Test SQL and AR Connection to test the connection to your SQL Server
database and BMC Remedy AR System database.
8 Click the Main tab to view the SQL Server database tables and views information
window.
52 User Guide
Chapter
A data mapping defines how data in the source corresponds to data in the target
and which actions to take when transferring between them. This section provides
instructions for creating data mappings between an external data store and the
attributes of a BMC Atrium Configuration Management Database (BMC Atrium
CMDB) CI class.
The following topics are provided:
! Example CMDB data scenario (page 54)
! Before creating data mappings (page 55)
! Overview of the data mapping process (page 57)
! Defining data mapping parameters (page 58)
! Defining the primary key (page 63)
! Defining data field mappings (page 65)
! Setting response fields (page 68)
! Defining delete field mappings (page 70)
! Defining queries (page 72)
! Setting data mapping options (page 78)
NOTE
Figure 3-1 shows one way that external data might be stored. You can store data in
an external database in a single table or in other multiple tables.
Figure 3-1: Organization of the computer and disk drive database tables
Computer table
NOTE
The following sections use the BMC_DiskDrive CI class as an example in
explaining how to create a data mapping. Creating a data mapping for the
BMC_ComputerSystem CI class is similar.
54 User Guide
Before creating data mappings
! DatasetId
! Submitter
Make sure that you populate the attributes used in the Standard Rules for
identification with unique values when you transfer data. This ensures that you
can use a Standard Job for reconciliation. Following are the attributes that you
should populate:
! TokenId
! Name
! SerialNumber
! HostName
! Domain
! VersionNumber
You can refer to the Identification Rules in the Standard Rules Editor to verify
what attributes the Reconciliation Engine uses for each class.
For CIs of products that are populated in the Product Catalog, populate the
ManufacturerName and Model attributes to allow CIs to be normalized.
! Populate the attributes that are used for categorization. For information about
how to populate the categorization attributes, see the BMC Atrium Core 7.7.00
Product Catalog and DML Guide.
! Transferring data from flat files
Make sure that you do not include more than 100,000 records in a single flat file
for data mapping. If you add more than 100,000 records, performance degrades.
Flat files can be in a .dat or .csv format. You must also create a .tbl file to
define the columns and the delimiter used in the .dat or .csv file. The.tbl file
must have the same name and be located in the same folder as the .dat or .csv
file. If your .tbl file does not specify a data type for each field, BMC Atrium
Integration Engine interprets them as character fields.
For a .dat file, you must manually create a .tbl file. For more information, see
the sample .tbl files in the aieInstallationDir\service\data directory.
For a .csv file, use the filehelper utility of BMC Atrium Integration Engine to
automatically generate the .tbl file. Make sure that the .csv file and the
filehelper utility are available on the same computer. Otherwise, the utility
cannot locate the .csv files.
NOTE
If you make changes to the .csv file (such as add a new column or change the
name of an existing column) after you have created the corresponding .tbl file,
the changes are not automatically reflected in the .tbl file. When you open the
data mapping for the .csv file, the .tbl file is regenerated and the new or updated
fields are displayed in the list of attributes. You can map the new or updated fields
to attributes in BMC Atrium CMDB. If the fields contain line breaks (CRLF) and
commas, you must enclose the fields in double-quotes.
56 User Guide
Overview of the data mapping process
You must specify the mapping name, direction, namespace, external data store,
and delete options. For more information, see “Defining data mapping
parameters” on page 58.
You must specify the primary key that uniquely identifies a row of data. Attributes
from a CI class and an external data store together constitute a primary key. For
more information, see “Defining the primary key” on page 63.
You must define data mappings to specify the fields and attributes that should be
transferred. For more information, see “Defining data field mappings” on page 65.
When a record is created or updated in the target, a value is created. You can set
response fields to store this value in the source. For more information, see “Setting
response fields” on page 68.
You can update a record in the target when a corresponding record is deleted in
the source. For more information, see “Defining delete field mappings” on
page 70.
You can create queries for BMC Atrium CMDB and external data stores to limit the
transfer of data to meet certain criteria. You can create data key, update, response,
and delete queries. For more information, see “Defining queries” on page 72.
You can set several preferences for a data mapping. For more information, see
“Setting data mapping options” on page 78.
NOTE
Before you create any data mappings, make sure that you have an account in your
source database and that you have created the necessary permissions in that
database.
TIP
If your external data store is a DB2 UDB, Oracle, or SQL Server data store, creating
a data mapping is easier and faster if you first populate the database field menus
in the CI Class Mapping Information window with values from your database.
This allows you to select the columns of your database tables from a list instead of
typing them on all the mapping and query tabs of the window. For instructions on
populating database field menus, see “Populating database field menus” on
page 39.
58 User Guide
Defining data mapping parameters
3 In the Quick Links bar of the Home page, click AIE Console.
The Data Exchange Console appears.
4 On the navigation pane, select Integration Objects > CI Class Mappings.
The CI Class Mapping Console appears.
5 Click New.
The CI Class Mapping Information window appears.
! For Table Name, you must use the correct syntax or BMC Atrium Integration
Engine cannot find the specified table. The case-sensitive syntax for this field is
as follows:
! DB2 UDB: DatabaseOwner.TableName
! Oracle: DATABASEOWNER.TABLENAME
! SQL Server: DBO.TableName
In the example scenarios, Calbro Services uses SQL Server databases to save
their data. The Printers.dbo tables are specified as the source for the data
mapping of printer CIs.
! For File Name, specify the absolute path to your file but do not include the
extension in its name. For example, you might specify the following path for a
ExportedComputerSystems.xml file on Windows:
C:\Program Files\BMC Software\BMC Atrium Integration Engine\
myserver-0\service\data\ExportedComputerSystems
For information about preparing your flat files for the data transfer, see
“Transferring data from flat files” on page 56.
12 If this data mapping uses the XML adapter, type the name of the element that
identifies each row of data in the Row Element field.
Each row of data that becomes an instance in BMC Atrium CMDB is enclosed by
this element in your .xml file. For example, if your file looked like the following
example, you would enter myrecord in the Row Element field.
<class type=”CI”>
<name>DiskDrive</name>
<myrecord>
<attributes>
<name>Disk 1520</name>
<serialnumber>23541</serialnumber>
<partnumber>MFG729817</partnumber>
<associatedcomputer>Computer 910</associatedcomputer>
</attributes>
</myrecord>
<myrecord>
<attributes>
<name>Disk 1523</name>
<serialnumber>24781</serialnumber>
<partnumber>MFG729817</partnumber>
<associatedcomputer>Computer 912</associatedcomputer>
</attributes>
</myrecord>
</class>
For information on preparing your .xml files for the data transfer, see
“Transferring data from .xml files” on page 57.
When creating mapping for a child record of an XML file, you can now access the
parent record elements along with child record elements. For more information,
see “Accessing parent record elements along with child record elements from an
XML file” on page 62.
60 User Guide
Defining data mapping parameters
13 If you want to use this data mapping to transfer data to or from more than one
BMC Atrium CMDB dataset, leave the Restrict to DatasetId option cleared.
Otherwise, select it and choose the dataset that you want to use from the list.
Datasets are used primarily to represent separate data providers. Make sure that
each data provider has its own import dataset.
WARNING
If you do not select this option, you must create a data field mapping for the
DatasetId attribute of your class. Without this mapping, BMC Atrium Integration
Engine does not know which dataset the data should be transferred to (or from),
and your data transfer fails.
NOTE
This option depends on a setting in the data exchange used with this data
mapping. See the If a Record Is Deleted From Source option on the Main tab of the
Data Exchanges Information window. If that option is set to Delete according
to data mapping, the selection that you make here takes effect. If instead the data
exchange is set to Do not delete, no delete action is taken regardless of this
setting in the data mapping.
For example, Calbro Services uses the Mark as Deleted option for transferring the
computer systems data into the centralized database. Records that are deleted in
the source database are marked as deleted in the centralized database. If the
deleted records are reestablished in the source database, the records marked as
deleted can be reestablished, thus avoiding duplicate and orphan instances.
15 Click Create.
NOTE
When you click Create, all fields on the Main tab except for Mapping Name and
Restrict to DatasetId become unavailable, and you can no longer edit this
information.
The CI Class Mapping Information window expands to include tabs for Primary
Key Mapping, Data Field Mapping, Response Field Mapping (if this is not a flat file
data mapping), Delete Field Mapping, Query, and Options.
TIP
If there is more than one parent for the child, you should not combine mapping
attributes from different parent classes while creating a child mapping.
62 User Guide
Defining the primary key
A primary key uniquely identifies a row of data. You must specify the attributes of
the CI class and the corresponding fields in the external data store that together
make up the primary key. After a data transfer, the primary key is the link that
matches a record in the external data store with its counterpart in BMC Atrium
CMDB.
Best practices
When choosing an attribute as a primary key, consider the following points:
! Do not use an attribute whose value could change or could be NULL. For
example, do not use Description, because the value of the Description
attribute could be NULL or could change. If the primary key of a record is NULL,
the record cannot be identified and the record cannot be transferred.
If your external database has records with empty values, you can create a view
of your external database to filter out such records. You can then create a data
mapping based on this view.
! Choose a unique attribute that you can also use for identification during
reconciliation. You can choose attributes to use for the primary key that are
already in the standard identification rule. This makes sure that you can use a
Standard Job for reconciliation. For more information about a Standard Job, see
the BMC Atrium CMDB 7.7.00 Normalization and Reconciliation Guide.
! If you cannot use the standard rules, you should use attributes inherited from
BMC_BaseElement class. This simplifies your reconciliation setup by allowing
multiple classes to inherit identification rules from the BMC_BaseElement class.
For the sample scenario shown in Figure 3-1 on page 54, you would define a
primary key that relates a serial number in the SerialNumber column of the Disk
Drive table with the SerialNumber attribute in the BMC_DiskDrive class.
The Mapped Attributes table on this tab lists all field mappings defined for the
data mapping.
NOTE
You must define a key to complete a data mapping. The key can contain more than
one attribute from each side.
2 In the CI Class Attributes table, select an attribute to be part of this primary key.
In the sample scenario, Calbro Services uses SerialNumber.
When a class attribute is updated in BMC Atrium CMDB, BMC Atrium Integration
Engine automatically updates the attributes in the CI Class Attributes table when
you create a new mapping or open an existing data mapping.
3 In the External Data Store Attributes table, select an attribute to be part of this
primary key.
In the sample scenario, Calbro Services uses SerialNumber.
4 Click Add to add this pair of attributes to the primary key.
The attributes appear in the Mapped Attributes table.
5 Repeat steps 2 through 4 for each primary key attribute that you want to map.
When you have a primary key with more than one attribute from each side, the
expressions are joined together with an AND operator. That means a data row in
the external data store matches an instance in BMC Atrium CMDB only if each pair
of attributes in the primary key matches.
6 Click Save.
64 User Guide
Defining data field mappings
You must define data field mappings to specify which fields or attributes should
be transferred during a data exchange. For the sample scenario, you would define
field mappings for name, serial number, part number, and associated computer.
These attributes are the database columns in Figure 3-1 on page 54 in the Disk
Drive table.
NOTE
If you did not select the Restrict to DatasetId option on the Main tab, you must
create a data field mapping for the DatasetId attribute. Without this mapping,
BMC Atrium Integration Engine does not know which dataset the data should be
transferred to (or from), and your data transfer fails.
NOTE
If you are following the scenario from “Example CMDB data scenario” on page 54
and map relationships according to “Attributes in the member CI classes” on
page 85, you should know that the BMC_DiskDrive CI class already includes
attributes for name, serial number, and part number. These attributes are called
Name, SerialNumber, and PartNumber. However, by default no attribute for
associated computer exists. You must create the AssociatedComputer attribute in
BMC Atrium CMDB using the Class Manager. For more information about
creating attributes, see the BMC Atrium CMDB 7.7.00 Administration Guide.
2 In the table that represents your target, select an attribute to which you want to
transfer data.
If the direction of this data mapping is External Data into CMDB, the CI Class
Attributes table represents your target. If the direction is CMDB Data into External
Data Store, the External Data Store Attributes table represents your target.
WARNING
Do not map the same attributes that you mapped for the primary key. The primary
key mapping also serves as a data field mapping, so those attribute values are also
transferred.
For the sample scenario, you would use the Name attribute in the CI Class
Attributes table. This is the BMC_DiskDrive attribute in BMC Atrium CMDB that
is the destination of the field mapping.
TIP
The fields that are mandatory and must be mapped are displayed in red in the CI
Class Attributes table. If you have selected the Restrict to DatasetId option, you do
not need to map the DatasetId attribute.
66 User Guide
Defining data field mappings
Depending on the rules that you select, you might need to use one or more
source attribute names as part of the syntax. To avoid typing one of these
attribute names, you can select it before selecting the first rule.
For example, to create a target value that is a concatenation of the source
SerialNumber and PartNumber attributes, you would build the following
expression:
function|concat($SerialNumber$, $PartNumber$)
In the sample scenario, the abbreviation that Calbro Services used for the name
of the marketing department is changed from “Mktg” to “MKTG.” Calbro
Services uses the following rule to make that change in the database for the
computer systems used in the marketing department:
function|replace("Mktg", "ktg", upper("ktg"))
In this example, the upper rule is used to change the case of the letters ktg to an
uppercase KTG. This example is also an instance of nested rules. You can make
BMC Atrium Integration Engine keep the current value of a mapped attribute
instead of over-writing it with a NULL value on subsequent data transfers. To
do this, build an expression that uses a combination of precedence rules and
TargetSQL statements.
In the sample scenario, Calbro Services wants to transfer data from the
dbo.ComputerSystem.ResourceID field only if the value is not NULL.
Otherwise, they want to keep the value in the target database. They would use
the following expression:
{ResourceID}{TargetSQL|Select DatasetID from BMC_DiskDrive where
Name = $Name$}
For the sample scenario, you would use the Name attribute in the External Data
Store Attributes table. This is the field in the external data store that is the source
of the field mapping.
4 Click Add.
The mapping is added to the Mapped Attributes table.
5 If you want to maintain history entries for this target field, select the field in the
Mapped Attributes table and click Enable History.
If the Enable History button is not enabled, go to the Options tab and select Yes for
the Maintain Change History For Fields option.
This feature is best used on fields that are not likely to change frequently.
6 Repeat steps 2 through 5 to create mappings for each attribute that you want to
populate in a data transfer.
For the sample scenario, you would create mappings for the serial number, part
number, and associated computer attributes.
7 Click Save.
Your data field mappings are complete. You can enable and disable a data field
mapping to debug a data exchange by selecting it in the Mapped Attributes table
and clicking Enable or Disable. If a particular field causes problem when a data
exchange is run, you can temporarily disable it.
