Create custom data provider based on Generic Inventory extension

Perform following steps to setup a new custom data provider in your Enterprise Automation Platform environment:

In the Administration application go to Integration > Data Providers and use the Add Generic Connector button to create a custom data provider (connector).

1. Specify the name for your data provider.
2. In the Import Workflow field, select Generic inventory provider workflow.
3. Save the data provider.
4. Now use the Add button in the Configurations grid and select Create New Inventory Connector Configuration.
5. Fill the General page:

• In the Data Provider Pool field, you can choose a data gateway (and corresponding worker) if necessary.
• Select Enabled.
• Specify the account and password that will be used to connect to the source infrastructure/system.
• Add a service connection that will be used by your data provider.
• Select the data collector workflow in the corresponding field (See Creating the generic inventory provider data collector workflow for details on how to create this workflow).

7. Fill the Settings page:

• Select the Create new computers checkbox to enable import of new computers. Otherwise, the data provider will only update existing computers.
• In the Organizational Unit drop-down field, you need to select an OU which newly created computers will be assigned to.
• Use the Status drop-down field to select the status for computers that are imported for the first time.
• Use the Management Type drop-down field to define this attribute for all newly created computers.
• Select the Prevent device name from updating checkbox if you wish that names of certain devices must not be updated by each import. If the checkbox is selected, you must specify an ASQL expression that will filter devices whose names need to remain unchanged. The ASQL expression field is automatically validated.
• If you select the Change status for deleted computers checkbox, you will be able to choose which status will be assigned to computers that have been imported previously, but no longer arrive with the next import run.

• In the Custom Workflow Parameters grid, you can add all parameters that will be used by workflows to collect and import the data. Use the Hide value checkbox for any parameter whose value needs to be encrypted in the database. Custom parameters and their values are passed inside the Custom Parameters variable to both server and client workflows. Workflows decrypt the hidden values.

• In the Matching Keys grid, specify the matching rules for assets. Use the Priority field to set the sequence of matching where 1 is the highest priority. In the Expression field specify the attribute that should be used for matching. To set a matching key:
  • Use the following format: "SPSComputerClassBase.Name". ASQL expressions are not supported.
  • Use comma in an expression to combine several attributes with the AND operator.

8. Save the configuration.
9. After you have set up the data collector workflow and filled in the configuration, run the Enable and Activate action for the data provider to import assets.