Reconciliation task components

A reconciliation task combines the components that are required for a reconciliation into a task. The possible components of a reconciliation task are link rules, a task filter, and comparison rules.

Link rules

A link rule is a required component. A reconciliation task must include one or more link rules. A link rule compares a top-level object and attribute in one data set to a specific attribute of a top-level object in another data set. Link rules are often based on unique identifiers.

The attribute that is most commonly used to link assets and deployed assets is a serial number or asset tag. The attribute that is most commonly used to link configuration items (CIs) with actual CIs is the ACTCINUM attribute which represents the actual CI number.

If you add multiple link rules, you must assign a sequence number to each rule to specify the order in which to process the rule. Sequence numbers and link rule names must be unique for each rule.

Each link rule is evaluated during the reconciliation task to match the object and attribute in the first data set with the second data set. Link rules are evaluated in cascading sequence until the first match or until the end of the cascading rule list.

The first link rule is used to look for a match between the first object in the leading data set and the corresponding data set. If a match is detected for the object in the leading data set, the subordinate set is checked for additional matches. If there are no additional matches, a record for the Link Results application is generated. If additional matches are detected, a link rule failure record is generated for the Reconciliation Results application.

The next link rule is processed if there is not a match in the first link rule.

When a match or an additional match for an object is detected, no more link rules are processed for that object. The next object in the leading data set is then selected and an attempt is made to locate a match for that object.

Task filter

A task filter is an optional component. A task filter defines a subset of objects to evaluate when a reconciliation task runs.

For example, you can define a task filter that selects only desktop computers in IT assets. When a reconciliation task is processed with this task filter, only desktop computers in IT assets are selected. The task filter compares them to all deployed assets used throughout your enterprise.

For another example, you can define a task filter that selects assets only at your Boston site. In this case the reconciliation task evaluates top-level assets and partitions only at the Boston site but evaluates all deployed assets.

You can apply only one task filter to a reconciliation task. If you do not define a task filter for a reconciliation task, the default filter includes all assets or CIs. Task filters apply to link rules but not to comparison rules.

Comparison rules

A comparison rule is an optional component. A comparison rule defines how to compare objects or attributes of a child or parent object in one data set with a child or parent in another data set. You can add one or more comparison rules to a reconciliation task.

If you add a comparison rule, select a value in the Comparison Results field in the Reconciliation Tasks application. The comparison results are displayed in the Reconciliation Results application.

Comparison rules are applied only after a successful link between an object from the first data set and second data set.



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