The Response Field Mapping tab enables you to specify fields that are updated in
the source record after a record is created or updated in the target.
Best practice
Typically, you use a response field when a value is generated at the time a target
record is created or modified, and you want that value stored in the source record.
For example, you might need to store the ID number of the target record just
created, or you might want to update a time stamp in the source data indicating
the time that a transfer took place.
68 User Guide
Setting response fields
The Mapped Attributes table lists all response fields defined for the data mapping.
2 In the table that represents your source, select an attribute to serve as your
response field.
If the direction of this data mapping is External Data into CMDB, the External Data
Store Attributes table represents your source. If the direction is CMDB Data into
External Data Store, the CI Class Attributes table represents your source.
TIP
The fields that are mandatory and must be mapped are displayed in red in the CI
Class Attributes table.
4 Click Add to add the response field to the Mapped Attributes table.
5 Repeat steps 2 through 4 for each response field that you want to create.
6 Click Save.
The Delete Field Mapping tab enables you to update a record in the target when its
corresponding record has been deleted in the source. These mappings can update
any attribute in the target.
NOTE
The mappings on this tab are unavailable if the If a Record Is Deleted From Source
option on the Main tab is set to Permanently Delete or if the same option on the
associated data exchange is set to Do not delete. To define delete field mappings,
you must set these options to Mark as Deleted and Delete according to data
mapping, respectively.
70 User Guide
Defining delete field mappings
2 Select an attribute from the CI Class Attributes table or External Data Store
Attributes table.
Only the table that corresponds to your target for this data mapping is shown.
TIP
The fields that are mandatory and must be mapped are displayed in red in the CI
Class Attributes table.
3 Select a rule from the Rules table and, if necessary, complete its syntax in the field
underneath the Rules table.
Remember that you cannot include values of source attributes for a delete field
mapping because the source record does not exist.
4 Click Save.
Defining queries
Queries enable you to limit the exchange of data that meets certain criteria. You can
create a query for BMC Atrium CMDB, the external data store, or both.
NOTE
If you do not use the Query tab, all the data in the data source is transferred and
all records are eligible for updates, responses, and delete actions.
TIP
To update only records that have changed in the source since the previous data
transfer, you do not need to use a query. To accomplish this, use the Only New or
Updated Since Last Transfer option on the Options tab, as described in step 7 on
page 81.
Table 3-1 shows the query types that are supported for BMC Atrium CMDB
classes.
72 User Guide
Defining queries
2 On the Data Key Query tab, define the search criteria in the CMDB Query and
External Data Store Query fields, to limit the data retrieved by using the following
steps:
a Click CI Class Fields or External Data Store Fields to enter a valid field in the
query statement.
NOTE
The External Data Store Query uses SQL syntax specific to your external data store.
It does not use the BMC Remedy Action Request System (BMC Remedy
AR System) syntax like other query fields.
NOTE
The SRC field is prefixed to the external data store field when the data is transferred
from the external data store to BMC Atrium CMDB or BMC Remedy AR System.
When the data is transferred from BMC Atrium CMDB or BMC Remedy
AR System to the external data store, the SRC field is prefixed to their fields.
For example, to select records for an External Data into CMDB mapping where a
date field in your external data store named JDATETIME matches a BMC Atrium
CMDB Date/Time attribute named JDateTime, enter this query:
$JDateTime$ = "$SRC|JDATETIME$"
3 Click Save.
74 User Guide
Defining queries
3 In the Target Row Query field, define search criteria against which each target row
of data is compared before it is updated by using the following steps:
a Click CI Class Fields or External Data Store Fields to enter a valid field in the
query statement.
NOTE
The External Data Store Query uses SQL syntax specific to your external data store.
It does not use BMC Remedy AR System syntax like other query fields.
NOTE
The SRC field is prefixed to the external data store field when the data is transferred
from the external data store to BMC Atrium CMDB or BMC Remedy AR System.
When the data is transferred from BMC Atrium CMDB or BMC Remedy
AR System to the external data store, the SRC field is prefixed to their fields.
In the sample scenario, Calbro Services uses the following rule to restrict the
number of rows to be updated:
$SRC|Description$!="Description"
4 Click Save.
Following is another example of an update query:
$SRC|EMPNAME$ = 'JOHN SMITH' AND ($EmployeeId$ = 1 OR
$EmployeeId$ = 2)
Here EMPNAME is a field in the source and is prefixed by SRC|. The destination field
is not prefixed by SRC|. If records match the qualifier, the record is updated in
BMC Atrium CMDB.
3 In the Source Row Query field, define search criteria against which each source
row is compared by using the following steps. If a source row meets the search
criteria, it is updated with a response value.
a Click CI Class Fields or External Data Store Fields to enter a valid field in the
query statement.
NOTE
The External Data Store Query uses SQL syntax specific to your external data store.
It does not use BMC Remedy AR System syntax like other query fields.
76 User Guide
Defining queries
3 In the Target Row Query field, define search criteria against which each target row
of data is compared to determine if that row is to be deleted by using the following
steps:
a Click CI Class Fields or External Data Store Fields to enter a valid field in the
query statement.
NOTE
The External Data Store Query uses SQL syntax specific to your external data store.
It does not use BMC Remedy AR System syntax like other query fields.
You can use the Options tab on the CI Class Mapping Information window to set
several preferences for the data mapping.
78 User Guide
Setting data mapping options
2 Select a value for the If Some Fields Cause Errors During Transfer option.
This option specifies what action to take if an error prevents data from being
obtained for one or more mapped fields for a given record. Values are as follows:
! Do not transfer record—The entire record is not transferred to the target.
! Transfer record with remaining fields—All fields for which data can be
obtained are transferred for the record.
Following are some examples of circumstances under which data cannot be
obtained:
! The data is not the same type in the BMC Remedy AR System database and in
the external data store. An attempt to convert the data fails.
! A function has an invalid parameter, so the value cannot be generated.
! An sql or process command returns an error instead of a data value.
For example, Calbro Services wants to transfer personal records of their employees
from the Dublin site to the centralized New York site. However, if an error occurs
while transferring an attribute of a record, they do not want to transfer the
remaining attributes of that record. That is why Calbro Services selects the Do Not
Transfer Record option.
3 Select a value for the If a Field Contains Only Blanks option.
This option specifies how to handle a source field that contains nothing but one or
more blank spaces. Values are as follows:
! Transfer as it is—The blank spaces are transferred to the target record.
! Transfer as NULL—The field is set to NULL in the target record.
4 Select a value for the While Comparing Primary Key Values option.
This option specifies whether trailing blanks and tabs are considered when BMC
Atrium Integration Engine compares primary keys to match records between the
source and target. Some applications treat trailing blanks and tabs as characters;
others ignore them. Values are as follows:
! Ignore trailing blanks—Blank spaces at the end of a primary key and tabs are
ignored in a comparison. For example, “Acme” and “Acme ” would match.
! Consider trailing blanks—Blank spaces at the end of a primary key and tabs are
considered in a comparison. For example, “Acme” and “Acme ” would not
match.
Select this option if your primary key is of the character data type.
5 Select a value for the Maintain Change History for Fields option.
This option specifies whether a history of detected changes to a record is
maintained in a specified diary attribute in the CI class. This option is available
only when the direction of the data mapping is External Data into CMDB.
If you select Yes, the Store History In list is enabled. You can select the History or
Notes attribute in which to store history entries. You cannot map any other value
to the selected attribute on the Data Field Mapping tab. A new diary entry is
written for a record when it is created and each time it is updated.
If you select No, history is not maintained for this class.
6 Select a value for the Update Record Only If Checksum for Mapped Field Has
Changed option.
A checksum is a unique value generated by BMC Atrium CMDB when records
from an external data store are inserted into BMC Atrium CMDB. If this option is
selected, a checksum is calculated at each data transfer. It is then compared with
the checksum value from the previous transfer.
This option specifies whether all target records are updated, or only those records
that have changed in the source as determined by the checksum calculated from
the values of all mapped fields. This option is available only when the direction of
the data mapping is External Data into CMDB.
If you select Yes, the Calculate and Store Checksum In list is enabled. Specify
an integer attribute in which to store the checksum. You cannot map any other
value to the selected attribute on the Data Field Mapping tab. The checksum is
calculated at each data transfer and compared to the one stored in this attribute
from the previous transfer.
If you select No, the checksum is not calculated and all target records are updated,
subject to the data key queries and update queries that you have defined.
For example, Calbro Services has populated the New York database with records
from the Adelaide database. When Calbro Services wants to run data exchanges to
duplicate the updated records from the Adelaide database into the New York
database, they select the Yes value for the Update Record Only If Checksum for
Mapped Field Has Changed option. During a data exchange, the checksum was
calculated for 500 computer system records. The TotalPhysicalMemory attribute
of only 62 computer systems was changed. The checksum calculated for the 62
computers was found to be changed since the last data transfer. So, only 62 records
were updated during the data exchange.
80 User Guide
Setting data mapping options
NOTE
If you select this option, the If a Record is Deleted from Source option is set to Mark
as deleted for the data mapping and to Do not delete for the data exchange it
is associated to.
WARNING
Do not select the Only New or Updated Since Last Transfer option if your external
data store is a flat file. This option is not applicable for flat files.
The Retrieve Source Records option works just like the Update Record Only If
Checksum for Mapped Field Has Changed option. However, if you use the Only
New or Updated Since Last Transfer option for Retrieve Source Records, you
cannot use the delete options for data mappings and data exchanges for CI classes.
8 Click Save.
After you have created a data mapping, you must assign it to a data exchange to
use it. For instructions, see “Assigning data mappings” on page 143.
82 User Guide
Chapter
Chapter 4 Creating data mappings for BMC Atrium CMDB relationship classes 83
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NOTE
The data exchanges that bring data from the external data store into the CI classes
(in this case BMC_DiskDrive and BMC_ComputerSystem) must finish before the
data exchange for the relationship class can run, because the instance IDs of related
CIs are needed for their relationship instance. You can accomplish this by using an
event-driven data exchange for the relationship class and activating the exchange
only after your CI class exchanges have completed, or by using a schedule-driven
exchange with the To Be Triggered option and triggering it when the last CI class
data exchange has completed.
Multiple data mappings are not supported for the data exchanges for BMC Atrium
CMDB relationship classes.
84 User Guide
Methods for mapping relationship classes
External
BMC Atrium
data
CMDB
store
Relationship
Class
Mapping
BMC_HostedSystemComponents
Source.InstanceId Destination.InstanceId
1F8FEF67A 1F6ABC21F
1F8FBE71C 1B3CFA89D
1E6A2C5AF 1E8AFB71E
1C4E8A2FF 1A2CAC48F
1A2B2C5CD 1F5AFE19A
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Best practice
Use this method if you use the Only New or Updated Since Last Transfer value of
the Retrieve Source Records option. When you select the Retrieve Source Records
option and you use the class-based relationship mapping, the changed records
from the last execution of a data exchange are captured when you run the data
exchange again. This improves performance. When you use a class-based
relationship mapping, you can use the Retrieve Source Records option with If a
Record is Deleted from Source option in a data exchange.
For more information about the retrieve delta feature, see “Enhanced retrieve delta
feature for relationship exchanges” on page 183.
“To define relationship keys with CI classes as source” on page 95 explains how to
implement this method.
86 User Guide
Methods for mapping relationship classes
Figure 4-2 and Figure 4-3 present an example of a data mapping based on
relationship data stored in an external data store in two stages.
Figure 4-2: Stage I of creating a data mapping based on relationship data stored in an
external data store
In Stage 1, the Name attribute from the Computer Information table from the
external data store is mapped to the Name attribute of the BMC_ComputerSystem
class. Instance IDs for individual members of the BMC_ComputerSystem class are
generated. The Name attribute from the Disk Drive Information table from the
external data store is mapped to the Name attribute in the BMC_DiskDrive class.
Instance IDs for individual members of the BMC_DiskDrive class are also
generated. In this stage, no relationship is created.
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Figure 4-3: Stage II of creating a data mapping based on relationship data stored in an
external data store
In Stage 2, when the data exchange runs, a match is found between the values of
the AssociatedComputer attribute from the Disk Drive Information table and the
Name attribute from the BMC_ComputerSystem class.
When attributes from a data table in an external data store correspond between
two CI classes in BMC Atrium CMDB, a relationship is created between the two CI
classes in BMC Atrium CMDB.
In this example, attributes from the Disk Drive Information table in the external
data store correspond to the attributes in the BMC_ComputerSystem and
BMC_DiskDrive tables in BMC Atrium CMDB. A relationship is thus created
between BMC_ComputerSystem and BMC_DiskDrive. This relationship is stored in
the BMC_HostedSystemComponents relationship class.
BMC_ComputerSystem becomes the source class and BMC_DiskDrive becomes the
destination class for the relationship mapping. The instance IDs of the member CIs
are stored in the BMC_HostedSystemComponents relationship class as
Source.InstanceId and Destination.InstanceId for BMC_ComputerSystem
and BMC_DiskDrive.
Best practice
BMC recommends that you use this method for many-to-many relationship
mappings. When you populate the data in the primary and secondary classes, you
can define the relationships in an external database table or in a file that defines the
mapping of an attribute and an equivalent column.
88 User Guide
High-level steps in the relationship data mapping process
You must specify the mapping name, relationship source, external data store,
relationship information, and delete options. For more information, see “Defining
data mapping parameters” on page 90.
You must specify the primary key in the CI classes that you want to use to create
the relationship mapping. For more information, see “Defining relationship keys”
on page 94.
You can map other data to attributes of your relationship instances. For more
information, see “Defining attribute field mappings” on page 97.
You can update a record in the target when a corresponding record is deleted in
the source. For more information, see “Defining delete field mappings” on
page 100.
You can create queries for BMC Atrium CMDB and external data stores to limit the
transfer of data to meet certain criteria. You can create data key, update, response,
and delete queries. For more information, see “Defining queries” on page 100.
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You can set several preferences for a data mapping. For more information, see
“Setting data mapping options” on page 104.
Before you begin
Make sure that you have standardized the data. For more information, see “Before
creating data mappings” on page 55.
NOTE
Before you create any data mappings, make sure that you have an account in your
source database and that you have created the necessary permissions in that
database.
If your external data store is a DB2 UDB, Oracle, or Microsoft SQL Server database,
creating a data mapping is easier and faster if you populate the database field
menus in the Relationship Class Mapping Information window with values from
your database. This allows you to select the columns of your database tables from
a list instead of typing them on the mapping and query tabs of the window.
TIP
For instructions on populating database field menus, see “Populating database
field menus” on page 39.
90 User Guide
Defining data mapping parameters
4 On the navigation pane, select Integration Objects > Relationship Class Mappings.
The Relationship Class Mapping Console appears.
5 Click New.
The Relationship Class Mapping Information window appears.
