Specifying reconciliations

You can configure a behind-the-scenes reconciliation process to evaluate data about information technology. You use the Reconciliation applications to compare information from one data set with information in another data set. You can view the results of the reconciliation.

About this task

If you use IBM® Tivoli® Asset Management for IT, your installation includes the Asset Link Results and Asset Reconciliation Results applications.

If you use the IBM Tivoli Change and Configuration Management Database (CCMDB), your installation includes the CI Link Results and CI Reconciliation Results applications.

The system reconciles objects by performing a rule-based compare operation defined by a system administrator. Administrators use the Reconciliation module applications to define reconciliation tasks. Administrators then use the Cron Task Setup application in the Configuration module to execute the reconciliation task.

Procedure

  1. Optional: Define a task filter that specifies a subset of either Data Set 1 or Data Set 2 to reconcile. A task filter is an optional component of a reconciliation task. If you do not define a task filter, the system compares all top-level objects in Data Set 1 with all objects in Data Set 2. Task filters apply only to link rules, not to comparison rules. For example, you can set up a deployed asset task filter based on a specific site, such as Boston. A reconciliation task that includes this filter evaluates all top-level information technology (IT) assets, but evaluates deployed assets only at the Boston site. You can also set up an asset task filter based on a specific site such as Boston. Asset filters apply to IT assets maintained in the Assets application. A reconciliation task that includes this filter evaluates top-level IT assets only at the Boston site, but evaluates all deployed assets. You use the Task Filters application to define a task filter.
  2. Define one or more link rules to establish a link between a top-level object in Data Set 1 and an object in Data Set 2. The link rule establishes the basis of the comparison by identifying an object and attribute in Data Set 1 to link to a specific attribute of the object in Data Set 2. For example, a link rule is often based on a serial number, an asset tag, or a globally unique identifier (GUID). You use the Link Rules application to perform this step.
  3. Optional: You use the Comparison Rules application to determine how to compare objects or attributes of parent or child objects in Data Set 1 with attributes of parent or child objects in Data Set 2. For example, you can set up a comparison rule to compare software on computers in IT assets with software on computers in deployed assets.
  4. Define a reconciliation task. You use the Reconciliation Tasks application to define a reconciliation task. A reconciliation task record combines a task filter (optional), one or more link rules, and one or more comparison rules (optional) into a specific job task that the system executes using the Cron Task Setup application. A reconciliation task also specifies how the system reports results for comparison rule evaluations: all results, failed reconciliations, or successful reconciliations.
  5. Schedule the execution of a reconciliation task. You use the Cron Task Setup application in the System Configuration module for this step.
  6. View the results of the reconciliation and record information about resolving discrepancies between data sets. If you use Tivoli Asset Management for IT, your installation includes the Asset Link Results and Asset Reconciliation Results applications. If you use the Change and Configuration Management Database, your installation includes the CI Link Results and CI Reconciliation Results applications.
    • Asset Link Results or CI Link Results - Use the appropriate link results application to view all successful one-to-one links between a top-level object in Data Set 1 and an object in Data Set 2.
    • Asset Reconciliation Results or CI Reconciliation Results - Use the appropriate reconciliation results application to view:
      • Link Failures - A link failure occurs when the system does not find a successful one-to-one link between the object in Data Set 1 and the object in Data Set 2 that you specified in a link rule. Link failures occur when the reconciliation process finds no links or finds multiple links.
      • Comparison Rule Results - Authorized users can view results from comparison rule evaluations. Based on parameters set up in the Reconciliation Tasks application, the system provides one of the following result sets:
      • all results, both successful and failed
      • instances where the object in Data Set 1 failed to reconcile against the object in Data Set 2
      • instances where the object in Data Set 1 successfully matched the object in Data Set 2


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