Copying CIs from one dataset to another

As a configuration manager you use the Copy activity to copy instances from one dataset to another. You can use this activity to create datasets such as baselines and snapshots. To copy instances from one dataset to another, you must first create a reconciliation job.

Best practice
We recommend creating an Atrium Integrator job to copy data from one dataset to another. If you want to copy identified CIs, you can also use a Merge activity.
Copy activity uses Graph API to traverse in both the directions for each connected CI to copy the data. Hence, it is a slow process compared to Merge activity or an Atrium Integrator job which does not use Graph API to copy data.

Additionally, Copy activity might create duplicate data unlike Merge activity or Atrium Integrator job.

Example

Calbro services wants to make changes to the CIs in BMC.ADDM dataset to run some tests. Instead of making changes to the production dataset directly, they want to copy the CIs to a test dataset and then run the tests. They choose to copy all those CIs in which 'Model' = $\NULL$ AND 'MarketVersion' != "1.2.3" from BMC.ADDM dataset into a new dataset.

Before you begin

Related topics

Merging-duplicate-CIs-by-reconciling-data-from-multiple-sources

Purging-soft-deleted-data-to-optimize-CMDB-performance

To copy CIs from one dataset to another

  1. On the CMDB Portal, open Jobs > Manage Reconciliation.
    • To add the Copy activity in a new job, click Create Job. 
      See Creating-a-reconciliation-job.
    • To add the Copy activity to an existing job, on the reconciliation dashboard, select an existing reconciliation job from All Job Run Activities and then click Edit Job.
      image2020-5-18_19-15-58.png

  2. Create a Copy activity in the reconciliation job.
    1. In the Activities area, click Add activity and select Copy from the list.
      image2020-5-19_10-50-40.png

    2. Enter the following information

    3. Select Source Dataset and Target Dataset.

    4. Set the option combination for the Copy activity by using the information in the following table. 
      For possible combinations of the options available in a Copy activity, see Option combinations for Copy activity.
      image2020-5-19_10-53-16.png

      Option

      Description

      Copy Relationships

      Determines whether to restore direct relationships to instances in the target dataset. For example, when a copied CI is a member of a relationship in the source dataset, and another member of the same relationship already exists in the target dataset without the relationship, the relationship instance is copied to restore the connection between those CIs in the target dataset. The other member of that relationship is not copied.

      • By Qualifier — Copies only the relationships included in the Qualification Set.
      • Copy All — Copies relationships included in the Qualification Set, and also restore direct relationships to instances in the target dataset.

      Collision Resolution

      Determines the action when there are matching instances in the source and target databases.

      • Overwrite - Replaces the existing instance in the target dataset with the instance from the source dataset.
      • Display Error - Writes an error message to the activity log file and not copy the instance.

      Include Child CIs

      Select whether to copy weak destination CIs.

      • Select - Copies only the CIs included in the Qualification Set.
      • Clear - Copies CIs included in the Qualification Set, the weak relationships, and the CIs related as destination members in the weak relationships. This option preserves composite objects.

      Identity Required

      Select whether to copy instances with or without a reconciliation identity.

      • Select - Copies only identified instances.
      • Clear - Copies identified and unidentified instances.
    5. (Optional) In Qualification, add a qualification set to select the classes and instances to copy.
      • Clear Use all classes and instances to restrict the Copy activity by using a qualification set.
      • Click Select qualification rulesest to select a qualification set. 
    6. In the Schedule area, select the frequency and condition to run the job.
  3. Click Save to save the reconciliation job with the Copy activity.
  4. (Optional) To run the job immediately, open the job from All Job Run Activities and click Start Job.

If there are multiple activities in a reconciliation job and you want to run a specific activity, use the Status button to make the other activities inactive.

Option combinations for Copy activity

The following table describes the behavior of the Copy activity for each combination of options. Use the table filters to specify the options that you want to set to know the result of that combination.



The following video (3:00) shows an example for a copy activity and the steps required to create a copy activity in a reconciliation job:


icon-play.pnghttps://youtu.be/LXFAZwOeOhk

 

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