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! Select the External Data Store option if the relationship data is stored in an
external data store as explained in “Data in an external data store” on page 86.
If you choose this option, enter the appropriate external data store and table or
file in the External Data Store field and the Table Name or File Name field,
respectively. The list associated with this field contains all external data objects
that have been previously used in a data exchange.
! For Table Name, you must use the correct syntax or BMC Atrium Integration
Engine cannot find the specified table. The case-sensitive syntax for this field
is as follows:
DB2 UDB: DatabaseOwner.TableName
Oracle: DATABASEOWNER.TABLENAME
SQL Server: DBO.TableName
! For File Name, specify the absolute path to your file but do not include the
extension in its name. For example, you might specify this for a
ComputersDiskDrives.dat file:
C:\Program Files\BMC Software\BMC Atrium Integration
Engine\myserver-0\service\data\ComputersDiskDri9999ves
For information about preparing your flat files for the data transfer, see
“Transferring data from flat files” on page 56. For information about
preparing your .xml files for the data transfer, see “Transferring data from
.xml files” on page 57.
NOTE
XML adapters support only class based relationship mapping. For more
information, see “Accessing parent record elements along with child record
elements from an XML file” on page 62. Though you cannot use an .xml file as the
source for external data store relationship mappings, you can create CI mappings
that specify relationships. To do this, create a mapping for the child CIs and a
separate mapping for the parent CIs. In the child CI mapping, use a foreign key to
reference the parent CIs. Then set the child exchange to be triggered by the parent
exchange.
A relationship class mapping can bring data only into BMC Atrium CMDB, so the
Direction field is unavailable.
92 User Guide
Defining data mapping parameters
8 If you want to use this data mapping to transfer data to or from more than one
BMC Atrium CMDB dataset, leave the Restrict to DatasetId option cleared.
Otherwise, select it and choose the dataset that you want to use from the list.
WARNING
If you do not select this option, you must create attribute field mappings for the
DatasetId, Source.DatasetId, and Destination.DatasetId attributes of your
class. Without these mappings, BMC Atrium Integration Engine does not know
which dataset the data should be transferred to (or from), and your data transfer
fails. For more information, see “Defining attribute field mappings” on page 97.
NOTE
This option depends on a setting in the data exchange used with this data
mapping. See the option If a Record Is Deleted From Source on the Main tab of the
Data Exchanges Information window. If that option is set to Delete according
to data mapping, the selection you make here takes effect. If instead the data
exchange is set to Do not delete, no delete action is taken regardless of this
setting in the data mapping.
10 In the Namespace list, select the namespace of the class to which you intend to
transfer data.
In the sample scenario, Calbro Services uses BMC.CORE.
11 In the Relationship Class Name list, select the class to which you intend to transfer
data.
In the sample scenario, Calbro Services uses BMC_HostedSystemComponents.
12 In the Primary Class list, select the CI class to use as the source member of the
created relationship instances.
In the sample scenario, Calbro Services uses BMC_ComputerSystem.
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13 In the Secondary Class list, select the CI class to use as the destination member of
the created relationship instances.
In the sample scenario, Calbro Services uses BMC_DiskDrive.
14 Click Create.
The Relationship Class Mapping Information window expands to include the
Relationship Keys Mapping, Attribute Field Mapping, Delete Field Mapping,
Query, and Options tabs. The fields shown on the Relationship Class Mapping
Information window depend on which Relationship Source option you selected.
You use the Relationship Keys Mapping tab to specify the primary key in the CI
classes that you want to use to create the relationship mapping. If your
Relationship Source is CI Class, follow the steps in “To define relationship keys
with CI classes as source” on page 95. If your Relationship Source is External
Data Store, follow the steps in “To define relationship keys with an external data
store as source” on page 96.
When you specify the relationship key, make sure that you select attributes from
the primary (source) and secondary (destination) classes. Select an attribute from
the primary class first and then from the secondary class.
WARNING
The only attributes of the relationship that are populated as a result of defining
relationship keys are Source.InstanceId, Source.ClassId,
Destination.InstanceId, and Destination.ClassId. You must manually map
other attributes of member CIs to the relationship using the Attribute Field
Mapping tab as described in “Defining attribute field mappings” on page 97.
94 User Guide
Defining relationship keys
WARNING
Do not map the same attribute that you mapped for the relationship key.
NOTE
In the scenario, the BMC_DiskDrive CI class does not contain an attribute for the
associated computer by default. You would need to add the AssociatedComputer
attribute by using the Class Manager in BMC Atrium CMDB. Otherwise, this
attribute would not appear in the Secondary Class Attributes table. See the BMC
Atrium CMDB 7.7.00 Administration Guide for instructions on creating an attribute.
4 Click Add to add this attribute pair to the Mapped Attributes table.
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5 If you want to match more attribute values before a relationship is created, repeat
steps 2 through 4.
When you have a primary key with more than one attribute from each side, the
expressions are joined together with an AND operator. That means a data row in the
external data store matches an instance in BMC Atrium CMDB only if each pair of
attributes in the primary key matches.
6 Click Save.
When the value of all mapped attributes matches between an instance of the
primary CI class and an instance of the secondary CI class, a relationship is created
between the instances.
96 User Guide
Defining attribute field mappings
3 From the list above the CI Class Attributes table, select the primary CI Class, and
then from the table select an attribute from that class.
TIP
The fields that are mandatory and must be mapped are displayed in red in the CI
Class Attributes table.
When class attributes are updated in BMC Atrium CMDB, BMC Atrium
Integration Engine automatically updates the attributes in the CI Class Attributes
table when you create a new mapping or open an existing data mapping.
4 Click Add to add the attribute pair to the Mapped Attributes list
5 Repeat steps 2 through 4 to map an external data store attribute to an attribute from
the other CI class that is a member of the relationship.
6 Click Save.
When the value of these mapped attributes for a record in the external data store
matches an instance of the primary CI class and an instance of the secondary CI
class, a relationship is created between the instances.
You use the Attribute Field Mapping tab to map other data to attributes of your
relationship instances beyond the instance IDs and class IDs of their member CIs,
which are automatically populated by BMC Atrium Integration Engine.
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WARNING
You must map a value to the attributes in Table 4-1 or your relationship instances
cannot be created.
You might choose to map values to additional attributes of the relationship class,
depending on the information that you want to store for this type of relationship.
98 User Guide
Defining attribute field mappings
TIP
The fields that are mandatory and must be mapped are displayed in red in the
Relationship Class Attributes table.
WARNING
Do not map the same attributes that you mapped for the primary relationship key.
The primary relationship key mapping also serves as a data field mapping, so
those attribute values are also transferred.
3 From the list above the CI Class Attributes table, select a CI Class, and then from
the table select an attribute from that class.
TIP
The fields that are mandatory and must be mapped are displayed in red in the CI
Class Attributes table.
4 Click Add to add the attribute pair to the Mapped Attributes list
5 Repeat steps 2 through 4 to map each relationship class attribute listed in Table 4-
1 on page 98.
6 Click Save.
Your attribute field mappings are complete. You can enable and disable an
attribute field mapping to debug a data exchange by selecting it in the Mapped
Attributes table and clicking Enable or Disable. If a particular field causes
problems when a data exchange runs, you can temporarily disable it.
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You use the Delete Field Mapping tab of the Relationship Class Mapping
Information window to update a record in the target when its corresponding
record has been deleted in the source. These mappings can update any attribute in
the target.
This feature works the same for relationship classes as it does for CI classes. For
information about defining delete field mappings, see “Defining delete field
mappings” on page 70.
Defining queries
Queries enable you to limit the exchange of data that meets certain criteria.
NOTE
If you do not use the Query tab, all the data in the external data store is transferred.
TIP
To update only those records that have changed in the source since the previous
data transfer, you do not need to use a query. To accomplish this, use the Only
New or Updated Since Last Transfer option on the Options tab, as described in
step 6 on page 106.
Table 4-2 shows the query types that are supported for BMC Atrium CMDB
relationship classes.
Figure 4-9: Relationship Class Mapping Information window—Primary Class Query tab
2 On the Primary Class Query tab, click Select Primary Class Attributes, and define
search criteria in the Query field to limit the data retrieved from the primary CI
class.
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NOTE
The SRC field is prefixed to the external data store field when the data is transferred
from the external data store to BMC Atrium CMDB or BMC Remedy AR System.
When the data is transferred from BMC Atrium CMDB or BMC Remedy
AR System to the external data store, the SRC field is prefixed to their fields.
For example, to select records for an External Data into CMDB mapping where a
date field in your external data store named JDATETIME matches a BMC Atrium
CMDB Date/Time attribute named JDateTime, enter this query:
$JDateTime$ = "$SRC|JDATETIME$"
3 Click Save.
2 Define the search criteria in the Query field to limit the data retrieved from the
secondary CI class.
3 Click Save.
2 Click Select Relationship Class Attributes, and define search criteria in the Query
field to limit the data retrieved from the relationship class.
For example, type $AccountID$=”Acme”
3 Click Save.
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Figure 4-12: Relationship Class Mapping Information window—External Data Store Query
tab
2 On the External Data Store Query tab, click Select Attributes, and define search
criteria in the Query field to limit the data retrieved from the external data store.
For example, type $Class1ID$=”Acme”
3 Click Save.
2 Select a value for the If Some Fields Cause Errors During Transfer option.
This option specifies which action to take if an error prevents data from being
obtained for one or more mapped fields for a given record. Values are as follows:
! Do not transfer record—The entire record is not transferred to the target.
! Transfer record with remaining fields—All fields for which data can be
obtained are transferred for the record.
Following are some examples of circumstances under which data cannot be
obtained:
! The data is not the same type in the BMC Remedy Action Request System (BMC
Remedy AR System) database and in the external data store. An attempt to
convert the data fails.
! A function has an invalid parameter, so the value cannot be generated.
! An sql or process command returns an error instead of a data value.
3 Select a value for the If a Field Contains Only Blanks option.
This option specifies how to handle a source field that contains nothing but one or
more blank spaces. Values are as follows:
! Transfer as it is—The blank spaces are transferred to the target record.
! Transfer as NULL—The field is set to NULL in the target record.
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4 Select a value for the While Comparing Primary Key Values option.
This option specifies whether trailing blanks and tabs are considered when BMC
Atrium Integration Engine compares primary keys to match records between the
source and target. Some applications treat trailing blanks and tabs as characters;
others ignore trailing blanks. Values are as follows:
! Ignore trailing blanks—Blank spaces at the end of a primary key and tabs are
ignored in a comparison. For example, “Acme” and “Acme ” would match.
! Consider trailing blanks—Blank spaces at the end of a primary key and tabs are
considered in a comparison. For example, “Acme” and “Acme ” would not
match.
5 Select a value for the Update Record Only If Checksum for Mapped Field Has
Changed option.
This option specifies whether all target records are updated, or only those records
that have changed in the source as determined by a checksum calculated from the
values of all mapped fields.
If you select Yes, the Calculate and Store Checksum In list is enabled. Select an
integer attribute in which to store the checksum. This attribute must already exist
in the relationship class, and you cannot map any other value to it on the Attribute
Field Mapping tab. The checksum is calculated at each data transfer and compared
to the one stored in this attribute from the previous transfer.
If you select No, the checksum is not calculated and all target records are updated,
subject to any queries that you have defined.
For example, Calbro Services selected Yes for this option. Calbro Services ran a
relationship data exchange with BMC_ComputerSystem class as the source and
BMC_Software as the destination to update the existing data in the New York
database. BMC Atrium Integration Engine calculated the checksum for 500 records
and found that the ServicePack attribute of the BMC_Software class for 250
computer systems was changed. BMC Atrium Integration Engine found that the
checksum calculated for the 250 computers was changed since the last data
transfer. So, BMC Atrium Integration Engine updated only 250 records during the
data exchange.
6 Select a value for the Retrieve Source Records option.
This option enables you to select whether to retrieve only new or updated data
since the last successful data transfer was run. Values are as follows:
! Only New or Updated Since Last Transfer—All records from the primary and
secondary classes that were changed after the last successful data transfer are
retrieved. The ModifiedDate attribute name is displayed in the Last Modified
Timestamp in Source field.
NOTE
You can use this option in conjunction with the delete options only for a class-
based relationship mapping. Do not select the Only New or Updated Since Last
Transfer option if your external data store is a flat file. This option is not applicable
for flat files. For flat files, make sure that you select All for the Retrieve Source
Records option.
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You must specify the mapping name, direction, BMC Remedy AR System form,
external data store, and delete options. For more information, see “Defining data
mapping parameters” on page 111.
You must specify the primary key that uniquely identifies a row of data. Attributes
from an BMC Remedy AR System form and an external data store together
constitute a primary key. For more information, see “Defining the primary key” on
page 116.
You must define data mappings to specify the fields and attributes that should be
transferred. For more information, see “Defining data field mappings” on
page 118.
When a record is created or updated in the target, a value is created. You can set
response fields to store this value in the source. For more information, see “Setting
response fields” on page 120.
You can update a record in the target when a corresponding record is deleted in
the source. For more information, see “Defining delete field mappings” on
page 121.
You can create queries for BMC Remedy AR System and external data stores to
limit the transfer of data to meet certain criteria. You can create data key, update,
response, and delete queries. For more information, see “Defining queries” on
page 123.
You can set several preferences for a data mapping. For more information, see
“Setting data mapping options” on page 128.
Before you begin
Make sure you standardize the data you are transferring. For more information,
see “Before creating data mappings” on page 55.
NOTE
Before you create any data mappings, make sure that you have an account in your
source database and that you have created the necessary permissions in that
database.
TIP
If your external data store is a DB2 UDB, Oracle, or Microsoft SQL Server database,
creating a data mapping is easier and faster if you populate the database field
menus in the AR Mapping Information window with values from your database.
This allows you to select the columns of your database tables from a list instead of
typing them on the mapping and query tabs of the window. For instructions on
populating database field menus, see “Populating database field menus” on
page 39.
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6 On the AR Mapping Information window, in the Mapping Name field, type a data
mapping name.
When you create data mappings, make sure that their names are easy to
understand. For example, a sample data mapping included with BMC Atrium
Integration Engine named FlatFileSamplePull retrieves data from an external
file using the flat file adapter.
7 In the Direction field, select the direction in which you are transferring data: either
External Data into AR or AR Data into External Data Store.
8 In the BMC Remedy AR System Form field, type or select the name of the BMC
Remedy AR System form that you want to use in this data mapping.
If the form does not exist, create it using BMC Remedy Developer Studio.
In the flat file sample data exchange shipped with BMC Atrium Integration
Engine, EIE:FlatFileSample is the name of the form used in the data mapping.
After you have mapped to a form once, the field menu includes the form name.
9 In the External Data Store list, select the name of the adapter for the external data
store.
