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

  • Release version: Yokohama
  • Updated January 30, 2025
  • 4 minutes to read
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    Summary of IBM License Metric Tool (ILMT) and BigFix Inventory transform maps for v1 APIs

    When importing data from IBM License Metric Tool (ILMT) or BigFix Inventory using version 1 of the integration APIs, ServiceNow uses predefined transform maps to process and integrate this data into ServiceNow tables. These transform maps enable the automated creation and updating of configuration item (CI) records, software installation records, and license usage data, supporting effective software asset management and license compliance within ServiceNow.

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    Default ILMT and BigFix Inventory transform maps

    ServiceNow provides three primary transform maps for handling ILMT and BigFix Inventory data via v1 APIs:

    • ILMT Computer Identity V1: Transforms identification data from impsampilmtcomputersystem to cmdbcicomputer, creating CI records for virtual machines (VMs) and hosts using the CMDB Identification and Reconciliation Engine (IRE) API. It avoids duplicate CIs when VMs share the hardware serial number with their host. Note that hardware serial numbers containing periods are not supported.
    • ILMT Software Instance: Processes software component and product installation data from impsampilmtswinstance to sampilmtswinstall. It tracks IBM software components and products installed on VMs and hosts, treating software products as installations for license tracking and compliance purposes.
    • ILMT Software License Usage: Maps license usage data from impsampilmtlicenseusage to sampilmtswinstall, updating or creating records to reflect license consumption for IBM software products based on physical host usage only, since licensing is host-based rather than VM-based.

    Data processing details

    Each transform map applies field mappings and/or transform map scripts to ensure data is correctly processed and reconciled:

    • ILMT Computer Identity V1: Uses field maps to align source fields (such as IP address, DNS domain, CPU count, host name, CPU brand, core count, CPU type, and hardware serial number) to target CI fields. A key onAfter transform map script runs after each row is processed to finalize the reconciliation and data integration.
    • ILMT Software Instance: Utilizes an onComplete transform map script that executes after the entire import finishes to process software installation data efficiently.
    • ILMT Software License Usage: Employs an onStart transform map script that runs at the beginning of the import to prepare and process license usage data appropriately.

    Practical impact for ServiceNow customers

    By leveraging these default transform maps and associated scripts, ServiceNow customers can:

    • Automatically populate and maintain accurate CMDB records for IBM-related hardware and software assets.
    • Track IBM software installations at both component and product levels to support license management and compliance.
    • Reconcile license usage data against physical hosts to verify compliance with IBM licensing terms.
    • Ensure data integrity and prevent duplicate CI records through the integration with CMDB’s Identification and Reconciliation Engine.

    This integration streamlines IBM software asset management, reduces manual effort, and enhances compliance visibility within the ServiceNow platform.

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

    Default ILMT and BigFix Inventory transform maps

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    ILMT and BigFix Inventory data processing

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

    ILMT Computer Identity V1 transform map

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

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

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

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

    ILMT Software Instance transform map

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

    ILMT Software License Usage transform map

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