Configuring reconciliation identification rules

The Identify activity in reconciliation helps in avoiding creation of duplicate CIs by identifying same CIs in the datasets.

A reconciliation job is provided with a standard rule set of identification (ID) rules. An identification rule set is a set of prioritized rules that define how CIs are identified and matched across different datasets.

For example, if an identification rule is defined by using the SerialNumber attribute, CIs with the same SerialNumber across different datasets will be identified and assigned a Reconciliation ID.

In most cases, a standard rule set is sufficient to reconcile data. However, you can either edit the standard rule set or create custom identification rule set to reconcile data.

Related topics

Qualification-conventions-for-reconciliation-activities

Creating-a-standard-reconciliation-job

Creating-a-custom-reconciliation-job

If RE ID Service is enabled in your environment, before the identification activity identifies the CIs against the target dataset, it filters the CIs that might potentially cause multi-match or exact-match errors during the identification activity. It assigns these CIs a lower precedence so that they are ignored during the merge activity. This filtering improves the overall performance of the reconciliation jobs. This reduces the number of identification errors and makes the reconciliation process more efficient. For more information, see Reconciling-a-large-number-of-CIs and Identification-activities-to-match-instances-across-datasets.


Tip

For standard identification rules, you can set rules only at a class level regardless of the dataset.

For custom identification rules, although you can set the rule only at a class level, you can define multiple rules for the same class. These rules can be applied to different datasets through different reconciliation jobs. When you create a new custom reconciliation job and add an identification activity, you can select a specific custom rule that is defined for a class from the list of custom rules. The rule that is defined for the class is now associated to the dataset that is a member of the reconciliation job.


Before you begin

Assess the number of rules that are needed and the order in which the rules will be used. The order of the rules defines the way the CIs will be identified by the reconciliation job.

Important

When running standard reconciliation jobs, use standard identification and merge rules that are provided out of the box. When creating custom reconciliation jobs, create and use custom identification and merge rules. 

If you are migrating from an older version of BMC CMDB and if a custom job uses a standard rule, you must delete those jobs and recreate the custom job with custom rules.

After recreating the jobs, perform the migration tasks. 

To edit standard identification rules

  1. From CMDB Portal, select Configurations > Manage Reconciliation Rules > Identification Rules.
    The Standard tab lists the identification rules by priority for the selected class.
    ID rules dashboard.png
  2. Click arrow image2021-1-5_22-9-34.pngto expand the rule and view the default attribute value for each priority.

  3. (Optional) To remove the attribute, click the x icon next to TokenID.
    Remove default priority.jpg

    Warning

    Deleting an attribute from the standard rule might cause errors in job definitions of the standard reconciliation jobs that might be using the attributes in the standard rules.

  4. To change the priority of the attribute, click Add Rule.
  5. From Attribute, select an attribute.
    ID Rules_Add Attribute.png
  6. Set a priority. 
    Attribute priority with value 1 is the first rule that is used for identification. The higher the priority value, lower is the preference for identification.
  7. Click Save.

Repeat this procedure to set an identification rule for every class.

To create custom identification rules

  1. From CMDB Portal, select Configurations > Manage Reconciliation Rules > Identification Rules.
    The Custom tab lists the custom identification rules for the selected class.
    ID Rules_Custom.png
  2. Click Add New Ruleset.
  3. Enter a name for the ruleset and click Create Ruleset.
  4. Click + Add Rule.

  5. In Execution Order, assign a value between 0 to 1000.
    The lower the value, the higher the priority of this rule, for the selected class.

    Important

    In case of multiple rules in a ruleset, make sure that the value in Execution Order is unique for every rule.

  6. In Identify Against, select the dataset against which you want to identify the CIs for the corresponding class.
    For identifying CIs against multiple datasets, add separate rules in the custom ruleset.
    Identify against2.png
  7. In Qualification, use the qualification builder by clicking the pencil icon.
    Identify against - Qualification.png
    Use the toggle key to turn on Allow manual edit and build a custom rule by using Keywords Palette, Attributes, and the operators.
    After you build the custom rule, turn off Allow manual edit by using the toggle key.
    Identify against_Qualification builder.png
  8. To save the qualification, click OK. 
  9. To save the rule, click Save.

Important

To use a custom identification rule in the Identify activity in a custom reconciliation job, clear the Use Standard Rules for Dataset check box while creating a reconciliation job.

 

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