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10 In the Table Name list (for database adapters) or File Name field (for the flat file
and XML adapters), specify the name of the object in the external data store that is
referenced in this data mapping.
The list associated with this field contains all of the external data objects that have
been previously used in a data exchange.
! For Table Name, you must use the correct syntax or BMC Atrium Integration
Engine cannot find the specified table. The case-sensitive syntax for this field is
as follows:
! DB2: DatabaseOwner.TableName
! Oracle: DATABASEOWNER.TABLENAME
! SQL Server: DBO.TableName
! For File Name, specify the absolute path to your file but do not include the
extension in its name. For example, you might specify this for an
ExportedComputerSystems.xml file:
C:\Program Files\BMC Software\BMC Atrium Integration Engine\
myserver-0\service\data\ExportedComputerSystems
NOTE
Make sure that you do not include more than 100000 records in a single flat file for
data mapping. If you add more than 100000 records, performance degrades.
Flat files can be in a .dat or .csv format. If your file does not specify a data type
for each field, BMC Atrium Integration Engine interprets them as character fields.
A .dat file must have a corresponding .tbl file with the same name located in the
same folder to define the columns and delimiter used in the .dat file.
The filehelper utility of BMC Atrium Integration Engine enables you to
automatically generate the .tbl file for a .csv file. To generate the .tbl file, make
sure that the .csv file and the filehelper utility are available on the same
computer. Otherwise, the utility cannot locate the .csv files.
You can find the instructions to create .tbl file in the sample .tbl files in the
aieInstallationDir\service\data folder.
NOTE
You must manually create a .tbl file for your .dat file.
NOTE
If you make changes to the .csv file (such as add a new column or change the
name of an existing column) after you have created the corresponding .tbl file,
the changes are not automatically reflected in the .tbl file. When you open the
data mapping for the .csv file, the .tbl file is regenerated and the new or updated
fields are displayed in the list of attributes. You can map the new or updated fields
to attributes in BMC Atrium CMDB. If the fields contain line breaks (CRLF) and
commas, you must enclose the fields in double-quotes.
Likewise, an .xml file must have a corresponding .xsd file with the same name
located in the same folder.
11 If this data mapping uses the XML adapter, type the name of the element that
identifies each row of data in the Row Element field.
Each row of data that becomes a record in BMC Remedy AR System is enclosed by
this element in your .xml file. For example, if your file looked like the following
example, you would enter myrecord in the Row Element field.
<class type=”CI”>
<name>DiskDrive</name>
<myrecord>
<attributes>
<name>Disk 1520</name>
<serialnumber>23541</serialnumber>
<partnumber>MFG729817</partnumber>
<associatedcomputer>Computer 910</associatedcomputer>
</attributes>
</myrecord>
<myrecord>
<attributes>
<name>Disk 1523</name>
<serialnumber>24781</serialnumber>
<partnumber>MFG729817</partnumber>
<associatedcomputer>Computer 912</associatedcomputer>
</attributes>
</myrecord>
</class>
NOTE
When you use special characters in your data, you must specify the encoding type
for special characters in the header of your .xml file. If you do not specify the
encoding type, no data is transferred.
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NOTE
This option depends on a setting in the data exchange used with this data
mapping. See the If a Record Is Deleted From Source option on the Main tab of the
Data Exchanges Information window. If that option is set to Delete according
to data mapping, the selection that you make here takes effect. If instead the data
exchange is set to Do not delete, no delete action is taken regardless of this
setting in the data mapping.
13 Click Create.
NOTE
When you click Create, all fields on the Main tab except for Mapping Name
become unavailable, and you can no longer edit this information.
The AR Mapping Information window expands to include tabs for Primary Key
Mapping, Data Field Mapping, Response Field Mapping, Delete Field Mapping,
Query, and Options.
NOTE
When you create a flat file data mapping, the Response Field Mapping tab is
unavailable.
Primary keys uniquely identify a row of data. You must specify the fields on the
BMC Remedy AR System form and the corresponding fields in the external data
store that are primary keys. After a data transfer, the primary key is the link that
matches a record in the external data store with its counterpart in BMC Remedy
AR System.
The Mapped Fields table on this window lists all primary keys defined for the data
mapping.
NOTE
You must define a key to complete a data mapping. The key can contain more than
one field from each side.
2 In the AR Form Fields list, select the field from the BMC Remedy AR System form
that should be part of this primary key.
WARNING
Do not map the same attribute that you mapped for the primary key.
When field attributes are updated in BMC Remedy AR System forms, BMC
Atrium Integration Engine automatically updates the attributes in the AR Form
Fields table when you create a new mapping or open an existing data mapping.
3 In the External Data Store Attributes table, select an attribute that should be part
of this primary key.
4 Click Add to add this pair of fields to the primary key.
The fields appear in the Mapped Fields table.
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5 Repeat steps 2 through 4 for each primary key field that you want to map.
When you have a primary key with more than one field from each side, a data row
in the external data store matches a row in BMC Remedy AR System only if each
pair of fields in the primary key matches.
When you have a primary key with more than one field from each side, the
expressions are joined together by an AND operator. That means a data row in the
external data store matches a row in BMC Remedy AR System only if each pair of
fields in the primary key matches.
6 Click Save.
You must define data field mappings to specify which fields should be transferred
during a data exchange.
2 In the table that represents your target, select a field to which you want to transfer
data.
If the direction of this data mapping is External Data into AR, the AR Form Fields
table represents your target. If the direction is AR Data into External Data Store,
the External Data Store Attributes table represents your target.
When field attributes are updated in BMC Remedy AR System forms, BMC
Atrium Integration Engine automatically updates the attributes in the AR Form
Fields table when you create a new mapping or open an existing data mapping.
NOTE
If you migrate data from one BMC Remedy AR System server to another and map
a SQL table in the source to another in the destination, the fields that are system-
generated, such as RequestId, ModifiedDate, and CreateDate, are not
transferred from the source.
WARNING
Do not map the same attributes that you mapped for the primary key. The primary
key mapping also serves as a data field mapping, so those attribute values are also
transferred.
4 Click Add.
The mapping is added to the Mapped Attributes table.
5 If you want to maintain history entries for this target field, select the field in the
Mapped Attributes table and click Enable History.
If the Enable History button is not enabled, go to the Options tab and select Yes for
the Maintain Change History for Fields option.
This feature is best used on fields that are not likely to change frequently.
6 Repeat steps 2 through 5 for each field that you want to map.
7 Click Save.
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Your data field mappings are completed. You can enable and disable a data field
mapping to debug a data exchange by selecting it in the Mapped Attributes table
and clicking Enable or Disable. If a particular field causes problems when a data
exchange runs, you can temporarily disable it.
Use the Response Field Mapping tab to specify fields that are updated in the source
after a record is created or updated in the target.
Best practice
Typically, you use a response field when a value generated at the time a target
record is created or modified exists, and you want that value stored in the source
record. For example, you might need to store the ID number of the target record
just created, or you might want to update a time stamp in the source data that
indicates the time that a transfer took place.
The Mapped Attributes table lists all response fields defined for the data mapping.
2 In the table that represents your source, select a field to serve as your response
field.
If the direction of this data mapping is External Data into AR, the External Data
Store Fields table represents your source. If the direction is AR Data into External
Data Store, the AR Form Fields table represents your source.
3 Perform one of the following actions:
! In the table that represents your target, select the attribute that contains the
value that you want to use as a response.
! Using the Rules table, build an expression that provides the value to use as a
response by selecting rules and then completing their syntax in the field
underneath the table that represents your target.
Depending on the rules that you select, you might need to use one or more target
field names as part of the syntax. To avoid typing one of these attribute names,
you can select it before selecting the first rule.
For example, to create a response value that is a concatenation of the status of
the last transferred record and the time of that transfer, you would build the
following expression:
function|concat(function|status(), function|currentTime())
4 Click Add to add the response field to the Mapped Attributes table.
5 Repeat steps 2 through 4 for each response field you want to create.
6 Click Save.
Use the Delete Field Mapping tab to update a record in the target when its
corresponding record has been deleted in the source. These mappings can update
any attribute in the target.
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NOTE
The mappings on this tab are disabled if the If a Record Is Deleted From Source
option on the Main tab is set to Permanently Delete or if the same option on the
associated data exchange is set to Do not delete. To define delete field mappings,
you must set these options to Mark as Deleted and Delete according to data
mapping, respectively.
2 Select a field from the AR Form Fields table or External Data Store Attributes table.
Only the table that corresponds to your target for this data mapping is shown.
3 Select a rule from the Rules table and, if necessary, complete its syntax in the field
underneath the Rules table.
Remember that you cannot include values of source fields for a delete field
mapping because the source record does not exist.
4 Click Save.
Defining queries
Queries enable you to limit the exchange of data that meets certain criteria. You can
enter a query for BMC Remedy AR System, the external data store, or both.
NOTE
If you do not use the Query tab, all the data in the data source is transferred and
all records are eligible for updates, responses, and delete actions.
TIP
To update only records that have changed in the source since the previous data
transfer, you do not need to use a query. To accomplish this, use the Only New or
Updated Since Last Transfer option on the Options tab, as described in step 7 on
page 130.
Table 5-1 shows the query types that are supported for BMC Remedy AR System
forms.
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2 In the AR Form Query field and the External Data Store Query field, define the
search criteria to limit the data retrieved using the following steps:
a Click Select AR Fields or External Data Store Fields to enter a valid field in the
query statement.
b Click Rules to access menus that include valid functions.
NOTE
The SRC field is prefixed to the external data store field when the data is transferred
from the external data store to BMC Atrium CMDB or BMC Remedy AR System.
When the data is transferred from BMC Atrium CMDB or BMC Remedy
AR System to the external data store, the SRC field is prefixed to their fields.
For example, to select records for an External Data into AR mapping where a date
field in your external data store named JDATETIME matches an BMC Remedy
AR System Date/Time field named JDateTime, enter this query:
$JDateTime$ = "$SRC|JDATETIME$"
3 Click Save.
2 In the Target Row Query field, use the following steps to define the search criteria
against which each target row of data is compared before it is updated:
a Click Select AR Fields or External Data Store Fields to enter a valid field in the
query statement.
b Click Rules to access menus that include valid functions.
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NOTE
The SRC field is prefixed to the external data store field when the data is transferred
from the external data store to BMC Atrium CMDB or BMC Remedy AR System.
When the data is transferred from BMC Atrium CMDB or BMC Remedy
AR System to the external data store, the SRC field is prefixed to their fields.
3 Click Save.
2 In the Source Row Query field, define search criteria against which each source
row is compared by using the following steps. If a source row meets the search
criteria, it is updated with a response value.
a Click Select AR Fields or External Data Store Fields to enter a valid field in the
query statement.
b Click Rules to access menus that include valid functions.
3 Click Save.
2 In the Target Row Query field, using the following steps define the search criteria
against which each target row of data is compared to determine if that row is to be
deleted:
a Click Select AR Fields or External Data Stored Fields to enter a valid field in the
query statement.
b Click Rules to access menus that include valid functions.
3 Click Save.
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Use the Options tab on the AR Mapping Information form to set preferences for
creating extra fields in a specified form to hold various types of information.
2 Select a value for the If Some Fields Cause Errors During Transfer option.
This option specifies which action to take if an error prevents data from being
obtained for one or more mapped fields for a given record. Values are as follows:
! Do not transfer record—The entire record is not transferred to the target.
! Transfer record with remaining fields—All fields for which data can be
obtained are transferred for the record.
Following are some examples of circumstances under which data cannot be
obtained:
! The data is not the same type in the BMC Remedy AR System database and in
the external data store. An attempt to convert the data fails.
! A function has an invalid parameter, so the value cannot be generated.
! An sql or process command returns an error instead of a data value.
3 Select a value for the If a Field Contains Only Blanks option.
This option specifies how to handle a source field that contains nothing but one or
more blank spaces. Values are as follows:
! Transfer as it is—The blank spaces are transferred to the target record.
! Transfer as NULL—The field is set to NULL in the target record.
4 Select a value for the While Comparing Primary Key Values option.
This option specifies whether trailing blanks and tabs are considered when BMC
Atrium Integration Engine compares primary keys to match records between the
source and target. Some applications treat trailing blanks and tabs as characters;
others ignore trailing blanks. Values are as follows:
! Ignore trailing blanks—Blank spaces at the end of a primary key and tabs are
ignored in a comparison. For example, “Acme” and “Acme ” would match.
! Consider trailing blanks—Blank spaces at the end of a primary key and tabs are
considered in a comparison. For example, “Acme” and “Acme ” would not
match.
5 Select a value for the Maintain Change History for Fields option.
This option specifies whether a history of detected changes to a record is
maintained in a specified diary field in the BMC Remedy AR System form. This
option is available only when the direction of the data mapping is External Data
into AR.
If you select Yes, the Store History In list is enabled. Select an existing diary field
in which to store history entries, or select systemGenerated to have BMC Atrium
Integration Engine create a hidden diary field named Asset History for this
purpose. If you select an existing field, you cannot map any other value to it on the
Data Field Mapping tab. A new diary entry is written for a record when it is created
and each time it is updated.
If you select No, history is not maintained for this class.
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6 Select a value for the Update Record Only If Checksum for Mapped Field Has
Changed option.
This option specifies whether all target records are updated or only those records
that have changed in the source as determined by a checksum calculated from the
values of all mapped fields. This option is available only when the direction of the
data mapping is External Data into AR.
If you select Yes, the Calculate and Store Checksum In list is enabled. Specify an
existing integer field in which to store the checksum, or select systemGenerated
to have BMC Atrium Integration Engine create a hidden integer field named
Schema CRC for this purpose. If you select an existing field, you cannot map any
other value to it on the Data Field Mapping tab. The checksum is calculated at each
data transfer and compared to the one stored in this attribute from the previous
transfer.
If you select No, the checksum is not calculated and all target records are updated,
subject to any data key queries and update queries that you have defined.
7 Select a value for the Retrieve Source Records option.
This option enables you to select whether to retrieve only new or updated data
since the last successful data transfer was run. This option is available only when
the direction of the data mapping is External Data into AR. Values are as
follows:
! Only New or Updated Since Last Transfer—If you select this option, the Last
Modified Timestamp in Source field is enabled. Select a date and time field in
your source that holds the time stamp from when each record was last modified.
During each data transfer, the only records retrieved from the source are new
records and those with a last modified time stamp that is later than the most
recent successful transfer.
WARNING
If you select this option, the If a Record is Deleted from Source option is set to Mark
as deleted for the data mappings and to Do not delete for the data exchanges.
Do not select the Only New or Updated Since Last Transfer option if your external
data store is a flat file. This option is not applicable for flat files. For flat files, make
sure that you select All for the Retrieve Source Records option.
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4 In the EIE Keyword field, type the item that you want to append to the list.
