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BMC FootPrints Asset Core Introduction

BMC FootPrints Asset Core provides PC Lifecycle Management capabilities that include inventory and discovery across the IP infrastructure, compliance, configuration management, patch management, remote control, and other functions targeted primarily at systems devices. Many of these capabilities are now tightly integrated with BMC FootPrints Service Core for overall service desk and service management support.

Note

BMC FootPrints Asset Core is an optional add-on to BMC FootPrints Service Core.

The following topics describe how to use BMC FootPrints Asset Core features integrated with BMC FootPrints Service Core. For detailed help on BMC FootPrints Asset Core, please see BMC FootPrints Asset Core’s in-product documentation or the product documentation on our Web site.

note on terminology

Different terminology is used for Agents and Administrators in the in-product documentation for BMC FootPrints Service Core and BMC FootPrints Asset Core. Please refer to the table below explaining the differences.

BMC FootPrints Asset Core consists of five modules that have been integrated with BMC FootPrints Service Core. These modules are:

• Inventory Manager
• Deployment Manager
• Patch Manager
• Remote Manager
• Compliance Manager

What You Can Do with BMC FootPrints Asset Core

Access and Log in to BMC FootPrints Asset Core from FootPrints Service Core

• The BMC FootPrints Service Core/BMC FootPrints Asset Core integration is platform and browser independent, and does not require the BMC FootPrints Asset Core client to be pre-installed.
• When configured, a BMC FootPrints Service Core agent can log into BMC FootPrints Asset Core from BMC FootPrints Service Core without providing credentials to BMC FootPrints Asset Core.

Perform BMC FootPrints Asset Core Asset Actions within BMC FootPrints Service Core

Agents can perform the following asset actions from the BMC FootPrints Service Core homepage, issues, or Configuration Items:

• View Asset Summary–An overview of the Hardware, Software, Security, and Financial details of a BMC FootPrints Asset Core Device.

NOTE

BMC FootPrints Service Core uses the term "asset" and BMC FootPrints Asset Core uses the term "device". These terms can be used interchangeably.

• Remote Control
• View File System
• View Registry
• View Events
• View Processes
• Transfer File
• Run Audit
• Ping
• Reboot
• Shutdown
• Wake up

Execute BMC FootPrints Asset Core Operational Rules (Advanced Actions)

BMC FootPrints Asset Core Operation Rules can be configured to modify asset configuration, including: software deployment, changing registry settings, controlling services, and more. Advance Actions can be configured to require using BMC FootPrints Service Core workflow before execution (e.g. via Escalation Rules or Change Manager).

Search for Assets

BMC FootPrints Service Core Agents can search for BMC FootPrints Asset Core assets from the Quick Search field on the BMC FootPrints Service Core homepage or from an asset search box which is displayed on an issue tab or section. By default, the asset search box is displayed on the Asset Information tab of an issue. Once the desired asset is located, an agent can perform the actions above or associate the device with an issue.

Directly Integrate BMC FootPrints Asset Core Data with the BMC FootPrints Configuration Manager Database (CMDB)

Administrators can directly import data (such as devices, software, and network relationships) from BMC FootPrints Asset Core into the BMC Configuration Manager. Once the data is imported, agents can perform the actions above on the CIs that are created during the import.

Note

BMC FootPrints Configuration Manager (with Service Catalog) is an add-on module available for integration with BMC FootPrints Service Core.

Import CMDB and Financial Asset Data from BMC FootPrints Asset Core

• The CMDB page now includes columns for relationships with links to the details of the relationship.
• The CMDB import feature can now import financial asset data from BMC FootPrints Asset Core.
• Updates made in BMC FootPrints Asset Core can be imported into BMC FootPrints Service Core. However, if you modify financial data in BMC FootPrints Service Core, the changes are not updated in BMC FootPrints Asset Core. The financial asset data displayed in BMC FootPrints Service Core is a snapshot of the information uploaded during the most recent import. Financial values of the hardware assets underpinning a service can be rolled up into the CMDB under Service Configuration Items (CIs).
• Service CIs now feature Service Cost, Estimated Current Value, and Managed By fields where Service Cost and Current Estimated Value are calculated by summing up the individual hardware CI values participating in a financial relationship with the Service CI in question. Current Estimated Value is based on the chosen depreciation method in BMC FootPrints Asset Core. When Hardware CIs are linked with a Financial type Relationship to Service CIs, the Service CIs include data calculating the entire cost of providing the service, based on the costs of the hardware CIs underpinning that service.
• Hardware CIs feature support, warranty and cost fields. The Asset Owner and Managed By fields are also available in the Asset Summary window but do not display on the Issues pages.
  • There are three options for incorporating these fields into your data:
    • Using your existing CMDB, you can map the new fields in your next import from BMC FootPrints Asset Core.
    • OR Create a separate CMDB for financial data only and use it along with your existing CMDB.
    • OR Create a brand new CMDB which will include the new fields by default.

The Console

The BMC FootPrints Asset Core Console is the main interface for working within BMC FootPrints Asset Core.

To launch the BMC FootPrints Asset Core Console, select BMC FootPrints Asset Core from the toolbar. For further information on using the BMC FootPrints Asset Core Console, refer to the BMC FootPrints Asset Core documentation.

Note: about Java

• Any time you attempt an Action that requires a call to BMC FootPrints Asset Core, BMC FootPrints Service Core tries to detect if you have Java 1.6.0_16 or higher installed.
• If you do, the call continues.
• If not, you are prompted with a page that gives you two options:
• the first option is to begin the installation of Java and
• the second is to ignore the Java check.
• The second option is provided because some users' browser settings may prevent BMC FootPrints Service Core from detecting Java even though the correct version of Java is installed. Only select this option if your browser settings prevent detection of Java.
• By clicking ignore, BMC FootPrints Service Core no longer performs the Java detection and goes directly to the call to BMC FootPrints Asset Core.
• Once the ignore button has been selected, the only way to return to the Java install page is to go to the Miscellaneous tab of the Preferences page and click the “Update My Java” button