Symantec Management Platform (Notification Server)

I have set up a csv data source to use with an import rule, and a corresponding custom data class for the external data to be imported into. However, when I try to select the data class in the rule, it does not appear as an option.

I do see other custom data classes I created with the only difference being that the ones that show up have data in them (i.e.e the Number of Resources Reported Data item is more than 1).

Do I need to populate this custom data class with data before I can use it? If so, how should I go about that? Just a cheap INSERT to get something in there?

To my understanding, yes, that will be an issue.  A data class can be populated by asset or by custom inventories.  In other words, unless my brain is not awake yet, without asset, the only supported method of updating custom data classes is using a custom inventory.

I'd try inserting data using SQL to see if that changes the behavior as you suggested in your first post.  I'd be interested to hear if that solves it.  I know custom data classes do not always behave identically to existing data classes (for example, they do not appear in the report builder), but it seems that's not the case, since other custom data classes appear, provided they have data.

Awesome, I'll try it and let you know how it goes.

So far, no dice. I have inserted a row of data but it did not allow me to choose the dataclass as part of the import rule. I wonder if some back end scheduled tasks need to run first.

When looking at the Data class under Settings>Notification Server>Resource and Data Class Settings it still shows it as having no resources reporting data. May need to rig a fake custom inventory just for this.

We do own Asset. What is the process for doing it that way?

I also saw this in the documentation:

"If a third-party data source contains a data class that is not included in the CMDB, you must first create the data class using Altiris Asset Management Solution."

We do not have Asset installed, will this be an issue?

1) create your dataclass

2 create your datasource

3) create your rule

4) profit?

The things is, that is what I have done (without Asset being installed). Once I get to step 3 you can't select what you made in step 1,

(except of course creating custom dataclasses with custom inventory). Whenever I wanted to use the import\export rules with a custom datasource, I used Asset. Not sure if it's required anymore (it was in 6.5, but that stuff started to get bundled in in 7.x).

I might as well mention what I am trying to import as someone may know the best non custom table to import into. We have a simple data source with 5 values:

• SerialNumber
• PurchaseDate
• WarrantyExpiration
• PONumber
• Cost

I have installed Asset Management Solution (NOT the entire suite) and completely recreated the custom data class from scratch. It's still not showing up, just the same ones which had custom invenotry run to populate them.

What am I missing? I'm not seeing anything in the connector solution guide.

I thought both were required. I only dipped my toes in the pool of the latest version of AM though.

CMDB is installed as well.

After you create a custom dataclass, did you connect/mount this dataclass to your resource type(such as, Asset, Computer...or Monitor?)

When we are working with Connector solution to import/export records from CMDB, the connector policy looks at resource type and pull up any related dataclass under this resource type. So only creating dataclass in system will not allow Connector policy to discover this dataclass and so you are not allowed to do import/export to this dataclass.

Hope this help :)

Thanks for the pointer. Unfortunately I have hit another wall now.

I looked under the computer resource type and tried adding the data class, but it does not show up there. As a matter of fact, all I see under the custom folder in the picker is the built in "Processor Extension" data class.

I can definitely see the custom class I created when I browse to the data classes under settings though.

Try to delete your custom dataclass, create your custom dataclass on other folder, and try to add this dataclass in computer resource type again. I never see this issue before...strange...

Part of the issue may be where I create the data class. You can either go to Settings>Discovery and Inventory>Manage Custom Data Classes

Or

Settings>Resource and Data Class Settings>Data Classes and from there right click New>Editable Data Class.

Which is the correct way to do this?

Finally, I can now say Eureka! Here are the steps I followed, generally:

1. Create the custom editable data class (Settings > Resource and Data Class Settings > Data Classes and from there right click New > Editable Data Class.)
2. Associate that data class with the resource type (in this case Computer)
3. I can now do an import of the .csv and line up the columns in that with the columns in my new data class in the import rule.

Thanks everyone, especially Wallace, for the help and insight. I may be posting an article on this eventually.

It's good to hear that you manage to resolve the issue. :)

FYI

Settings>Discovery and Inventory>Manage Custom Data Classes

-->Creating custom dataclassed in this location is for CUSTOM INVENTORY, not for asset management...

Settings>Resource and Data Class Settings>Data Classes and from there right click New>Editable Data Class.

-->This should be the correct location to create custom dataclass and mount to resource type for asset operation(such as manually input data for asset, doing asset record import/export by Connector rule).