This is just a text identifier for the field or rule. It need not be the exact syntax of
the rule. For this example, you would type First & Last Name.
5 In the Syntax field, type the syntax of the field or rule.
This is the actual text that is placed into the field in the AIE:ARMappingInfo form.
For this example, you would type concat($FirstName$, " ", $LastName$) to
generate a first name followed by a space and then a last name.
6 In the Category list, select a category that represents the fields to populate with
your item. The choices are as follows:
! Field Rule
Populates the selections from the rule control list for data mappings.
! Query Rule
Populates the selections from the rule control list for queries.
! Delete Rule
Populates the selections from the rule control list for deletion.
For this example, you would select Field Rule.
7 In the Prefix Syntax list, select the syntax of a prefix that is required for the category
of a command.
NOTE
function | is the only valid prefix.
If a prefix is present, workflow verifies that the field receiving the keyword starts
with a prefix. If it does, the prefix is placed at the start of a line followed by the
syntax field contents. This is intended for items with prefixes, such as functions.
For this example, you would select function|.
8 In the Rule Owner field, type the data store for which this rule is valid.
To limit the use of this field or rule to a particular external data store, type the name
of the adapter, which is the value defined in the External Data Store field on the
AIE:DataExchange form. If this field is left blank, all AIE services can use this field
or rule.
9 If Rule Owner is applicable for relationship exchanges, select Yes for the Rel Exg
field.
10 In the Rule Display field, type the name of the rule as you would like it displayed.
11 Click Save.
The rule that you created is available from the selection list that you access from
the Rule control located on the Field Mapping tab.
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6 Data exchanges
A data exchange is a set of rules that defines how data is transferred between an
external data store and the BMC Atrium Configuration Management Database
(BMC Atrium CMDB) or BMC Remedy Action Request System (BMC Remedy
AR System) database.
The following topics are provided:
! Using data exchanges with BMC Atrium CMDB (page 136)
! Overview of creating a data exchange (page 137)
! Defining data exchange parameters (page 138)
! Assigning data mappings (page 143)
! Managing execution (page 145)
! Defining connection settings (page 149)
! Using advanced settings (page 161)
! Activating a data exchange (page 164)
! Verifying a data exchange configuration (page 165)
! Running a data exchange on demand (page 166)
! Managing connection parameters (page 168)
! Failover support (page 174)
! Error handling in BMC Atrium Integration Engine (page 177)
! Exporting and importing data (page 178)
! Enhanced retrieve delta feature for relationship exchanges (page 183)
! Sample data exchanges for BMC Remedy ITSM (page 184)
Table 6-1: Sample set of data exchanges to transfer data into BMC Atrium CMDB
Data exchange name CI or relationship created How executed Instance used
ComputerExchange BMC_ComputerSystem Fridays, 10 p.m. 1
OSExchange BMC_OperatingSystem On completion of 1
ComputerExchange
DiskDriveExchange BMC_DiskDrive On completion of 2
ComputerExchange
MonitorExchange BMC_Monitor On completion of 3
ComputerExchange
SoftwareExchange BMC_Product On completion of 4
ComputerExchange
CS-OSExchange BMC_HostedSystemComponents, On completion of 1
relating BMC_ComputerSystem and OSExchange
BMC_OperatingSystem
CS-DDExchange BMC_HostedSystemComponents, On completion of 2
relating BMC_ComputerSystem and DiskDriveExchange
BMC_DiskDrive
Table 6-1: Sample set of data exchanges to transfer data into BMC Atrium CMDB (Continued)
Data exchange name CI or relationship created How executed Instance used
CS-MRExchange BMC_HostedSystemComponents, On completion of 3
relating BMC_ComputerSystem and MonitorExchange
BMC_Monitor
CS-SWExchange BMC_HostedSystemComponents, On completion of 4
relating BMC_ComputerSystem and SoftwareExchange
BMC_Product
You must specify the name, direction, instance name, external data store, exchange
type, schedule options, and target data information. For more information, see
“Defining data exchange parameters” on page 138.
You must associate data mappings for a data exchange. For more information, see
“Assigning data mappings” on page 143.
You can specify the data exchange execution schedule. For more information, see
“Managing execution” on page 145.
Define the information about the external data store and BMC Remedy AR System
login. For more information, see “Defining connection settings” on page 149.
You can define the debug and performance settings, and Charset information, and
use the Retrieve Delta Setting. For more information, see “Using advanced
settings” on page 161.
For more information, see “Verifying a data exchange configuration” on page 165.
For more information, see “Running a data exchange on demand” on page 166.
8 In the Direction list, select the direction of the data flow by using one of the options
shown in Table 6-2.
NOTE
You can also use the Schedule Only option with the To Be Triggered option to
trigger data exchanges when the exchanges are running on the same BMC Atrium
Integration Engine instance; whereas, you can use the Event Driven Only option
with the To Be Triggered option when data exchanges are running on different
BMC Atrium Integration Engine instances.
This is the maximum number of sessions that can execute the data exchange at the
same time. The default is 1, which works well in most cases.
In the sample scenario, Calbro Services wants to transfer data from its London site
for all computers systems used in its London finance department. Calbro Services
executes an event-driven data exchange and specifies 2 as the limit for concurrent
sessions, which means that the data will be transferred in two sessions at the same
time. This helps to improve the performance.
11 Under the Data in Target heading, select how the data should be transferred using
one or more of the options in Table 6-3.
:
12 Click Create.
142 User Guide
Assigning data mappings
The Data Exchanges Information window expands to include the Data Mappings,
Manage Execution, Connection Settings, and Advanced Settings tabs.
If you have already defined data mappings, you can assign a data mapping to the
data exchange that you are creating. You can also create the data exchange first,
and then define and assign the data mapping to it later.
You can assign multiple data mappings to the same data exchange. The reasons to
assign multiple data mappings are:
! Performance—The more you can reduce database access, the faster a data
transfer runs. If more than one target data object uses the same source data
object, the AIE service can use a single thread to populate the target objects.
! Multiple data sources—Sometimes a target record has fields that must be
populated with data from multiple sources because the data is not available
from one source. If the data from multiple sources share a common key field,
you can include them all in one data exchange. These multiple sources must be
within the same external data store, such as different tables in one database.
NOTE
When multiple data mappings are included in one data exchange, the AIE service
obtains the list of transferred key values from the main mapping only. Therefore,
the key value from each included data mapping must match the key value in the
main mapping exactly in both form and content.
For example, if you want to use multiple data mappings in one data exchange to
move employee ID numbers from multiple source databases into one target
database, the key field in the main mapping might be called EMPID, while the key
field in another data mapping might be called employee_ID. The key values that
they represent, however, must be identical. For example, the ID for Brent Smith
must be 00023 in all data mappings, not 23 in one and 00023 in another.
NOTE
Flat file adapters do not support multiple data mappings for a data exchange,
because flat file adapters cannot transfer data from multiple files for a data
exchange.
Best practice
BMC recommends that you use a single data mapping for a data exchange. If you
use multiple, unrelated (having different key fields) data mappings in a data
exchange, the data transfer could fail.
2 In the Available table, select the data mapping that you want to assign to the data
exchange.
3 Click the right-arrow button (>) between the Available and Selected tables.
The data mapping is added to the Selected table, and the value in the Main
Mapping column is set to Yes.
NOTE
You can designate only one data mapping as the main mapping. If multiple data
mappings are listed in the Selected table, the AIE service designates the first data
mapping that you add as the main mapping.
4 Click Save.
Managing execution
You can run a data exchange based upon a scheduled day and time, at a timed
interval, or when triggered by an event (such as the firing of an active link or filter).
With the exception of the Trigger Data Exchange field, the instructions in this
section apply only to schedule-driven data exchanges and not event-driven data
exchanges.
When you run reconciliation jobs, make sure that you do not run the reconciliation
jobs and data exchanges at the same time, because the reconciliation jobs and data
exchanges could query or update the same data.
Best practice
The BMC Configuration Automation for Clients Configuration Discovery
Integration (CDI) product uses the CDIntegrationID attribute as the primary key
to transfer data from the invdb database into BMC Atrium CMDB. If you transfer
data when the invdb database is being updated, BMC Atrium Integration Engine
creates CIs in BMC Atrium CMDB with default or NULL values. This results in the
value of the CDIntegrationID attribute to be specified as NULL in the
BMC.IMPORT.CONFIG dataset. To avoid this issue, run the data exchanges when the
data in the invdb database is not being updated.
TIP
“Using data exchanges with BMC Atrium CMDB” on page 136 provides a
suggested strategy for managing execution of data exchanges when transferring
data to BMC Atrium CMDB.
You can use multiple data exchanges to improve performance. For more
information, see “Using multiple data exchanges” on page 25.
2 In the Execution area, select the schedule timing that you want to use based on the
options described in Table 6-4.
3 If you selected the Interval option in the Execution area, perform the following
steps in the Interval area:
a In the Time Interval in Minutes field, type the number of minutes to wait
between data exchanges.
For example, if you set the interval to 30 minutes, and a data exchange takes 60
minutes to complete, the next data exchange begins 90 minutes after the first
data exchange began.
b In the No. of Times to Run field, type the number of times the data exchange
runs before the exchange stops transferring data.
If you limit the number of data exchanges, the data exchanges do not start again
until you restart the AIE service or the ConfigInterval parameter in the
aie.cfg file refreshes the list of data exchanges to run. This option is normally
used for testing a data exchange.
4 If you selected the Time option in the Execution area, perform the following steps
in the Time area:
a In the Weekdays field and the Time of Day field, select a weekday and a time of
day, respectively.
The time is composed of the day of the week and the time on that day that a data
exchange occurs. You can define up to 100 time entries.
b Click Add.
The new scheduled time is added to the list box.
NOTE
You can set two different data exchanges to run at the same scheduled time. In this
case, both exchanges start at the scheduled time simultaneously and run without
affecting each other.
5 (optional) In the Trigger Data Exchange field, select the name of a data exchange to
activate when this data exchange is completed.
You can select either a schedule-driven or an event-driven data exchange to
trigger.
NOTE
The fields in the On Completion of This Data Exchange area are only used if you
want to trigger another data exchange when this data exchange is completed. If the
Trigger Data Exchange field is empty, this data exchange does not trigger other
data exchanges.
6 In the After field, type the number of minutes to wait after completing the primary
data exchange before starting the triggered, secondary data exchange.
7 Click Add.
The triggered data exchange is added to the list box.
NOTE
If you have a data exchange scheduled at a particular time, followed by data
exchanges that will be triggered after the earlier data exchange is complete, the
total time that is required to run all data exchanges is cumulative.
8 Click Save.
NOTE
An AIE service instance is capable of executing 15 data exchanges at a given time.
Make sure that you do not schedule more than 15 data exchanges on a single
instance of AIE service at any given time.
Depending on the type of your external data store, you might need to define
specific connection parameters on the Connection Settings tab to allow
communication with an adapter.
The default BMC Remedy AR System server defined for use in a data exchange is
the one in which the Data Exchange application resides. If you want to define a
different BMC Remedy AR System server, you must specify the login parameters
for that server on the Connection Settings tab.
Table 6-6: Data types supported with BMC Atrium Integration Engine
SQL Oracle DB2 XML
int int Integer string
smallint smallint SmallInt boolean
tinyint numeric BigInt decimal
bigint number Character float
decimal decimal Varchar double
numeric float NChar dateTime
money real NVarchar time
smallmoney date Date date
float timestamp Time
real char TimeStamp
datetime varchar2 Decimal
smalldatetime nchar Float
char nvarchar Numeric
varchar long
nchar
nvarchar(n)
timestamp
sqlvariant
NOTE
BMC Atrium Integration Engine does not support the long data type for Oracle
Server version 8 and later.
NOTE
The character large object (CLOB) data type is not supported for the Oracle Server
external data store type.
Figure 6-4: Data Exchanges Information window—Connection Settings tab for DB2 UDB
2 In the DB2 Instance field, type the name of the DB2 UDB instance where your
database resides.
This is the value of the DB2INSTANCE environment variable in the DB2 UDB client
on the BMC Atrium Integration Engine computer.
3 In the DB2 Database Alias field, type the alias for your DB2 UDB database.
4 In the DB2 Database Login Name field, type the user name of the administrative
account for your DB2 UDB database.
5 In the DB2 Database Login Password field, type the password of the
administrative account for your DB2 UDB database.
6 Complete one of the following actions:
! Accept the default selection in the Use default destination BMC Remedy
AR System option to use the BMC Remedy AR System server where the Data
Exchange application resides.
! Select No if you want to use a different BMC Remedy AR System server.
NOTE
In a server group environment, you must specify the server group alias name in
the AR Server Name field instead of the primary server name.
NOTE
If you specify a private RPC port, it will not work for the data exchanges with the
External Data into CMDB and CMDB Data into External Data Store directions. You
must use the ports defined by BMC Atrium CMDB. For more information about
the RPC ports provided by BMC Atrium CMDB, see “RPC ports in BMC Atrium
CMDB” on page 161.
d In the Admin Login Name field, type the user name of the BMC Remedy
AR System administrator.
e In the Admin Password field, type the password of the BMC Remedy
AR System administrator.
8 Click Test Connection(s) to verify the connection parameters.
The Test Connection(s) button label changes to Get Result.
9 Click Get Result.
A dialog box displays the test result.
10 If the verification was unsuccessful, correct the listed errors and test the connection
again.
11 Click OK and Save.
NOTE
Flat files cannot be remotely located. You cannot use a flat file on a Windows
computer if you have installed BMC Atrium Integration Engine on a UNIX
computer. Flat files must be located on the computer on which BMC Atrium
Integration Engine is installed.
Figure 6-5: Data Exchanges Information window—Connection Settings tab for flat files
NOTE
In a server group environment, you must specify the server group alias name in
the AR Server Name field instead of the primary server name.
NOTE
If you specify a private RPC port, it will not work for the data exchanges with the
External Data into CMDB and CMDB Data into External Data Store directions. You
must use the ports defined by BMC Atrium CMDB. For more information about
the RPC ports provided by BMC Atrium CMDB, see “RPC ports in BMC Atrium
CMDB” on page 161.
d In the Admin Login Name field, type the user name of the BMC Remedy
AR System administrator account.
e In the Admin Password field, type the password of the BMC Remedy
AR System administrator account.
4 Click Test Connection(s) to verify your connection parameters.
The Test Connection(s) button label changes to Get Result.
5 Click Get Result.
A dialog box displays the test result.
6 If the verification was unsuccessful, correct the listed errors and test the connection
again.
7 Click OK and Save.
Figure 6-6: Data Exchanges Information window—Connection Settings tab for Oracle
2 In the Oracle System ID field, type the instance identifier for your Oracle database.
3 In the Oracle Database Directory field, type the directory path where your Oracle
database is installed.
