Integration technologies

C API (Application Programming Interface)

The AR System API on the server is the most technically complex method. It requires knowledge of C programming and building executables. However, it provides access to all AR System server functionality for tightly linked, high-performance integration.

BMC Remedy AR System C API overview

Java API

The AR System Java API is a collection of Java classes that provide AR System C API functionality in a Java development environment. Using this abstraction layer allows developers to quickly build enhanced applications for the web.

BMC Remedy AR System Java API overview

Web Services

This integration technology (XML, WSDL, UDDI, and SOAP) allows you to build distributed applications without programming:

• Use the Set Fields workflow action and a Web Services object to "consume" third-party web services in AR System applications.
• Use BMC Remedy AR System to create and "publish" a Web Services object.

Publishing the BMC Remedy AR System functionality as a web service

BMC Remedy AR System Plug-Ins

AR System clients perform data operations on external systems through the AR System server, plug-in service, and plug-in related APIs. The plug-in service extends the AR System server to integrate with external data sources. The AR System server connects to the plug-in service, which activates the proper plug-in when a transaction is made.

Enabling plug-ins

Data Visualization Field

The data visualization field provides a framework and services for mid tier-based graphing solutions. It provides an efficient way to add graphical elements (such as BMC Remedy Flashboards) to AR System forms.

Data visualization fields

AREA Plug-Ins (BMC Remedy AR System External Authentication)

BMC Remedy provides a special API that allows user logins to be validated from a data source outside the AR System database. This API is called the AR System External Authentication (AREA) API.

AREA plug-ins introduction and Installing sample AREA implementations

Filter API Plug-Ins

The filter API enables you to use filters to permit other applications to make calls back into BMC Remedy AR System.

Integration considerations

ARDBC Plug-Ins (BMC Remedy AR System Database Connectivity)

AR System Database Connectivity enables you to access and manipulate data that is not stored in BMC Remedy AR System.
Using the ARDBC API, you can create plug-ins used by AR System server to manage data. These plug-ins are loaded at run time and implement calls that are analogous to the set, get, create, delete, and get-list API calls for entries in a form.

AR Filter API plug-ins introduction

Vendor Forms

Vendor forms allow BMC Remedy AR System to present data from external sources as entries in an AR System form. Vendor forms require you to have an ARDBC plug-in installed and configured.

Vendor forms introduction

View Forms

View forms allow direct read-and-write access to data in database tables that are not owned by BMC Remedy AR System. This allows direct access to these tables, as if they were owned by BMC Remedy AR System, without programming, database replication, or synchronization.

View forms introduction

SQL Database Access

Third-party tools with appropriate permissions can access any information in the AR System database. In addition, AR System workflow can query other databases.

SQL database access

ODBC Access

ODBC (Open DataBase Connectivity) is a standard database access method developed by Microsoft. Using the ODBC driver, any client capable of accessing ODBC can have read-only access to AR System forms. Reporting is a common use of ODBC.

ODBC database access introduction

Atrium Integrator (AI)

Atrium Integrator is an integration engine that enables you to transfer data from external data stores to BMC Atrium Configuration Management Database (BMC Atrium CMDB) classes. You can connect to a wide variety of input sources using connectors such as JDBC, ODBC, JMS, native databases, web services, and complex XML. Atrium Integrator provides you with the ability to clean and transform your data before putting it into BMC Atrium CMDB.

Integration considerations

Command Line Interface (CLI)

A Command Line Interface (CLI) is available with most AR System clients. This enables a client to be started and passed a set of parameters so that either it is in a specific state and displays information or it completes a process and exits with no user interface displayed.

Integration considerations

XML Import and Export

BMC Remedy AR System can export and import object definitions in XML.
AR System clients can convert AR System objects to XML and vice versa without making calls to the AR System server.
When the server exports the file in XML format, it adds a header required to make it a valid XML document. This same header is required for the server to import an XML file correctly. Otherwise, the file is assumed to be in the standard AR System definition format.

Importing object definitions and Exporting objects and data to XML format

Running External Applications (Run Process)

One of the actions available in AR System workflow is the Run Process action. BMC Remedy AR System can use the command line interfaces of other applications to start those applications and pass them initial data.
In some cases, the third-party application is simply started, while in others BMC Remedy AR System waits for a response.

Running external processes introduction

Licensing Applications

Authorized integration system vendors (ISVs) can make their applications licensable at the application and user levels.

Making applications licensable for integration system vendors