Synchronizing BMC Helix CMDB CIs to Alfabet applications by using Jitterbit Harmony


BMC Helix iPaaS, powered by Jitterbit provides a pre-built integration template to create BMC Helix CMDB CIs from Alfabet applications. To use the integration template with the values defined out-of-the-box, you update the project variables with details of your systems and deploy the integration template.
 
Alfabet helps businesses align IT investments with strategic goals through a centralized repository of IT, business, finance, and risk perspectives.

Use case BMC Helix CMDB to AlfabetAlfabet to BMC Helix CMDB

Initial synchronization 

Initial synchronization of BMC Helix CMDB Business Applications (cmdb_ci_businessapplication) CIs to Alfabet.

Initial synchronization of Alfabet applications data to BMC Helix CMDB Business Applications (cmdb_ci_businessapplication) CIs.

Synchronize Alfabet applications

Not applicable

Synchronize applications (Table Application) from Alfabet with Business Applications (cmdb_ci_businessapplication) in BMC Helix CMDB.

Synchronize BMC Helix CMDB applications Synchronize Business Applications (cmdb_ci_businessapplication) in BMC Helix CMDB with applications (Table Application) in Alfabet. Not applicable
Synchronize BMC Helix ITSM incidents    Synchronize operational data on Business Applications in BMC Helix ITSM incidents as KPIs for the application in Alfabet. Not applicable
Import 'software technologies' Import 'software technologies' (cmdb_ci_application, cmdb_ci_database, and so on) as Alfabet components. Not applicable
Map CI-CI relationships Where CI-CI relationships exist between Business Applications (cmdb_ci_businessapplication) and 'software technologies', we create this mapping in Alfabet. Not applicable

Initial synchronization between BMC Helix CMDB and Alfabet

The following image gives an overview of the data flow for the initial synchronization from BMC Helix CMDB to Alfabet and from Alfabet to BMC Helix ITSM. The initial synchronization takes place once, when you configure the integration.

Alfabet-initial-sync.png

Alfabet to BMC Helix CMDB data flow

The following image gives an overview of the data flow for synchronizing Alfabet application data to BMC Helix CMDB:

Alfabet-sync-to-CMDB.png

BMC Helix CMDB to Alfabet data flow

The following image gives an overview of the data flow for synchronizing BMC Helix CMDB Business Applications and associated CIs to Alfabet:

Alfabet-sync-to-CMDB.png

 

Before you begin

You require the following items to successfully set up and use this integration: 

Required versions

  • BMC Helix Innovation Studio version 25.3 or later
  • Alfabet

Authentication and permissions

  • Administrator access to BMC Helix Platform to have access to create workflows
  • A BMC Helix CMDB license
  • A valid Alfabet Software subscription

Jitterbit Harmony subscription

A valid BMC Helix iPaaS subscription

Task 1: To download and import the integration template project file

  1. Download the Synchronizing BMC Helix CMDB CIs to Alfabet applications file.
    This file contains the BMC Helix iPaaS Integration Studio project Synchronizing BMC Helix CMDB CIs to Alfabet applications.

    Warning

    Important

    Your ability to access product pages on the EPD website is determined by the license your company purchased. 

  2. As a developer, log in to BMC Helix iPaaS and navigate to the Integration Studio.
  3. On the projects page, click Import.
  4. Click Browse and then select the Synchronizing BMC Helix CMDB CIs to Alfabet applications file you downloaded. 
    The Project Name and Organization are automatically populated depending on the values defined.
  5. From the Environment list, select the environment to which you want to import this integration template, and click Import.
    The project opens after the integration template is imported.
    To open the project file at a later time, select the environment where the integration templates are available, select the Synchronizing BMC Helix CMDB CIs to Alfabet applications project and click View/Edit

Task 2: To update the project variables for the integration

  1. Next to the Environment name, click the ellipsis ... and select Project Variables.
  2. Update the required project variables. 
    You must update the following project variables:

    Access points and authentication details for BMC Helix CMDB, Alfabet, and BMC Helix iPaaS applications

    Project variable

    Action
    BMC Helix CMDB
    CMDB_HostThe URL of the BMC Helix CMDB instance in the format https://hostName:Port.
    CMDB_UsernameThe user ID of the BMC Helix CMDB user.
    CMDB_PasswordThe password of the user to access BMC Helix CMDB.
    CMDB_Application_NameThe name of the BMC Helix CMDB application.
    CMDB_NamespaceThe BMC Helix CMDB namespace.
    CMDB_Prod_DatasetThe name of the BMC Helix CMDB production dataset.
    CMDB_Dev_Dataset_NameThe name of the BMC Helix CMDB development dataset.
    CMDB_Dev_Dataset_IDThe ID of the BMC Helix CMDB development  dataset.
    CMDB_Recon_Job_NameThe name of the ​BMC Helix CMDB reconciliation job.
    Alfabet
    Alfabet_base_URLThe URL of the Alfabet instance in the format https://hostName:Port.
    Alfabet_UsernameThe user ID of the Alfabet user.
    Alfabet_PasswordThe password for the Alfabet user.
    Alfabet_API_TokenThe Alfabet API token.
    Alfabet_Current_ProfileThe name the Alfabet profile to use.
    Alfabet_LanguageThe language to use in Alfabet.

(Optional) Task 3: To review out-of-the-box field mappings

The mappings between Alfabet and BMC Helix CMDB are a straighforward one to one mapping.

Alfabet FieldCMDB Field
NameName
VersionVersionNumber
DescriptionDescription
Start DateStartAvailability
End DateEndAvailability
Object StatusImpactStatus

 

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