Software Asset Management AutomationBook

• Introduction
  • Software Synchronization
  • Software Requests
  • Software Reharvesting
• Description
• Functionality
  • Workflow Structure
  • Snow License Manager
  • Snow Licence Manager Web API
• Changes in SAM Automation for SLM (v2)
• Install the Automation Book
• CONFIGURE SETTINGS FOR SNOW LICENSE MANAGER INTEGRATION
• View Automation Book Settings
• VERIFY THE IMPORT
• VERIFY THE FUNCTIONALITY
• Example of a Reharvest Roll out Scenario
• Software Asset Management AutomationBook
  • Introduction
    • Software Synchronization
    • Software Requests
    • Software Reharvesting
  • Description
  • Functionality
    • Workflow Structure
    • Snow License Manager
    • Snow Licence Manager Web API
  • Changes in SAM Automation for SLM (v2)
  • INSTALL PREREQUISITES
  • Install the Automation Book
  • CONFIGURE SETTINGS FOR SNOW LICENSE MANAGER INTEGRATION
  • View Automation Book Settings
  • VERIFY THE IMPORT
  • VERIFY THE FUNCTIONALITY
  • Example of a Reharvest Roll out Scenario
• Troubleshooting
  • Software Synchronization
    • Delete a Service Account
    • Add a Service Account
    • Activity Error
• Appendix
  • REQUESTED INFORMATION
• Reharvest Unused Applications
  • Information Overview
  • Import and Reharvest APU Endpoints in SLM
  • Parameters

Introduction

This document describes SAM Automation for Snow License Manager, and how to import the Automation book into Automation Platform. The SAM Automation for Snow License Manager requires Automation Platform version 3.4.1 or higher.

The SAM Automation for Snow License Manager enables organizations to automate processes such as software requests and reharvesting. This empowers and educates the end users while giving greater control to the Software Asset Management team

Software Synchronization

Software that should be available for the users to request must have the Available in Software Store option enabled in Snow License Manager. Information on price, approval procedure, provisioning, and uninstall options can be set, as well. Information on available software, related settings, and license availability is synchronized via the Snow License Manager Web API and displayed in a web-based service catalog. The synchronization is run by a dedicated service account which is set during import.

Software Requests

By accessing the web-based service catalog, the users can request the software they need. The software requests are administered in the same web user interface and according to the approval procedure defined in Snow License Manager. In the approval step, the designated approvers within the organization get real-time information on license availability.

Software Reharvesting

In Snow License Manager, settings can be made for reharvesting software, which can be based on subscription time or on usage. When the subscription time for a software is about to expire or if the user hasn't used the software enough, the user will receive a notification to approve or reject uninstallation.

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Description

The SAM Automation for Snow License Manager is delivered as an Automation book; a pre-defined package of activities, workflows, services, and configurations that is hosted on Automation Platform. Since Automation Platform is built to support customer specific needs, customized configuration might need to be implemented.

Here are some examples of scenarios where customized configurations have been successfully implemented to solve individual needs:

• Integration with a specific system for software deployment (instead of Active Directory group membership)
• Integration with a service desk system to create, update, and close tickets in order to keep track of software requests in the same system as other requests are being tracked
• Integration with a customer?s information repository to automatically get the manager of the requesting user.

Figure 1. Schemantic representation of Automation books.