BMC FootPrints Asset Core introduction

BMC FootPrints Asset Core provides PC Lifecycle Management capabilities that include inventory and discovery across the IP infrastructure, compliance, configuration management, patch management, remote control, and other functions targeted primarily at systems devices. Many of these capabilities are now tightly integrated with FootPrints for overall service desk and service management support.

The following topics describe how to use BMC FootPrints Asset Core features integrated with FootPrints. For detailed help on BMC FootPrints Asset Core, please see BMC FootPrints Asset Core’s in-product documentation or the product documentation on our Web site.

BMC FootPrints Asset Core consists of five modules that have been integrated with FootPrints. These modules are:

• Inventory Manager
• Deployment Manager
• Patch Manager
• Remote Manager
• Compliance Manager

What you can do with BMC FootPrints Asset Core

Access and Log in to BMC FootPrints Asset Core from FootPrints

• The FootPrints/BMC FootPrints Asset Core integration is platform and browser independent, and does not require the BMC FootPrints Asset Core client to be pre-installed.
• When configured, a FootPrints agent can log into BMC FootPrints Asset Core from FootPrints without providing credentials to BMC FootPrints Asset Core.

Perform BMC FootPrints Asset Core Asset Actions within FootPrints

Agents can perform the following asset actions from the FootPrints homepage, issues, or Configuration Items:

• View Asset Summary–An overview of the Hardware, Software, Security, and Financial details of a BMC FootPrints Asset Core Device.

  Note

  FootPrints uses the term "asset" and BMC FootPrints Asset Core uses the term "device". These terms can be used interchangeably.

• Remote Control
• View File System
• View Registry
• View Events
• View Processes
• Transfer File
• Run Audit
• Ping
• Reboot
• Shutdown
• Wake up

Execute BMC FootPrints Asset Core Operational Rules (Advanced Actions)

BMC FootPrints Asset Core Operation Rules can be configured to modify asset configuration, including: software deployment, changing registry settings, controlling services, and more. Advance Actions can be configured to require using FootPrints workflow before execution (e.g. via Escalation Rules or Change Manager).

Search for Assets

FootPrints Agents can search for BMC FootPrints Asset Core assets from the Quick Search field on the FootPrints homepage or from an asset search box which is displayed on an issue tab or section. By default, the asset search box is displayed on the Asset Information tab of an issue. Once the desired asset is located, an agent can perform the actions above or associate the device with an issue.

Directly Integrate BMC FootPrints Asset Core Data with the FootPrints Configuration Manager Database (CMDB)

Administrators can directly import data (such as devices, software, and network relationships) from BMC FootPrints Asset Core into the BMC Configuration Manager. Once the data is imported, agents can perform the actions above on the CIs that are created during the import.

Import CMDB and Financial Asset Data from BMC FootPrints Asset Core

• The CMDB page now includes columns for relationships with links to the details of the relationship.
• The CMDB import feature can now import financial asset data from BMC FootPrints Asset Core.
• Updates made in BMC FootPrints Asset Core can be imported into FootPrints. However, if you modify financial data in FootPrints, the changes are not updated in BMC FootPrints Asset Core. The financial asset data displayed in FootPrints is a snapshot of the information uploaded during the most recent import. Financial values of the hardware assets underpinning a service can be rolled up into the CMDB under Service Configuration Items (CIs).
• Service CIs now feature Service Cost, Estimated Current Value, and Managed By fields where Service Cost and Current Estimated Value are calculated by summing up the individual hardware CI values participating in a financial relationship with the Service CI in question. Current Estimated Value is based on the chosen depreciation method in BMC FootPrints Asset Core. When Hardware CIs are linked with a Financial type Relationship to Service CIs, the Service CIs include data calculating the entire cost of providing the service, based on the costs of the hardware CIs underpinning that service.
• Hardware CIs feature support, warranty and cost fields. The Asset Owner and Managed By fields are also available in the Asset Summary window but do not display on the Issues pages.
  • There are three options for incorporating these fields into your data:
    • Using your existing CMDB, you can map the new fields in your next import from BMC FootPrints Asset Core.
    • OR Create a separate CMDB for financial data only and use it along with your existing CMDB.
    • OR Create a brand new CMDB which will include the new fields by default.

The Console

The BMC FootPrints Asset Core Console is the main interface for working within BMC FootPrints Asset Core.

To launch the BMC FootPrints Asset Core Console, select BMC FootPrints Asset Core from the toolbar. For further information on using the BMC FootPrints Asset Core Console, refer to the BMC FootPrints Asset Core documentation.