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

  • Release version: Yokohama
  • Updated January 30, 2025
  • 2 minutes to read
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    Summary of Integrating with the IBM License Metric Tool (ILMT) or BigFix Inventory using v1 APIs

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

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    Important: Although version 1 APIs are deprecated by IBM, the Software Asset Management (SAM) application still supports them. For new integrations, ServiceNow recommends using version 2 of these APIs.

    Key Features

    • Creates HTTP or HTTPS connections between IBM servers and the ServiceNow AI Platform.
    • Supports importing historical software installation data, including products, components, editions, hosts, virtual machines, and license usage.
    • License usage is tracked based on product use, not component use.
    • Activation of the Software Asset Management Professional for IBM plugin provides an IBM Server connection alias to manage IBM server connections.
    • Uses transform maps to process imported data into appropriate ServiceNow tables for effective management.

    Prerequisites

    • Install, configure, and run ILMT or BigFix Inventory on physical hosts or virtual machines.
    • Ensure ILMT version 9.2.7 or later is installed.
    • Properly configure all required Configuration Item (CI) data (serial numbers, names, IP addresses) for accurate CMDB record creation.
    • Configure IBM ILMT agents to scan hosts and VMs per IBM usage measurement guidelines.
    • Enable discovery of physical hosts, VMs, and their relationships through ILMT or BigFix Inventory.
    • Classify and bundle IBM components into products within ILMT or BigFix Inventory.
    • Set the Software Asset Management property snsampibmlic.ilmtapiversion to use the v1 APIs for this integration.

    Practical Considerations for ServiceNow Customers

    By integrating IBM license data using v1 APIs, customers can effectively manage and optimize IBM software licenses within ServiceNow, leveraging imported detailed software inventory and license usage data. However, due to deprecation, new setups should prefer v2 APIs to ensure future compatibility and support.

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

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

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

    Integration between ILMT and ServiceNow.

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

    Prerequisites

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