Define the physical connection details

  • Release version: Australia
  • Updated March 12, 2026
  • 3 minutes to read

    • Review update, or create a network asset instance for the physical port connection on the interface cards in your networks. You define these attributes so that you can track and manage your network assets in the Telecommunications Network Inventory application.

    Before you begin

    Role required: sn_ni_core.inventory_admin, sn_ni_core.inventory_agent

    About this task

    The physical connection data includes the link types, bandwidths, ports, sites, and topologies. When you create a physical connection record, it creates a corresponding configuration item (CI) record in the Physical Connection [cmdb_ci_ni_physical_link] table. To learn more, see Data model.

    Procedure

    1. Navigate to Workspaces > Network Inventory Workspace.
    2. Select the list icon (List icon.), and then go to Inventory > Physical Connections.
    3. Select New.
    4. On the Details tab, in the Physical connection section, fill in the general information for the physical connection.
      To learn more about the fields that are unique to the Physical Connection form, see Physical Connection form.

      To learn about the remaining identification fields that are common to most of the Inventory and Inventory number allocation menu forms, see Commonly used network asset instance identification fields.

      If you selected Optical Fiber Cable in the Product Model field, the Cable parameters form appears so that you can enter some information about the cable parameters. To learn more about the fields, see Cable Parameters form.

    5. On the Details tab, in the Configuration section, fill in the configuration information for the physical connection.
      To learn more about the fields that are unique to the Configuration section, see Physical Connection form - Configuration.

      To learn about the remaining configuration fields that are common to most of the Inventory menu forms, see Commonly used network asset instance configuration fields.

    6. To create the Telecommunications Network Inventory attributes for the Physical Connection form, select Set Inventory Attributes.
      When you select the Set Inventory Attributes button, it creates the TNI CI Attributes record in the CI table as well as the Telecommunications Network Inventory CI Attributes tables and makes a relationship with the CI record.
      Note:

      If you select Save without selecting Set Inventory Attributes, it creates a CI record but not a Telecommunications Network Inventory CI record. In the network inventory workspace, the Set Inventory Attributes is visible only for the Telecommunications Network Inventory roles.

    7. On the TNI CI Attributes form, fill in the fields.

      To learn more about the Telecommunications Network Inventory attribute fields, see TNI CI Attributes form.

    8. Select Save.

      The Telecommunications Network Inventory attribute fields are displayed on the Physical Connection form after you save the TNI CI Attributes form. The Set Inventory Attributes doesn’t appear when you reopen the CI record.

    9. To add the attachments, such as graphics or documents, select the attachment icon (Attachment icon.) in the right panel.
    10. Select Save.
      The related tabs appear on the form. You can view or modify the related tab information. To learn more about the related tabs, see Related tabs in the Network inventory forms.
    11. To view the visual representation of the selected record, select the more options icon (More Options icon.) and then select Open Map.
      Note:
      Install Service Graph Workspace or CMDB Workspace 3.5.0 or greater version to get this button in your instance. To learn more, see CMDB Workspace.
    12. Optional: Select the more options icon (More Options icon.) and then select Add Packs to capture the attributes for a configuration item (CI) record.
      To learn more, see Attribute pack for CI records.
    13. Optional: Select the more options icon (More Options icon.) and then select Decommission to decommission a CI record.
      To learn more, see Decommission an inventory record.
    14. To view the associated network inventories, select the brick icon (Brick icon.).

      The Infrastructure Relationships section shows all the associated network inventories grouped by the individual network asset instances.

    What to do next