Merging Computer records

Introduced in 8.3

Updated in 8.4

As different users or services create ComputerHardware records or the new records are imported from Alloy Discovery, a computerpiece of hardware may be represented in the system with more than one record. In this case, you can start the Merge ComputersHardware wizard from the duplicate record that you want to merge into the target record that you want to keep. The duplicate (source) record will be then deleted.

The wizard will give you a choice how to overwrite the data in the target record with the data from the source record. Although, these associated objects will be always added from the source record to the target one:

• IP addresses (for details, see Assigning IP addresses to Computers and Hardware);
• Discovered software and allocated licenses (for details, see Software tab);
• Related objects (for details, see Related Objects tab);
• Ticket history (for details, see Ticket History tab);
• Attachments and links (for details, see Attachments tab);
• Associated asset (for details, see Asset records):
  • If the source Computer is associated with an Asset but the target Computer does not have an associated Asset, the Asset from the source Computer will be linked to the target Computer.
  • If both the source and target Computers are associated with Assets, the target Computer will keep its Asset, but the Asset from the source Computer will become unrelated.

• IP addresses (for details, see Assigning IP addresses);
• Allocated licenses (for details, see Software tab);
• Related objects (for details, see Related Objects tab);

  NOTE: In case the target Hardware has any Associated CIs, all the associated items of the source Hardware will not be merged into the target record and become unrelated to any Hardware. In case no Configuration Items are associated with the target Hardware, Associated CIs of the source Computer record will be merged into the target record.

• Ticket history (for details, see Ticket History tab);
• Attachments and links (for details, see Attachments tab).
• Associated asset (for details, see Asset records):
• If the source Hardware is associated with an Asset but the target Hardware does not have an associated Asset, the Asset from the source hardware will be linked to the target Hardware.
• If both the source and target Hardware records are associated with Assets, the target Hardware will keep its Asset, but the Asset from the source Hardware will become unrelated.

To merge two ComputerHardware records into one:

1. Open the duplicate (source) ComputerHardware record.

   IMPORTANT: Make sure not to start the Merge ComputersHardware wizard from the target record that you want to keep. You will select that target record later.

2. On the Module menu, click Actions > Merge with. The Merge ComputersHardware wizard starts.

3. Select the target ComputerHardware from the Target ComputerHardware drop-down list, then Next.

4. From the Overwrite Mode drop-down list, choose how you want to insert the source data into the target record:

   • Overwrite only blank values in the target record - only blank fields of the target record will be filled out with the values from the source record.

   • Do not overwrite any values in the target record - no field values in the target record will be changed.

   • Overwrite all values in the target record - all fields of the target record will be filled out with the values from the source record.

   • Overwrite only non-blank values in the target record - only non-blank fields of the target record will be filled out with the values of the source record.

5. Click Next.

6. Review the merge settings and click Start.

7. Once the merge is complete, leave the View the details of the target ComputerHardware now check box selected if you want to open the target record details now, or clear it. Then click Finish to close the wizard.

Related Information:

Showing Dependencies

Performing workflow actions