Link rules

To create a reconciliation that links CIs with authorized IT assets, you must create a link rule.

A link rule is a required component of a reconciliation task. When the system processes a reconciliation task, a link rule establishes the basis for reconciliation by identifying an attribute of a partition or top-level object in one data set to match with a specific attribute of a partition or top-level asset in another data set. A top-level object is an object that has no higher level parent object. In IT asset management, a top-level object is generally an instance of a computer, network printer, or network device.

You can use Reconciliation Module applications to reconcile data about assets or data about configuration items. Link rules use unique identifiers to establish a link between objects. The attribute most commonly used to link assets and deployed assets is a serial number or asset tag. The attribute most commonly used to link configuration items (CIs) with actual CIs is ACTCINUM, the actual CI number.

You create link rules in the Link Rules application. After you create a link rule, you use the Reconciliation Tasks application to associate the rule with a specific reconciliation task, and the system includes the link rule each time it processes the reconciliation task. When the reconciliation task is run, the system evaluates each link rule and attempts to match the object and attribute in the first data set with the object and attribute in the second data set.

For more information about link rules, see the online help for the Link Rules application.