Approximated lifecycle and lifecycle code

  • Release version: Yokohama
  • Updated August 28, 2025
  • 2 minutes to read
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    Summary of Approximated Lifecycle and Lifecycle Code

    The approximated lifecycle feature in ServiceNow® Hardware Asset Management (version 15.0.0 and later) allows customers to utilize expanded lifecycle coverage for hardware and consumable models, especially when official lifecycle dates from manufacturers are unavailable. ServiceNow generates these approximated dates through data-driven logic, categorizing them with specific lifecycle codes to indicate their non-official status.

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    Key Features

    • Lifecycle Codes: Codes such as Exception Codes (EXC) and End-of-Phase Codes (END) provide clarification when official lifecycle dates are absent.
    • Lifecycle Code Storage: The lifecycle codes are documented in the Hardware Lifecycle code [snitamcommonlifecyclecode] table, while the Hardware Lifecycle Definition [snhamplifecycledefinition] table indicates the approximate lifecycle code for each model.
    • Scheduled Job: The job HAM – Hardware Life cycles retrieves and loads lifecycle dates into relevant tables, ensuring up-to-date information is accessible.
    • System Property: The property approximatedatesinhwlifecycle controls whether actual dates or both actual and approximated dates are loaded into lifecycle tables.

    Key Outcomes

    By utilizing approximated lifecycle dates, ServiceNow customers can effectively manage hardware and consumable models even when manufacturers do not provide explicit lifecycle dates. This functionality enhances asset management reliability and decision-making. Customers should monitor the Lifecycle code column in the relevant tables to identify whether lifecycle phases and dates are based on approximated data or confirmed dates, helping to maintain accurate asset records.

    Leverage the expanded lifecycle coverage for hardware and consumable models available in the ServiceNow® Content library portal when explicit dates from the manufacturer aren’t available. Hardware models with approximated lifecycle dates contain a lifecycle code that indicates the dates are approximate.

    Important:
    The approximated lifecycle feature is available with Hardware Asset Management version 15.0.0 onwards.
    When manufacturers don’t publish official life cycle dates for certain hardware models and consumables, the  ServiceNow® Content Service generates approximated life cycle dates. The approximated lifecycle dates are derived using data-driven approximation logic to determine the most likely life cycle phase dates for the hardware and consumable models.

    The estimated life cycle dates are categorized using specific lifecycle codes. These codes indicate that the lifecycle dates aren’t the explicit dates published by the manufacturer. When lifecycle dates are unavailable for any models, codes such as Exception Codes (EXC) and End-of-Phase Codes (END) are assigned to those models. These codes provide clarification regarding the absence of these dates.

    The Hardware Lifecycle code [sn_ itam_common_lifecycle_code] table stores the approximation codes and its description for the lifecycle records that are curated through approximation logic. For a detailed explanation of lifecycle codes, see https://support.servicenow.com/kb?id=kb_article_view&sysparm_article=KB2726382.

    The Lifecycle code column in the Hardware Lifecycle Definition [sn_hamp_lifecycle_definition] table indicates the approximate code for a model's lifecycle. This column references the Lifecycle code column in the Hardware Lifecycle Code [sn_hamp_lifecycle_code] table.

    Load approximated lifecycle date for hardware and consumable models

    The scheduled job HAM – Hardware Life cycles retrieves the life cycles date that is published by the ServiceNow Content Service and loads them into the following tables:
    • cmdb_hardware_model_lifecycle (for hardware models)
    • cmdb_consumable_model_lifecycle (for consumable models)
    The system property approximate_dates_in_hw_lifecycle determines whether only manufacturer-provided actual dates or both actual and approximated dates are loaded into the hardware and consumable life cycle tables. The default value of the system property approximate_dates_in_hw_lifecycle is True.
    • If this property is set to False, only the actual life cycles from the manufacturer are loaded into the hardware and consumable life cycle tables.
    • If it is set to True, both actual and approximated life cycles are loaded into the hardware and consumable life cycle tables.

    Identifying models with approximated lifecycle dates

    In both the Hardware Model Lifecycles [cmdb_hardware_model_lifecycle] and Consumable Model Lifecycles [cmdb_consumable_model_lifecycle] tables, as well as in the Model management view within the Hardware Asset Workspace, the Lifecycle code column indicates if the model’s lifecycle phase and dates have been approximated.
    • If the Lifecycle code column contains a value, the model's lifecycle phase and dates are based on an approximated lifecycle code.
    • If the Lifecycle code column is empty, the model's lifecycle dates are confirmed or explicit dates published by the manufacturer.
    • If the Lifecycle code column contains a value, and the model's lifecycle phase and dates are empty, the Lifecycle code column indicates the reason for the absence of these dates.
    Note:
    When manually adding a new lifecycle record, such as a custom lifecycle or calculated lifecycle, you can't add a lifecycle code value. The lifecycle code is only available for lifecycle records that come directly from the ServiceNow Content Service and can’t be set for the user created lifecycle records.