Configuring a data source

Use the data sources tool to configure a data source that supplies data to IBM® Intelligent Operations Center.

You can also update some configuration parameters for a data source that is already in the solution, or you can delete a data source from the solution.

After you create a data source, use the filter configuration tool to assign your data source to a filter pane in the filter. You can group data sources under a category and display them together on a filter pane. Users can then select the data source in the filter in the Operations view. The combination of options that users select in the filter determines what data sources are displayed on the maps and in the list.

When you configure a data source, you can assign an icon to represent it. To configure a filter pane, select a color that is used in map markers that represent all the data sources in a data group. A data source is identifiable on the map by a combination of the icon symbol and the color of the group that the data source belongs to.

You can view statistics for a data source on the Statistics tab. For example, you can view the time that data was last imported.

You can configure the following items for a data source:

1. Acquisition method

Select the method for acquiring data from the data source. When you select the method, you are prompted for the information that is required to connect to that type of data source and acquire the data.

2. Basic information

Supply basic information about how your data is to be used by the solution. Give your data source a name to be used throughout the solution user interface. Give basic instructions about how the data is processed, for example, how often to check for new data.

3. Minimal properties

Map properties from your data source to the minimal set of properties that are required and that are common to all data sources in the solution. By default, minimal properties are assigned common labels in the user interface. You can view the minimal properties either on a preview card, or in a row of the table in the list. Set minimal properties to receive the data formats that you require in relation to time and representation on a map. Choose the geometry format and how to supply information about position to represent the data item on the map. For example, representation on the map can be in the form of a single point, multiple points, lines, multiple lines, or a polygon.

4. Key and full properties

Define extra details for individual properties of your data source. A property that is not defined as either a minimal property, or a key property, is treated as a full property by default. Key properties are displayed with the minimal properties on a preview card or in the list in the user interface. Full properties are displayed in a full property window when you request more information. You can assign a property a label for the user interface. You can provide instructions about how the data that is associated with a property is processed and presented.

5. Security

Assign the appropriate access to data and authorization privileges for your data source to groups or users. For example, to allow a specific user, or a group of users, to view items that come from your data source, define read-only access.

6. Routing

Assign the routing instructions for processing the data that is received by the solution based on individual properties in your data source. Data can be routed to the solution as a whole, to key performance indicators (KPIs), to a selected standard operating procedure, or to a predefined integration topic.

You can also route data to a correlation topic.

7. Actions

You can assign actions to data sources by using the component customization tool.

The actions are displayed in the More Actions menu on the preview card for associated data items.

8. Appearance

To represent the data from your data source on a map, assign an icon to represent point positions on a map. Assign a color style for geometry formats other than point representation. The color style is used in association with the geometric format information that you selected with your minimal properties. You can also use expressions to change the style of appearance that is assigned to the data source based on individual properties from your data source. To enable data items to be displayed on a map as required, complete this step by entering information about the appearance of the items. This assignment depends on the settings for map position and geometry format that you choose at step 3. Icons are not affected by the shape color setting as icon color is set by filter configuration.

Creating a data source
As an administrator, you can use the data sources tool to create and configure a data source.
Updating data source configuration
As an administrator you can update the settings for a data source.
Configuring data source refresh intervals
You can optionally set the data refresh interval for individual data sources by configuring the dsRefreshIntervals system property.
Configuring last update times for data sources
When a data item is ingested, by default the data receiver sets the value of the last update date and time property to the current system time. You can optionally configure the useLastupdateDateTimeFromSource system property so that the data receiver sets the update time to the last update time that is listed in the source data.
Configuring a user interface entry data source
Create a user interface entry data source for quickly creating data items through only the maps, list, or REST API.
Configuring a data source to import geocoding data
Configure a data source that imports data from a CSV file that contains address information that the system can use to import latitudinal and longitudinal coordinates from a geocoding provider.
Configuring an Esri data source
You can use the data sources tool to configure data sources that acquire data from an Esri server. The option to acquire data from an Esri server is disabled by default.
Configuring a shape file data source
Use the data sources tool to configure a data source that acquires data from a shape file.
Configuring weather data sources
Create data sources to receive weather alerts, and information about historical and forecast named storms.
Configuring Twitter data sources
Create a data source to receive live data directly from a Twitter feed. The tweet data items can be displayed on the map, list, or calendar in the Operations view.
Configuring an audited data source
You can configure a data source that acquires data from a database to be audited for certain types of information. For example, you can delete any personal or confidential data in the source database table so that it is not displayed in the Operations view.
Importing shape data from a separate database table
You can configure a data source that acquires data from either a database or a CSV file to retrieve location information from shape data that is stored in a separate shape database table.
Configuring a database view data source
You can create a data source that connects to a database view. You can use the data source to view data items that are in a remote database table.
Configuring sensor data sources
Create data sources to import data about sensors.
Configuring sensor readings data sources
Create data sources to import data readings from sensors.
Configuring the display of sensor data
Configure a preview card to display an interactive graph of sensor readings that are obtained over time, and apply the preview card to a sensor data source.

Parent topic: Configuring the solution