Microsoft SCCM integration

  • Release version: Xanadu
  • Updated August 1, 2024
  • 2 minutes to read
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    Summary of Microsoft SCCM integration

    The Microsoft SCCM integration for ServiceNow enables a one-way import of data from the SCCM SQL Server database into the ServiceNow Configuration Management Database (CMDB). This synchronization uses scheduled imports via a JDBC connection through the MID Server, allowing customers to keep their CMDB updated with relevant SCCM data. The SCCM database acts as the authoritative source and is not modified by ServiceNow.

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    Supported Versions and Migration

    • The legacy Microsoft SCCM plugin is deprecated and unavailable for new activations.
    • Customers are recommended to migrate to the newer Service Graph connector for Microsoft SCCM, which supports SCCM 2007, 2012 v2, and 2016 versions, including Asset Intelligence and Incremental Software Reconciliation features.
    • The SCCM 2016 plugin supports versions 1606, 1906, 1910, and 2002.
    • If your ServiceNow instance is upgraded to a platform version that no longer supports your SCCM version, existing integrations continue to function, but new instances require supported SCCM versions.

    Service Graph Connector Advantages

    The Service Graph connector for Microsoft SCCM offers significant benefits over the legacy connector:

    • Alignment with the Common Service Data Model (CSDM) for standardized data representation.
    • Use of the Identification and Reconciliation Engine (IRE) to prevent duplicate records.
    • Support for detecting removed software and incremental (delta) changes.
    • Utilization of IntegrationHub ETL (version 2.2.1) for easier data mapping and customization.
    • Improved performance during data processing.

    Configuration and Modules

    Key modules and configuration components include:

    • Setup: Define database server details, specify the MID Server, and test connectivity.
    • Scheduled Import: Schedule or execute immediate imports of SCCM data.
    • Data Sources: Pre-configured connections to external SCCM databases.
    • Progress and Transform History: Logs to monitor import progress and data transformations.
    • CI Identification: Configuration of identifiers to match imported data with existing CMDB records.
    • Import Set Data: Tables that temporarily hold imported SCCM data.
    • Web Services: Manage web services for modifying transform maps.

    Asset Intelligence Feature

    Asset Intelligence is an SCCM feature that cleans and normalizes software records in a dedicated SCCM database table. Enabling this feature and activating the corresponding scheduled imports in ServiceNow results in a cleaner, normalized software dataset in the CMDB. Customers must activate Asset Intelligence scheduled imports both in their SCCM environment and ServiceNow instance to leverage this functionality.

    Activation and Upgrade

    • Activation requires administrator privileges and depends on the Integration - JDBC and CI Identification plugins, which are automatically enabled upon SCCM plugin activation.
    • Customers can upgrade from earlier SCCM plugin versions to newer ones to benefit from enhancements and new features.

    Practical Considerations for ServiceNow Customers

    By integrating Microsoft SCCM data using the Service Graph connector, customers ensure their CMDB remains accurate, up-to-date, and aligned with best practices like CSDM. The integration simplifies software asset management with Asset Intelligence and reduces data duplication. Proper configuration of data sources, schedules, and identifiers is essential for smooth operation. Migrating to supported versions and connectors is critical to maintain compatibility and access new capabilities.

    The Microsoft SCCM integration is a one direction import of SCCM data into the ServiceNow Configuration Management Database (CMDB).

    Scheduled imports bring relevant SCCM data into the ServiceNow instance from an SQL Server database and map it to tables in the CMDB. You can configure either a full or incremental data import. The import is achieved using a JDBC connection via the MID Server. The integration keeps the ServiceNow CMDB synchronized with the SCCM SQLServer database, so that only relevant data is imported from the SCCM database to the CMDB. The SCCM database is considered an authoritative source and is not written to.

    Supported versions

    The Microsoft SCCM legacy plugin is deprecated and no longer supported or available for new activation. For details, see the Deprecation Process [KB0867184] article in the Now Support knowledge base. Recommendation for all customers to migrate to the new Service Graph connector for Microsoft SCCM.

    These are the plugins for the currently supported SCCM versions, all of which support Asset Intelligence and Incremental Software Reconciliation:
    • Microsoft SCCM 2007
    • Microsoft SCCM 2012 v2
    • Microsoft SCCM 2016
    Note:
    If you upgrade your instance to a version of the Now Platform that does not provide support for your version of SCCM, you can continue to use that version. However, all new instances require the use of a supported SCCM version.

    The Integration - Microsoft SCCM 2016 (com.snc.integration.sccm2016) plugin is compatible with SCCM versions 1606, 1906, 1910, and 2002.

    Service Graph connector for Microsoft SCCM

    To import SCCM data into the CMDB, you can use the Service Graph connector for Microsoft SCCM instead of using the legacy SCCM connector.

    Using the Service Graph SCCM connector provides these advantages:

    For information on how to update from using the Microsoft SCCM connector plugin to using the Service Graph connector for Microsoft SCCM, see Update Microsoft SCCM 2016 plugin for Service Graph connector for Microsoft SCCM.

    Available modules

    • Setup:
      • Configure the data sources.
      • Specify database server settings and the MID Server.
      • Test the configuration.
    • Scheduled Import: Schedule the import or execute the import immediately.
    • Data Sources: A list of the pre-configured data sources defining the external CMDB database.
    • Progress: The progress log for scheduled imports.
    • Transform History: A log of transformations performed by scheduled imports.
    • CI Identification: Identifiers used by SCCM to match import set data with the CMDB.
    • Import Set Data: Tables that store imported SCCM data.
    • Web Services: List of web services used to add or remove fields in the transform maps.

    Asset intelligence

    Asset Intelligence is an SCCM feature that can filter, normalize and clean up software records. When enabled, it populates normalized software data in a separate table within the SCCM database. You can target this separate table instead of the raw software data table. When you import software records into the CMDB with this feature enabled, you get a cleaner set of software data. To use this feature, you must Activate SCCM Asset Intelligence scheduled imports in the target ServiceNow instance, as well as in the source SCCM database.