4 In the Oracle Database Login Name field, type the user name of the administrative
account for your Oracle database.
5 In the Oracle Database Login Password field, type the password of the
administrative account for your Oracle database.
6 Complete one of the following actions:
! Accept the default selection in the Use default destination AR server option to
use the BMC Remedy AR System server where the Data Exchange application
resides.
! Select No if you want to use a different BMC Remedy AR System server.
7 If you selected No, complete the following steps:
a In the AR Server Name field, type the name of your BMC Remedy AR System
server.
NOTE
In a server group environment, you must specify the server group alias name in
the AR Server Name field instead of the primary server name.
NOTE
If you specify a private RPC port, it will not work for the data exchanges with the
External Data into CMDB and CMDB Data into External Data Store directions. You
must use the ports defined by BMC Atrium CMDB. For more information about
the RPC ports provided by BMC Atrium CMDB, see “RPC ports in BMC Atrium
CMDB” on page 161.
d In the Admin Login Name field, type the user name of the BMC Remedy
AR System administrator.
e In the Admin Password field, type the password of the BMC Remedy
AR System administrator.
8 Click Test Connection(s) to verify your Oracle connection parameters.
The Test Connection(s) button label changes to Get Result.
9 Click Get Result.
A dialog box displays the test result.
10 If the verification was unsuccessful, correct the listed errors and test the connection
again.
11 Click OK and Save.
Figure 6-7: Data Exchanges Information window—Connection Settings tab for SQL Server
2 In the SQL Server Name field, type the name of your SQL Server computer.
3 In the SQL Server Database Name field, type the name of your SQL Server
database.
4 Complete one of the following actions:
! If you use SQL Server authentication for your database, type the user name of
the administrative account in the SQL Server Login Name field and the
password in the SQL Server Login Password field. Leave the Connect Using
Windows Authentication option set to No.
! If you use Windows authentication for your database, select Yes in the Connect
Using Windows Authentication option. You do not need to enter a SQL Server
login name or password.
For more information about Windows authentication, see “SQL Server
authentication” on page 158.
NOTE
In a server group environment, you must specify the server group alias name in
the AR Server Name field instead of the primary server name.
NOTE
If you specify a private RPC port, it does not work for External Data into CMDB
and CMDB Data into External Data Store data exchanges. You must use the ports
defined by BMC Atrium CMDB. For more information about the RPC ports
provided by BMC Atrium CMDB, see “RPC ports in BMC Atrium CMDB” on
page 161.
d In the Admin Login Name field, type the user name of the BMC Remedy
AR System administrator.
e In the Admin Password field, type the password of the BMC Remedy
AR System administrator.
7 Click Test Connection(s) to verify your SQL Server connection parameters.
The Test Connection(s) button label changes to Get Result.
8 Click Get Result.
A dialog box displays the test result.
9 If the verification was unsuccessful, correct the listed errors and test the connection
again.
10 Click OK and Save.
NOTE
You must define the Windows account as a valid SQL Server login.
If you are not logged on to the computer on which the AIE service is running, and
if the AIE service starts running in the Automatic mode, the AIE service runs using
the credentials of a logged-on user. Make sure that the Log On As user has
permissions to access the specified SQL Server database.
Setting the Log On As option for BMC Remedy AR System
You must set the Log On As option for BMC Remedy AR System for a Windows
user.
When you execute the Rule Helper utility as a Windows application from the
service/bin directory, it considers the user logged on to the computer on which
BMC Atrium Integration Engine is installed for Windows authentication.
However, when you access the Rule Helper utility from BMC Atrium Integration
Engine Console > Configuration > Database Field Menus, the utility runs through
the workflow using RUN PROCESS command and is considered a child process of
the BMC Remedy AR System server. Therefore, it uses the credentials that have
been assigned to the BMC Remedy AR System service as a Log On As user.
Figure 6-9 on page 159 shows the Log On As option set for the BMC Remedy
AR System service.
Figure 6-9: Log On As option for the BMC Remedy AR System service
NOTE
The XML adapter supports some data types. For more information about the data
types supported by an XML adapter, see Table 6-6 on page 150.
Figure 6-10: Data Exchanges Information window—Connection Settings tab for XML
NOTE
In a server group environment, you must specify the server group alias name in
the AR Server Name field instead of the primary server name.
b In the Port Number field, type the port number if you use one.
c In the RPC Program Number field, type the RPC port if you use one.
NOTE
If you specify a private RPC port, it will not work for the data exchanges with the
External Data into CMDB and CMDB Data into External Data Store directions. You
must use the ports defined by BMC Atrium CMDB. For more information about
the RPC ports provided by BMC Atrium CMDB, see “RPC ports in BMC Atrium
CMDB” on page 161.
d In the Admin Login Name field, type the user name of the BMC Remedy
AR System administrator.
e In the Admin Password field, type the password of the BMC Remedy
AR System administrator.
4 Click Test Connection(s) to verify your BMC Remedy AR System connection
parameters.
The Test Connection(s) button label changes to Get Result.
5 Click Get Result.
A dialog box displays the test result.
6 If the verification was unsuccessful, correct the listed errors and test the connection
again.
7 Click OK and Save.
Use the advanced settings options to debug and log events, improve performance,
and define character set information.
4 In the Record Limit field, type the number of records that the AIE service can
process during one data exchange. Setting the Record Limit field to 0 (zero)
transfers all records.
The Record Limit field is useful when you are initially setting up data mappings.
For example, limiting the AIE service to five requests allows you to correct or
adjust your data exchange configuration without populating the BMC Remedy
AR System database with the entire contents of the external data store.
5 In the Number of threads field, type the number of threads you want to use to run
the data exchange.
The maximum number of threads that you can specify is 49. The default is three
times the number of CPUs detected on the computer where BMC Atrium
Integration Engine is installed.
6 If the external data for this data exchange is not Unicode, select the character set to
use in the Language list in the Charset Information area.
The Is External Data Unicode? field displays the Unicode setting for the BMC
Atrium Integration Engine instance associated with this data exchange. If the value
is Yes, BMC Atrium Integration Engine uses the Unicode character set for the
exchange. If the value is No, the Language list is enabled and you can select the
character set to use.
WARNING
When the external data is in Unicode character set, you must configure the BMC
Atrium Integration Engine instance in Unicode. Failure of doing so corrupts the
data.
If your BMC Remedy AR System is in Unicode character set, make sure that your
external data instance is in the Unicode format with the nvarchar column.
7 (optional) For Retrieve Delta Setting, click Reset to fetch all source records in the
next data execution.
After a data exchange is run, the Last Modified Time Stamp displays the time at
which the data exchange was last run. If you click Reset, BMC Atrium Integration
Engine ignores the last set of records that was processed at that time and fetches
all records from the source in the next data exchange.
8 In the AIE Error Handling area, select the Log Errors into CSV option, which writes
errors that occur during data transfer into a .csv file.
For more information about the error handling feature, see “Error handling in
BMC Atrium Integration Engine” on page 177.
9 Click Save.
The individual data exchange settings let you control how the data exchange or
transfer occurs. Before you can run a new data exchange, you must change its
status to active.
2 On the Data Exchange Console, select the data exchange that you want to activate.
3 Click Active/Inactive.
The data exchange is now activated.
NOTE
When you activate an exchange, the Delete button is disabled. You cannot delete
an active data exchange.
Always check each data exchange before you run it to verify its configuration.
Specifically, verify the following conditions:
! Connections to the external data store and the BMC Remedy AR System server
are established.
! Specified classes and tables are valid.
! Specified field and attribute mappings are valid.
! Specified queries are valid.
Before you begin
Make sure that the AIE service is running before you verify a data exchange.
3 On the Data Exchange Console, select the data exchange that you want to verify.
4 Click Verify.
The verification process begins, and the Verify button label changes to Get Result.
5 Click Get Result.
A dialog box displays the test result.
6 If the verification was unsuccessful, correct the listed errors and test the connection
again.
7 Click OK and Save.
NOTE
The verification process can take several minutes to complete. Because this process
is asynchronous, you can continue working with BMC Atrium Integration Engine
while waiting for the result.
WARNING
If the AIE service crashes for any reason after you click the Get Result button, you
must explicitly log out of your BMC Remedy User session using the Logout button
on the Data Exchanges Console. If you simply close and restart your BMC Remedy
User session, the Verify button continues to show the Get Result label, preventing
you from verifying other data exchanges.
You can schedule and run a data exchange based on the Manage Execution tab
settings or on demand. Occasionally, you might want to run a data exchange on
demand for testing purposes.
When you run reconciliation jobs, make sure that you do not run the reconciliation
jobs and data exchanges at the same time, because the reconciliation jobs and data
exchanges could query or update the same data.
NOTE
If you run a data exchange on demand when the same data exchange is already
running, the on-demand request is ignored.
Best practice
Before you run data exchanges on your production data, run them on a small
amount of representative data first. You can use a qualification to specify the
amount of data. For example, Calbro Services wanted to transfer 10,000 records of
processors from their Chicago site to the New York site. First, they transferred only
100 records by using the qualification $EmployeeID$ >= 400 AND $EmployeeID$
<= 500.
3 On the Data Exchange Console, select the data exchange that you want to run on
demand.
NOTE
Make sure that the data exchange is active. When you activate an exchange, the
Delete button is disabled. You cannot delete an active data exchange.
6 Click OK.
The Connections Console shows a list of the existing data exchanges in the Data
Exchange Name table. For the selected data exchange in the table, the values of the
connection parameters are shown to the right of the table. These fields are read
only. The fields below the table allow you to change the value of the connection
parameters for the selected data exchange. The fields are not case sensitive except
for Password.
2 In the DB Instance field, type the name of the DB2 UDB instance where your
database resides.
3 In the DB Alias field, type the alias for your DB2 UDB database.
4 In the Login Name field, type the user name of the administrative account for your
DB2 UDB database.
5 In the Password field, type the password of the administrative account for your
DB2 UDB database.
The password is case sensitive.
6 In the Apply New Configuration Settings To field, select one of the following
options:
! To apply connection parameter changes to only the data exchanges that are
selected in the Data Exchange Name table, select Only Selected Data Exchanges.
! To apply connection parameter changes to all the data exchanges in the Data
Exchange Name table, select All Data Exchanges.
7 Click Test Connection to verify the connection parameters.
The Test Connection button label changes to Get Result.
8 Click Get Result.
A dialog box displays the test result.
9 If the verification was unsuccessful, correct the listed errors and test the connection
again.
10 Click OK and Apply.
The Connections Console shows a list of the existing data exchanges in the Data
Exchange Name table. For the selected data exchange in the table, the values of the
connection parameters are shown to the right of the table. These fields are read
only. The fields below the table allow you to change the value of the Oracle
connection parameters for the selected data exchange. The fields are not case
sensitive.
3 In the SID field, type the system ID for the Oracle database.
NOTE
The SID value is a unique service name that is configured in the tnsnames.ora file
for every Oracle instance.
4 In the DB Directory field, type the directory path for the Oracle database.
5 In the Login Name field, type the Oracle login name used to establish a connection
to the Oracle database.
6 In the Password field, type the password associated with the login name used to
connect to the Oracle database.
7 In the Apply New Configuration Settings To field, select one of the following
options:
! To apply connection parameter changes to only the data exchanges that are
selected in the Data Exchange Name table, select Only Selected Data Exchanges.
! To apply connection parameter changes to all the data exchanges in the Data
Exchange Name table, select All Data Exchanges.
8 Click Test Connection to verify the connection parameters.
The Test Connection button label changes to Get Result.
9 Click Get Result.
A dialog box displays the test result.
10 If the verification was unsuccessful, correct the listed errors and test the connection
again.
11 Click OK and Apply.
The Connections Console shows a list of the existing data exchanges in the Data
Exchange Name table. For the selected data exchange in the table, the values of the
connection parameters are shown to the right of the table. These fields are read
only. The fields below the table allow you to change the value of the SQL Server
connection parameters for the selected data exchange. The fields are not case
sensitive except for Password.
3 In the Server Name field, type the name of your SQL Server computer.
4 In the Database Name field, type the name of your SQL Server database.
Failover support
BMC Atrium Integration Engine provides failover support for data exchanges
when it or BMC Remedy AR System stops responding.
With the failover support, BMC Atrium Integration Engine can continue from the
point of failure in a data transfer. BMC Atrium Integration Engine tracks the first
processed key of the chunk of transferred data. The records that have already been
updated or added are not processed, thus avoiding a repetition of data transfer and
improving performance.
NOTE
Failover support is applicable only when the source has more than 10,000 records
to be transferred.
BMC Atrium Integration Engine failover support does not work for data
exchanges with the direction CMDB Data into External Data Store or AR Data into
External Data Store. If such a data exchange fails to complete for any reason, the
next time it runs it starts from the first record again instead of bypassing the
records transferred in the previous run.
You can track the progress of a BMC Atrium Integration Engine instance in the
AIE:Exchange_Runs form. Records are transferred in chunks of 10,000. When an
instance stops responding, the first key of a chunk that was successfully
transferred is displayed in the Data Key field of the AIE:Exchange_Runs form.
When the BMC Atrium Integration Engine instance restarts, BMC Atrium
Integration Engine starts transferring data from the next key.
If multiple entries of a data exchange with the Running status are found, BMC
Atrium Integration Engine considers the exchange that was last run and starts
transferring the data from the point where it failed.
NOTE
If you want to transfer all records again, you must change the Run Status in the
AIE:Exchange_Runs form to Completed for the last incomplete data exchange.
When you run the exchange again, all records are transferred.
If the AIE service or BMC Remedy AR System stops responding during the
transfer of a chunk of records and you restart the AIE service, the chunk of records
are transferred regardless of the number of records already processed in that
chunk. For example, 20,000 records are to be transferred, and the first chunk of
10,000 records is transferred successfully. The AIE service stops responding after
only 3300 records in the second chunk have been transferred. When you restart the
AIE service, records from 10,001 onwards are transferred even though 3300 of
these records were transferred before the AIE service stopped.
NOTE
BMC Atrium Integration Engine failover support does not work for XML adapters.
If a data exchange with XML file as the external data store fails to complete for any
reason, the next time it runs it starts from the first record again instead of
bypassing the records transferred in the previous run.
NOTE
The Data Key is the first key of a chunk of data that is being processed. If the AIE
service stops responding before the chunk of data is successfully transferred, the
Data Key does not show the last record that was successfully transferred; it just
shows the first key of the chunk of data that was being processed. As a result, if
you check the debug files for that data exchange, the number of records transferred
is always more than the Data Key. However, BMC Atrium Integration Engine
transfers data from the next record of the Data Key. The records that are already
present in the destination database are updated when the BMC Atrium Integration
Engine instance is restarted.
