Moving from BMC Decision Support - Network Automation

This topic describes what is different in TrueSight Network Automation Reporting and helps you move from BMC Decision Support – Network Automation version 8.9.x to Network Automation Reporting. 

For supported versions of TrueSight Network Automation and TrueSight Smart Reporting - Platform, see Compatibility-matrix.

What has changed

BMC Decision Support – Network Automation is a web-based application that uses the BusinessObject Business Intelligence (BI) Platform to create and generate reports.

TrueSight Network Automation Reporting is a reporting solution for TrueSight Network Automation, which uses the following products:

• TrueSight Network Automation - Data Warehouse — A Network Automation component that works as the ETL engine and the data warehouse. This product also provides out-of-the-box reporting content.
• TrueSight Smart Reporting - Platform — A reporting platform that enables you to administer, create, and publish reports seamlessly. You can use simple drag-and-drop actions to create complex reports. It offers an enhanced, user-friendly look to your reports.

The following diagrams explain the different components in BMC Decision Support – Network Automation and Network Automation Reporting.

How this impacts you

The following table provides information about the differences in some features of BMC Decision Support – Network Automation and Network Automation Reporting:

User-friendly reporting interface

With Network Automation Reporting, you can do the following tasks via a user-friendly interface: 

• Create custom reports. You can compare and analyze reports by using filters, summaries, and calculations. You can also change the appearance of the reports.
• Export reports in the following formats: CSV, DOC, PDF, RTF, Text, XLS. You can also print your reports.
• Share reports with others on an ad-hoc basis. You can send a report through email or embed a report into an HTML, Wiki, or a blog page.
• Broadcast reports. You can send a report to one or more users based on a defined schedule and set of rules.
• Schedule reports and share them through FTP. You can select the format for the report and schedule it to be sent to an FTP location.
• Import and export your report models and views. You can migrate your content between multiple instances, for example, from the QA to the Production instance.

Out-of-the-box reports

The following out-of-the-box reports are available in Network Automation Reporting:

• Action-Activity-reports
• Change-Tracking-reports
• Compliance-reports
• Configuration-Drift-reports
• Inventory-reports
• Source-of-Change-reports

The following image displays a sample out-of-the-box, Device Compliance report.

Moving to TrueSight Network Automation Reporting

Before moving to Network Automation Reporting, do the following:

1. Upgrade all configured Network Automation sites to version 8.9.04.003 or 20.02. For upgrade instructions, see Upgrading (version 8.9.04.003) and Upgrading (version 20.02).

2. Take a full backup of the ETL Master, Work, and warehouse databases. For instructions, see the database documentation.
3. Ensure that any ETL run is not in progress.
4. Disable the ETL, Purge, and URG Mapper tasks on the server where BMC Decision Support – Network Automation is installed.
5. Custom reports are not automatically moved from BMC Decision Support – Network Automation to Network Automation Reporting. After you move to Network Automation Reporting, you need to create custom reports again in TrueSight Smart Reporting - Platform.
   If you are using custom reports in BMC Decision Support – Network Automation, note down the attributes used in these reports. Additionally, you can export your existing reports in Excel or PDF format and use the exported output as a reference, for example, to see the filters used, columns displayed, or the type of chart displayed in the existing reports.

6. If you are using schedules in BMC Decision Support – Network Automation, note down the schedules for the reports.

   Schedules are not moved to Network Automation Reporting. After you move to Network Automation Reporting, add all the schedules again by using the Broadcast option for the reports. For more information about creating schedules for reports, see  Broadcasting reports (version 20.02) Broadcasting reports (version 19.3).

To move to TrueSight Network Automation Reporting, depending on the scenario applicable to your environment, do the following: