Import CI Items with Cireson Asset Import Tool

With my previous post about importing data, I showed you how to use the built-in CSV connector to do this task and how to create the required Projection Classes. However if you are looking for a quicker more automated to achieve this, enter Cireson and their Asset Import Tool. It takes all the guess work out of the import process and handles the Projection Classes for you.

The installation of the application is easy and requires the copying a DLL file to the Service Manager Installation folder and the import of a Management Pack ( a management Pack Bundle in this case). The instructions provided with the application are very clear and concise.

As usual with the Cireson applications, the settings for the applications can be found and tweaked in the Administration | Settings. This time, this is where the License Key will need to be entered

So now, onto the “meat”. Let’s actually use the application and see how it works. The application works pretty much the same way as the CSV Connector. It is classified as a connector, and as such to use it, a new connector would need to be created. Connectors are found under Administration | Connectors

If you have any Projection or Combinations classes you would like to use the application does allow the use of this.

For this demo, I have used the Windows Computer Class, additional information around the Projection classes can be found here, this will allow to see the information (headers) used by the required class. The Windows Computer class has the following information.

Name	Type	MinLength	MaxLength	AutoIncrement
PrincipalName	string	0	256	FALSE
DNSName	string	0	256	FALSE
NetbiosComputerName	string	0	256	FALSE
NetbiosDomainName	string	0	256	FALSE
IPAddress	string	0	256	FALSE
NetworkName	string	0	256	FALSE
ActiveDirectoryObjectSid	string	0	256	FALSE
IsVirtualMachine	string	0	256	FALSE
DomainDnsName	string	0	256	FALSE
OrganizationalUnit	string	0	256	FALSE
ForestDnsName	string	0	256	FALSE
ActiveDirectorySite	string	0	256	FALSE
OffsetInMinuteFromGreenwichTime	int (range: [-2147483648, 2147483647])	0	256	FALSE
LastInventoryDate	datetime	0	256	FALSE
ObjectStatus	enum:System. ConfigItem.ObjectStatusEnum	0	256	FALSE
AssetStatus	enum:System. ConfigItem.AssetStatusEnum	0	256	FALSE
Notes	richtext	0	4000	FALSE
DisplayName	string	0	256	FALSE

So, for this, I will bulk import a few computers with only a few simple parameters.

I am simply adding two machines

The Asset Import Tool also allows you to test your configuration first.

Now we can map the Headers to the Projections, you will see I kept them the same, however if you are getting a file from the IT Department or any other department, this step here allows to map these correctly.

Next, you can set your frequency, allowing you to automate the import. I have configured mine to run Every Hour.

Then you can create the connector.

Final Connector completed.

Now lets run it!!!!

Since we enabled the option to “Test”, the results were written to a log file allowing us to test before running in a production environment.

All looks good, let’s run it to bring in the data. A simple change needs to be made. We just need to remove a checkbox.

Ok, change made. let’s import the data. So now, let’s re-run the import process.The Connector has now re-run, now we can check the data. This time without the testing.