Configuring RPA Hub

  • Release version: Yokohama
  • Updated January 30, 2025
  • 2 minutes to read
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    Summary of Configuring RPA Hub

    This guide outlines the key steps for planning and configuring the Robotic Process Automation (RPA) Hub within your ServiceNow environment. The configuration enables seamless management, deployment, and migration of RPA resources, while integrating with ServiceNow’s AI and CMDB capabilities to maximize operational value.

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    Key Features

    • Installation: Install the RPA Hub application (snrpafdn) with admin privileges. This includes demo data and automatically installs necessary Store applications and plugins.
    • Table Restructuring (Optional): Restructure RPA Hub tables into an application file to track changes via update sets, facilitating easy migration across environments without data recreation.
    • Data Migration: Use update sets to migrate RPA Hub data from lower (development or test) environments to higher (production) environments for real-time use.
    • Client Authentication and Code Signing Certificates: Generate and install certificates either by using KeyStore Explorer to create user certificates or by exporting Microsoft Active Directory certificates. These certificates are critical for secure authentication of unattended robots and code signing in automation projects.
    • Applying CSDM Guidelines: Integrate Common Service Data Model (CSDM) standards by defining Configuration Items (CIs) and their relationships in the CMDB to enhance data organization and AI platform effectiveness.
    • Robot License Distribution: In classic environments, create license distribution records to manage robot license consumption across parent, child, or global domains.
    • RPA Hub Properties Configuration: Customize RPA Hub behavior by setting properties such as auto-assignment of robots and authentication mechanisms in classic environments.
    • Guided Setup: Use the Guided Setup interface within ServiceNow to follow a step-by-step task sequence for configuring RPA Hub. This tool helps track progress and allows pausing and resuming configuration activities.
    • Guided Tours: Access interactive, in-instance instructions to assist with completing specific configuration tasks, enhancing user experience and reducing setup complexity.

    Practical Benefits for ServiceNow Customers

    • Streamlined installation and configuration process reduces setup time and errors.
    • Data migration capabilities ensure consistent RPA Hub environments across development, testing, and production.
    • Secure robot authentication and code signing increase trust and compliance in automation deployment.
    • Applying CSDM guidelines integrates RPA assets into the broader ServiceNow ecosystem for better asset management and analytics.
    • License management enables efficient allocation and monitoring of robot usage across organizational domains.
    • Guided Setup and Tours provide practical, in-context support to simplify configuration and reduce the learning curve.

    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.