Configuring RPA Hub

  • Release version: Xanadu
  • Updated August 1, 2024
  • 2 minutes to read
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    Summary of Configuring RPA Hub

    This guide outlines the essential steps for ServiceNow customers to plan and configure the Robotic Process Automation (RPA) Hub within their organization. The configuration enables seamless management of RPA implementations, supporting efficient deployment, data migration, authentication, and license management.

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    Key Configuration Tasks

    • Install RPA Hub Application: Install the snrpafdn application with admin rights. This includes demo data and automatically installs related Store applications and plugins if not present.
    • Optional Table Restructuring: Restructure RPA Hub tables to application files to capture changes in update sets, allowing smooth data migration across environments without recreating records.
    • Data Migration: Use update sets to migrate RPA Hub data from non-production to production environments for real-time operational use.
    • Client Authentication and Code Signing Certificates: Generate and install certificates for authentication and project publishing via two methods:
      • Create user certificates using KeyStore Explorer for unattended robot authentication and code signing in RPA Desktop Design Studio.
      • Export Microsoft Active Directory certificates (root, intermediate, client authentication) for authentication purposes, then register and map these within the ServiceNow instance.
    • Apply CSDM Guidelines: Define configuration items (CIs) and their relationships in the CMDB following Common Service Data Model standards to optimize data integrity and AI platform value.
    • Robot License Distribution: In classic environments, create license distribution records to manage robot license consumption across parent, child, or global domains.
    • Configure RPA Hub Properties: Customize settings such as auto-assignment of robots and authentication mechanisms to tailor RPA Hub behavior according to organizational needs.

    Helpful Tools

    • Guided Setup: Step-by-step task sequences accessible via All > Robotic Process Automation > Administration > Guided Setup assist in configuring RPA Hub, allowing you to pause and resume the process efficiently.
    • Guided Tours: Interactive, in-instance instructions help complete specific configuration tasks, enhancing user experience and reducing errors.

    Related Configuration Topics

    • Configuring Unattended Robot
    • Configuring Attended Robot
    • Configuring RPA Desktop Design Studio

    You can plan and configure an RPA Hub implementation in your organization.

    Configuration overview

    Perform the following tasks for configuring RPA Hub:

    1. Install Robotic Process Automation (RPA) Hub.

      Install the Robotic Process Automation (RPA) Hub application (sn_rpa_fdn) if you have the admin role. The application includes demo data and installs related ServiceNow® Store applications and plugins if they are not already installed.

    2. (Optional) Restructure RPA Hub tables

      Restructure the Robotic Process Automation (RPA) tables to an application file, so that changes that you make to these tables are captured in the update sets and can be moved seamlessly across environments. With this process, you don't have to re-create the data records in the targeted environment.

    3. (Optional) Migrating your data from a lower environment to a higher environment in RPA Hub.

      Use the update set capability to migrate your data from a lower (non-production) environment to a higher (production) environment for real-time use.

    4. Set up client authentication and code signing certificates

      You can generate a client authentication and a code signing certificate in two ways. You can either generate and install user certificates or export active directory certificates.

      • Generate and install user certificate from KeyStore Explorer.

        Generate a client authentication certificate for authentication purposes in the Unattended Robot application. Generate a code signing certificate for publishing an automation project from RPA Desktop Design Studio.

      • Export Active Directory certificates.

        You can export Microsoft Active Directory certificates, such as root, intermediate, and a client authentication certificate, for authentication purposes. You can then register the exported root and intermediate certificate in the ServiceNow instance and map the exported client authentication certificate to the user.

    5. Applying the CSDM guidelines to RPA Hub

      Apply Common Service Data Model (CSDM) guidelines to define configuration items (CIs) and relationships between CIs in the CMDB. This process ensures that your data resides in the appropriate CMDB tables for maximum value from your ServiceNow AI Platform applications.

    6. Create a robot license distribution record in RPA Hub.

      In the classic environment, define the consumption and distribution of licenses for parent and child domains, or global domain by creating a robot license distribution record in RPA Hub.

    7. Configure RPA Hub properties.

      In the classic environment, configure RPA Hub properties, such as auto assignment of robots or defining the authentication mechanism to customize the experience.

    Using Guided Setup to implement RPA Hub

    Guided Setup provides a sequence of tasks that help you configure RPA Hub on your ServiceNow® instance. With Guided Setup, keep track of what you have completed, so you can stop and start again where you left off. To open Guided Setup for RPA Hub, navigate to All > Robotic Process Automation > Administration > Guided Setup.

    For more information about using the guided setup interface, see Using guided setup.

    Using Guided Tours to get help related to a configuration task

    Guided Tours provide step-by-step instructions on your ServiceNow® instance to help you complete a task. For more information about using guided tours, see Use Guided Tours in RPA Hub.