The AIE service does not clear entries in the AIE:Exchange_Runs form. You must
manually delete the old entries from the form to prevent the database from getting
too large. Alternatively, you can write workflow that periodically delete entries
automatically.
In the sample scenario, Calbro Services has 16200 records holding the relationship
between the ComputerSystem source class and DiskDrive destination class in its
Adelaide site database and transfers them to its centralized database. When the
data is transferred, the relationship key of the source class, ComputerSystem, is
recorded as the Data Key in the AIE:Exchange_Runs form. After 1837 records
have been transferred, the AIE service stops responding. The number of records
processed so far is 1750, which is logged in the Records Processed So Far field.
When the AIE service starts running again, the data transfer process continues
from the next record after the data key (1751).
The debug files showed that 1837 records are transferred although the records
processes so far are 1750. This is because the Data Key logs the first key of a chunk
of data. Before the AIE service stopped responding, 1837 records were processed.
When the AIE service restarts, it starts processing data from the next key, which is
1751. Records from 1750-1837 (87 records) are updated in BMC Atrium CMDB and
the records after 1837 are inserted. Following are the logs in the debug files:
Session statistics: Relationship class requests: 1837, Class1-
Class2 requests: 14450, ByPassed: 1750 Class1 Records
Session statistics: Requests added: 14363, updated: 87, ByPassed:
1750, deleted: 0, errors: 0, warnings: 0
NOTE
BMC Remedy AR System connectivity errors ARERR 91, ARERR 92, and ARERR 93
are not recorded in the .csv file, because these errors are not due to erroneous data
values.
Exporting data
You can export data exchanges directly to a server from BMC Atrium Integration
Engine. With this utility, you can export data exchanges to the 7.1.00 and 7.5.00
versions of BMC Atrium Integration Engine. You can export data from the 7.5.00
version to the 7.6.00 of BMC Atrium Integration Engine, but not from the 7.1.00
version to the 8.1.00 because this enhanced utility is not supported on BMC Atrium
Integration Engine 7.1.00. You can also export data to a configuration file.
NOTE
Exporting data exchanges to a server allows you to export selected data exchanges,
while exporting data to a file exports all data exchanges and data mappings to a
file.
NOTE
The AIE menu is not available for other BMC Atrium Integration Engine consoles,
such as CI Class Mappings, Relationship Class Mappings, and AR System Form
Mappings.
The Export Configuration Utility window appears, in which the Source Server
Details area is populated.
NOTE
The AIE menu is not available for other BMC Atrium Integration Engine consoles,
such as CI Class Mappings, Relationship Class Mappings, and AR System Form
Mappings.
Importing data
After you export your data to the AIE_Configuration.arx file, you can import it
using the BMC Remedy Data Import utility or BMC Remedy Data Import
Command-Line Utility (CLI).
NOTE
If BMC Atrium Integration Engine 7.5.00 or later is installed on BMC Remedy
AR System 7.1.00 and BMC Atrium CMDB 2.1.00, use the BMC Remedy Import
utility or BMC Remedy Import CLI to import data. If BMC Atrium Integration
Engine 7.5.00 or later is installed on BMC Remedy AR System 7.5.00 and BMC
Atrium CMDB 7.5.00, you must use the BMC Remedy Data Import utility or BMC
Remedy Data Import CLI.
! To import data
1 Open the AIE_Configuration.arx file to edit it.
2 Make the following changes in the AIE_Configuration.arx file:
! Remove the configuration definition for the following forms:
! EIE:BackupLoadFlag
! EIE:ApplicationSettings
! EIE:VendorConfiguration
! In the EIE:DataExchange form information, change the instance name to the
name of the destination BMC Atrium Integration Engine instance.
! In the EIE:Data form information, change all paths for the flat file and .csv file
adapter-based data exchanges and database-related information.
Make similar changes in the EIE:DataMapping, EIE:CMDBDataMapping, and
EIE:CMDBRelMapping form information. In the EIE:VendorFieldNames form
information, change the Table Name.
NOTE
If you view the files in BMC Remedy User, the form names are prefixed with AIE:.
However in the AIE_Configuration.arx file, the form names are prefixed with
EIE:.
You can create an event-driven data exchange request by using the Application
Pending form, invoking the aiexfer utility, or creating BMC Remedy Action
Request System (BMC Remedy AR System) workflow that performs either of these
actions.
The following topics are provided:
! Creating a request on the Application Pending form (page 188)
! Creating a request using the aiexfer utility (page 191)
! Activating an event-driven data exchange through workflow (page 197)
NOTE
The AIE service has no mechanism for clearing entries on the Application
Pending form. Periodically, you must delete old entries manually to keep the
database from getting too large. Alternatively, you can write workflow that
periodically deletes entries automatically.
You can identify a record that you want to transfer either by its key or its BMC
Remedy AR System request ID. Alternatively, you can include all records
configured for exchange by running a bulk exchange.
NOTE
You cannot identify a record by its BMC Remedy AR System request ID if you are
running a data exchange between an external data store and BMC Atrium
Configuration Management Database (BMC Atrium CMDB) classes. In this case,
you must use its key.
BMC Atrium Integration Engine does not provide failover support for event-
driven requests. If the AIE service or the BMC Remedy AR System server stops
responding when an event-driven data exchange is running, you must create a
new request to run that data exchange using the Application Pending form.
4 Click New.
5 On the Application Pending window, specify EIE in the Category field.
6 In the Command field, type the name of the data exchange that you want to use.
The data exchange name is the value you that typed in the Exchange Name field
on the Main tab of the AIE:DataExchange form.
9 In the Tag field, enter one of the following types of event-driven exchange:
! Immediate Request
! On Scheduled Interval
10 In the Other Short field, type the key or the BMC Remedy AR System request ID
for the record that you want to include in the data exchange, or invoke all records
configured for a data exchange, by using one or more of the parameters in
Table 7-2.
The Other Long field is completed by BMC Atrium Core after the completion of
the data exchange. This field enables printing of the final exchange completion
statistics, such as the number of records inserted or updated.
11 In the Status options, select Pending.
12 Click Save.
Whether you create requests using the Application Pending form or the
aiexfer utility, all event-driven requests are written to the Application Pending
form.
The AIE service processes requests on the Application Pending form on a
scheduled interval that is configured in the aie.cfg file (the AsyncInterval
parameter).
In addition to the scheduled interval, you can also configure the AIE service to
process individual event requests immediately if you enter them through the
aiexfer utility.
BMC Atrium Integration Engine does not provide failover support for event-
driven requests. If the AIE service or the BMC Remedy AR System server stops
responding when an event-driven data exchange is running, you must create a
new request to run that data exchange using the aiexfer utility for immediate
processing.
NOTE
To improve performance, if your event-driven data exchange does not need to
occur immediately, type your request into the Application Pending form rather
than invoking the aiexfer utility.
Table 7-3 lists the BMC Remedy AR System parameters that you must use with the
aiexfer utility.
Table 7-4 lists the Data Exchange parameters that you can use when using the
aiexfer utility.
Table 7-5 lists the optional immediate parameters that you can use when using the
aiexfer utility.
The completion codes are listed in Table 7-7. A brief definition follows each
message in the table.
In BMC Atrium Integration Engine, you can use rules to map BMC Remedy Action
Request System (BMC Remedy AR System) fields or BMC Atrium Configuration
Management Database (BMC Atrium CMDB) classes to an external data store. You
use queries to limit the data exchange to the data that meets certain criteria.
You can also make a data mapping convenient by adding external data store field
names and rules to drop-down lists in the data mapping windows.
The following topics are provided:
! Defining rules (page 200)
! Defining queries (page 211)
Defining rules
This section outlines the rule syntax that defines how BMC Remedy AR System
fields and BMC Atrium CMDB classes are mapped to the external data store. A
rule syntax can be a data constant, a simple mapping of external data store and
BMC Remedy AR System fields or BMC Atrium CMDB classes, or a complex set of
functions used to compute the value for a rule.
You can define nested rules in mapping.
NOTE
Do not precede the nested rules with function|. Errors occur if you use
function| before the nested rules.
Table A-1: Rule syntax for BMC Remedy AR System forms and BMC Atrium CMDB classes
(part 1 of 2)
Rule syntax Description
constant| Interprets the value that follows the pipe as a constant.
{rule} {rule} {rule} Each set of curly brackets ({}) encloses a field mapping rule
that is evaluated independently. The first rule to return a
response value is considered the value to be returned.
function| Performs the function that follows the pipe.
sql| Runs an SQL command to obtain a value.
targetsql| Runs an SQL command on the target to obtain a value.
process| Runs a process to obtain a single character value in
response.
targetprocess| Runs a process on the target to obtain a value.
stmt| Defines an if/then/else statement to obtain a value.
Table A-1: Rule syntax for BMC Remedy AR System forms and BMC Atrium CMDB classes
(part 2 of 2)
Rule syntax Description
function|calc_tokenid Calculates a unique alphanumeric value for all the fields
mentioned within the function.
Note: This function works similarly to generating a Unique
GUID for multiple fields.
xxxxxx Any other value is dependent on whether the rule is defined
for the BMC Remedy AR System, the BMC Atrium CMDB,
or for the external data store. For BMC Remedy AR System,
this is considered a field definition and is the name of a field
on an BMC Remedy AR System form. For BMC Atrium
CMDB, this is considered an attribute definition and is the
name of an attribute in a BMC Atrium CMDB class. For an
external data store rule, see the external data store
documentation for an explanation of the external data
store’s rule syntax.
NOTE
If the SQL command returns more than one field or more than one row, BMC
Atrium Integration Engine uses the first value and ignores the remaining values.
For example, in Table A-6, the value for the Location field ($location$) is
obtained from the source database and replaced in the select statement before it is
passed to the target database for processing.
For example, in Table A-8, BMC Atrium Integration Engine replaces the values for
$keyName$ and $field2$ with the actual data values in the source database before
running the process on the target database.
Defining queries
Use the following query syntax to define queries on the Query tab of the Mapping
Information windows.
$field$ operator value
This query syntax applies to BMC Remedy AR System forms only. Each third-
party adapter defines its own query syntax, which might not be similar to the
query syntax described in this section. See the adapter documentation for the
query syntax supported by your adapter.
NOTE
Queries with the OR option do not work for flat files.
NOTE
$KEY$ is a keyword that is usually supported by any adapter.
KEYLIST
This is a special syntax for data key queries. If this syntax is entered for an BMC
Remedy AR System query, it requests a list of data values from the external data
store for the key fields that are defined on the Primary Key Mapping tab of the
respective mapping console for AR, CMDB and Relationship data exchange.
It generates a query that returns all requests from an BMC Remedy AR System
form where the BMC Remedy AR System data keys for this data mapping exist in
the key list obtained from the external data store. The external data store list is
either all key values in the third-party data store or a subset of keys based on the
query defined in the External Data Store Query field on the Data Key Query sub
tab of the Query tab on the Mapping Information window.
NOTE
$KEYLIST$ is a keyword that is usually supported by any adapter.
The operators IN, =, NOT IN, or != can precede $KEYLIST$. (For the $KEYLIST$
syntax, = is the same as IN, and != is the same as NOT IN.) $KEYLIST$ is expanded
with a series of $field$ operator value statements as shown in Table A-15.
On a Windows operating system, you can run the AIE service from a command
line or as a Windows service. On a UNIX operating system, you can run the AIE
service from a command line in your terminal’s foreground or as a daemon. The
AIE service parameters are defined in the configuration file (aie.cfg).
The following topics are provided:
! Running the AIE service on Windows (page 218)
! Running the AIE service on UNIX (page 219)
! Loading the adapters for Oracle or DB2 (page 220)
! Understanding the configuration file and its parameters (page 221)
! Managing instances (page 228)
! Changing BMC Remedy AR System password (page 238)
NOTE
If you change the aie.cfg file to solve the problem, stop and restart the service to
continue.
NOTE
On UNIX, the AIE service is created as a batch file based on the number of BMC
Atrium Integration Engine instances you install. For example, if you install three
instances of BMC Atrium Integration Engine, three AIE service batch files are
created named aie001, aie002, and aie003. You can create your data exchanges
based on these instances. In this case, if you want to run a data exchange for the
second instance, you would type ./aie002 start on the command line.
[Log]
# Adds one record, indicating status and other details, in the
# AIE:Log form for each record transferred during each data
# exchange. This form can quickly become populated with a large
# number of records, so do not leave the Logging parameter set to
# Yes for extended periods.
# Also defines the location of the log file and whether it is
active or inactive.
Logging: Yes
LogPath: C:\Program Files\BMC Software\BMC Atrium Integration
Engine\myserver\service\log
# Size of the file in bytes.
MaxLogSize: 102400
[Debug]
# Max size for debug(.dbg) files
MaxDebugSize: 102400
# Timestamp option adds a timestamp on each debug message: Yes/No.
TimestampDebug: Yes
# DebugOn option activates a debug file for aiemain. (Yes/No) Can
also be specified on the command line to activate a debug file
prior to the config file being read.
DebugOn: Yes
DebugPath: C:\Program Files\BMC Software\BMC Atrium Integration
Engine\myserver\service\debug
StackTrace:No
# Defines how many times the data exchange definitions are read
before the engine stops.
# Set to 0 to run the engine without ending. This is for
production use.
# Set to 1 or more to run the engine for 1 or more passes. Can be
used for debugging.
ConfigPassCount: 0
# This option is only valid while pulling data in CMDB, with this
option AIE engine will insert CI in blocks mentioned below.
CMIBLOCK:1
#If SRVGROUP option is set to Yes and if you want to run data
exchanges on a Private RPC Port, configure the Private RPC Port.
PrivateRPCPort:0
# For BMC Atrium Integration Engine in a server group you must set
this variable to a common directory where all XML and flat files
(.csv and .dat) are maintained.This path is used by all flat file
and XML exchanges.
FileDataPath:C:\Program Files\BMC
Software\AtriumCore\myserver\aie\service\data
NOTE
If you edit the configuration file with a text editor, the ARPassword parameter
appears in plain text in aie.cfg, rather than being encrypted. This can pose a
security risk.
You can use the aiecfedit utility to edit the ARPassword parameter while
maintaining the encryption for your BMC Remedy AR System password in the
aie.cfg file.
NOTE
Associate a value to the ARPort parameter in the aie.cfg file, such as ARPort:
7100. Make sure that the encrypted password is associated with the ARPassword
parameter.
Managing instances
In the Instances Console, you can view and edit information about the AIE service
instances. You can also add, delete, start, or stop an AIE service instance from the
Instances Console.
NOTE
When you install BMC Atrium Integration Engine for the first time, you can add
instances. However, when you upgrade from an earlier version to 7.6.00 or run the
installer again after installing BMC Atrium Integration Engine, you cannot add
instances using the installer. You must use the Instances Console to add instances.
NOTE
If you do not have BMC Atrium CMDB 7.5.00 or later, you cannot add, delete, start,
and stop instances in the Instances Console.
Adding an instance
This section describes how to add an AIE service instance.
Before you begin
! Your BMC Atrium CMDB must be 7.5.00 or later.
! You must have installed BMC Atrium Integration Engine on your computer to
add instances of the AIE service.
! To add an instance
1 From the BMC Atrium Integration Engine console navigation bar, click
Configuration > Instances.
2 In the Instances Console, select an AIE service instance, and click New.
The host of the selected AIE service instance is used as the host for the new
instance. If you have installed the AIE service on the same computer on which the
BMC Remedy AR System to which it points to is installed, you can create a new
instance without selecting it.
NOTE
You can add an AIE Service instance from the Instances Console only if BMC
Atrium Integration Engine is installed on the same computer as BMC Remedy
AR System and you have accessed the Instances Console using the BMC Remedy
User.
TIP
You can also choose to start the newly added instance automatically. If you choose
to start the instance automatically, the AIE service starts as soon as you create the
instance.
NOTE
On UNIX, this field is disabled. You must manually start an instance on UNIX.
5 Click Create.
A message confirming that the instance was succcesfully added is displayed.
If you are adding an instance on a remote host, the Sending Instance Creation
request message is displayed; however, no confirmation message about the
instance creation is displayed on the host computer. To confirm that a new instance
is created on the remote host, you must view the AIE:BackupLoadFlag form.
You can also confirm the addition of the instance by checking the
AiexferUtil.out file. The AiexferUtil.out file is located at one of the following
directories from where you have run the aiexfer.exe utility:
! BMCAtriumIntegrationEngineInstallationDir\service\bin
! BMCRemedyARSystemInstallationDir\
6 Click OK.
NOTE
When you create a new instance on a server group host, a new instance is created
on the primary as well as all secondary servers .
7 (optional) Click Refresh to view the newly created instance in the instances table if
it is not immediately displayed
BMC Atrium Integration Engine connects to all hosts that have the instance
running flag set to Yes and updates the table. If BMC Atrium Integration Engine
fails to connect to an instance, it sets the instance running flag to No for that
instance.
TIP
To avoid a timeout error, increase the Process Timeout time from BMC Remedy
AR System Administration Console > System > General > Server Information >
Timeouts.
Deleting an instance
You can delete an AIE service instance from the Instances Console.
Before you begin
! Your BMC Atrium CMDB must be 7.5.00 or later.
! You must have more than one instance created to delete one of them.
! To delete an instance
1 From the BMC Atrium Integration Engine console navigation bar, click
Configuration > Instances.
2 Select the instance that you want to delete.
3 Click Delete.
NOTE
You cannot delete an instance if a data exchange is associated with it. The Delete
button is disabled if a data exchange is associated with an instance.
NOTE
When you delete an instance on a server group host, an instance on the primary as
well as the secondary server is deleted.
6 (optional) Click Refresh to remove the deleted instance from the instances table if it
is still displayed.
BMC Atrium Integration Engine connects to all hosts that have the instance
running flag set to Yes and updates the instances table. If BMC Atrium Integration
Engine fails to connect to an instance, it sets the instance running flag to No for that
instance.
TIP
To avoid a timeout error, increase the Process Timeout time from BMC Remedy
AR System Administration Console > System > General > Server Information >
Timeouts.
Starting an instance
You can start an instance of the AIE service from the Instances Console.
Before you begin
Your BMC Atrium CMDB must be 7.5.00 or later.
! To start an instance
1 From the BMC Atrium Integration Engine console navigation bar, click
Configuration > Instances.
2 Select the instance that you want to start.
3 Click Start.
NOTE
The Start button is disabled if the service is already running. If BMC Atrium
Integration Engine is in a server group, when you click Start, the services on both
the primary and secondary servers are started. The Start button is also disabled for
instances running on secondary servers.
BMC Atrium Integration Engine connects to all hosts that have the instance
running flag set to Yes and updates the status. If BMC Atrium Integration Engine
fails to connect to an instance, it sets the instance running flag to No for that
instance.
TIP
To avoid a timeout error, increase the Process Timeout time from BMC Remedy
AR System Administration Console > System > General > Server Information >
Timeouts.
Stopping an instance
You can stop an instance of the AIE service from the Instances Console.
Before you begin
! Your BMC Atrium CMDB must be 7.5.00 or later.
! Make sure that the instance that you want to stop is running.
! To stop an instance
1 From the BMC Atrium Integration Engine console navigation bar, click
Configuration > Instances.
2 Select the instance you want to stop.
3 Click Stop.
NOTE
The Stop button is disabled if the service is not running. If BMC Atrium Integration
Engine is in a server group, when you click the Stop button, that service on the
primary and secondary servers is stopped. The Stop button is also disabled for
instances running on the secondary server.
BMC Atrium Integration Engine connects to all hosts that have the instance
running flag set to Yes and updates the status. If BMC Atrium Integration Engine
fails to connect to an instance, it sets the instance running flag to No for that
instance.
TIP
To avoid a timeout error, increase the Process Timeout time from BMC Remedy
AR System Administration Console > System > General > Server Information >
Timeouts.
5 Select Yes for the Use Fixed Port option, and specify the port in the Port field if you
want to specify the port number for an AIE instance.
If you select No, BMC Atrium Integration Engine uses the port that it generates at
runtime.
NOTE
When the AIE service starts, it listens to this port and updates the port number in
the AIE:BackupLoadFlag form. This port is used for the Run Now and Verify
requests. The default port is 3021. When the AIE service starts or stops, the
Instance_Running field is updated in the AIE:BackupLoadFlag form.
6 Click Save.
You can view, but not modify, the remaining instance information:
! Internal Instance Name—The name created by the installer for this instance
! Host—The name of the server where BMC Atrium Integration Engine is
installed
! Engine Load—The readiness of the AIE service. If this value is Yes, the service
is ready to start
! AIE Version—The version of BMC Atrium Integration Engine that you are
running
NOTE
You can view the status of only those instances on which data exchanges have been
run.
NOTE
When you change your password, you must change it in BMC Remedy
AR System, in the BMC Atrium Core console, and the aie.cfg file.
! To change your BMC Remedy AR System password on the BMC Atrium Core
console
1 From BMC Atrium Core console navigation bar, select Configuration > Integration
Engine App.
The BMC Atrium Core Application Console appears.
2 In the Admin Login Name field, type the administrator login name you use for
BMC Remedy AR System.
3 In the Admin Password field, type the administrator password you use for BMC
Remedy AR System.
4 Click Save.
Using this method keeps the password encrypted.
The password is updated for all exchanges that are configured with the Use
Default Destination AR Server option set to Yes on the Connection Settings tab of
the Data Exchanges Information.
NOTE
To run this utility on UNIX, you must set a library path.
where:
! -1 userName is the login name you use to log on to the BMC Remedy
AR System server
! -p password is the login password
! -y installationPathDirectory is the complete path of the installation
directory
2 Change the user name and password.
The updated password is used to load data exchanges when the AIE service starts.
BMC Atrium Integration Engine follows the RFC 4180 standard for CSV formats,
but with small variations. This topic provides information on how BMC Atrium
Integration Engine interprets .csv files while transferring data to and from BMC
Atrium Configuration Management Database (BMC Atrium CMDB).
NOTE
You have to create a .tbl file to define the columns and the delimiter used in the
.csv file. If you make changes to the .csv file (such as add a new column or
change the name of an existing column) after you have created the corresponding
.tbl file, the changes are not automatically reflected in the .tbl file. When you
open the data mapping for the .csv file, the .tbl file is regenerated and the new or
updated fields are displayed in the list of attributes. You can map the new or
updated fields to attributes in BMC Atrium CMDB. If the fields contain line breaks
(CRLF) and commas, you must enclose the fields in double-quotes.
NOTE
To remove the unwanted double quotes in the example above, use the Replace
function of AIE as shown below.
function|replace($Description$,"""",""")
! There should be no space between a field separator (,) and a double quote (“).
For example, the following line is invalid as there is space before “bbb”.
“aaa”, “bbb”,“ccc”
Glossary 245
BMC Atrium Integration Engine 7.7.00
Glossary 247
BMC Atrium Integration Engine 7.7.00
Glossary 249
BMC Atrium Integration Engine 7.7.00
group instance
A set of a particular type of reconciliation An actual incarnation of a particular class,
definition that is referenced by an activity. represented as a record in BMC Atrium
See also Identification group, Precedence CMDB. Both CIs and relationships are
group, Qualification group, Workflow instances of their respective classes.
Execution group. instance ID
GUID A GUID that BMC Atrium CMDB applies to
A globally unique identifier, automatically each instance to uniquely identify it.
generated by the BMC Remedy AR System instance permissions
server. GUIDs are used for instance IDs, The right to view or modify a specific
reconciliation IDs, and other cases where a instance. These permissions are called row-
unique value must be generated without level security and write security, respectively.
human interaction.
instantiate
hard delete To create an instance of a class.
The act of removing an instance from BMC
Atrium CMDB. See also soft delete. ITIL®
Identification activity The IT Infrastructure Library® (ITIL) is an
A Reconciliation Engine activity that matches internationally accepted set of best practices
instances from two or more datasets and developed by the British government for
assigns them the same identity, meaning that management of IT services.
they represent the same real-life object. job
Identification group A group of one or more reconciliation
A set of Identification rules that collectively activities executed in sequence. You cannot
identify instances from a particular dataset run an activity by itself; only as part of a job.
against other datasets. Each dataset that You can start a job manually, with a schedule,
participates in an Identification activity is with an Execute Job activity, with workflow,
paired with one Identification group. or with an API program.
Identification rule key query
A rule used when identifying instances Limits the records transferred in a data
between datasets. When two instances match transfer in the BMC Atrium Integration
the qualification for the rule, they are assigned Engine. See also row-level query.
the same reconciliation ID. Merge activity
identity A Reconciliation Engine activity that merges
See reconciliation ID. two or more datasets into a single complete
and correct dataset based on precedence
incident values that favor the strengths of each dataset.
Defined by ITIL® as any event that is not part
of the standard operation of a service and that metadata
causes, or might cause, an interruption to, or a Definitions that describe the data stored in
reduction in, the quality of that service. BMC Atrium CMDB. Metadata includes
classes in the data model and special classes
incremental merge to define things such as datasets and
A Merge activity that only processes instances federation objects.
created or modified since the activity was last
run, saving otherwise useless processing time.
Setting Force Attribute Merge to No makes a
Merge activity incremental.
Glossary 251
BMC Atrium Integration Engine 7.7.00
Glossary 253
BMC Atrium Integration Engine 7.7.00
Index
Index 255
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
defining data exchange parameters 138 using BMC Remedy Data Import command
defining multiple data mappings 143 line 182
defining schedules 140 using BMC Remedy Import 182
delete field mapping, defining 70, 121 using BMC Remedy Import command line 182
delete queries 77, 124, 127 importing data 181
demand data exchanges, running 166 initialization phase of data transfers 21
diary history field 80, 129 instance
direction of data transfer 16 adding 229
disabling logging 225 deleting 231
display pane 35 starting 232
status 237
stopping 233
E invoking requests using aiexfer, Event Request
enabling logging 225 interface 191
error handling ITSM 184
See .csv file
Event Request interface
activating requests through workflow 197
K
invoking requests through aiexfer 191 KEY syntax for data key queries 214
Event Request interface, definition of 20 KEYLIST syntax for data key queries 214
event-driven mode, running 140
execution of data exchanges, managing 145
exporting data 178 L
to a file 180 location, configuration file 221
to a server 178 log files
disabling 225
F enabling 225
maximum size 226
failover support 174 logging parameter 225
field option for data key query syntax 213
file, adapter rule helper utility 52
FileDataPath parameter 225 M
function syntax managing connection parameters 168
BMC Remedy AR System queries 212 DB2 168
rules 200 Oracle 170
managing connection parameters, SQL Server 171
H managing execution of data exchanges 145
managing instances
helper utility using command line 234
about 40 using Instances Console 228
DB2 40 MaxDebugSize parameter 225
file 52 maximum file size
Oracle 44 debug 225
SQL 47 log 226
XML 52 MaxLogSize parameter 226
History tab 36 monitoring console
history, recording 80, 129 viewing data exchanges 35
monitoring console, accessing 34
multiple data mappings, defining 143
I
import data
Index 257
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
N defining 200
function syntax 200
nested rules 200 precedence syntax 200, 202, 209
process command syntax 200, 208
SQL command syntax 200, 207
O stmt command syntax 209
Oracle connection parameters, managing 170 target process command syntax 200, 208
Oracle, adapter rule helper utility 44 target SQL command syntax 200, 207
Oracle, defining connection settings 154 vendor rules 201
OraDbDirPath parameter 226 running data exchanges on demand 166
running the AIE service on UNIX, from a command
line 219
P
parameters
command line 218
S
debug file 225 sample file, aie.cfg 221
debug timestamp 226 schedule-driven mode, running 140
populating, SQL field information 49 security 226
precedence syntax 200, 202, 209 server group 32
PrivateRPCPort parameter 226 source syntax
process command syntax 200, 208 SQL command syntax 200, 207
processing phase of data transfers 22 SQL field information, populating 49
product support 3 SQL Server, defining connection settings 156
SQL Server, managing connection parameters 171
SQL, adapter rule helper utility 47
Q SRC syntax for row-level queries
Srvgroup parameter 226
queries, defining 211
StackTrace parameter 226
query syntax
stmt command syntax 209
See also BMC Remedy AR System query syntax
support, customer 3
and data key query syntax
syntax ($KEYLIST$) 214
row-level syntax, SRC syntax 215
syntax statement for BMC Remedy AR System
queries 211
R
response queries 76, 124, 126 T
Retrieve Delta 183
target process command syntax 200, 208
Retrieve Delta option 106
target SQL command syntax 200, 207
Retrieve Source Records 183
technical support 3
Retrieve Source Records option 106
timestamp parameters for debug files 226
Role
TimeStampDebug parameter 226
AIE Definitions Admin 27
trailing blanks 79, 106, 129
AIE User 27
triggering one data exchange from another 148
row-level queries 72, 77, 123
rule helper utility 40
DB2 40
file 52
U
Oracle 44 UNIX, running the AIE service, from a command
SQL 47 line 219
XML 52 update queries 74, 123, 125–126
rules updating records only if values change 80, 106, 130
constant syntax 200, 201 Use Fixed Port option 236
V
value option
BMC Remedy AR System query syntax 211
data key query syntax 214
vendor rules 201
verifying data exchange conditions 165
W
working with data exchanges
activating 164
running on demand 166
verifying conditions 165
X
XML, adapter rule helper utility 52
XML, defining connection settings 159
Index 259
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z