3 Database Administration Flashcards
Name the three different components of the ServiceNow Database and their definition:
Tables
- structure/component which contains records
Records (row)
- data stored on tables which contains fields
Fields (corresponds to a column on a table)
- individual pieces of data within a record
Where can you find information about every table and field in ServiceNow?
System Dictionary:
System Definition > Dictionary
Every field has three key attributes, name these:
Field Label
- user-friendly term, e.g. User ID
Field Name
- unique system name, e.g. user_id
Value
- actual data
How can you access tables in ServiceNow?
Within the System Definition application:
> Dictionary
> Tables & Columns
> Tables
What is a reference field?
It stores a unique system identifier (sys_id) of a record on another table, which is what establishes the reference relationship
They can be identified by the reference lookup icon (magnifying glass), and if a record is specified in the field, then with a reference icon (i), that you can use to preview a record
In what ways can tables be related to each other? (4)
One-to-Many
Many-to-Many
Database views
- plugin; create database views by going to System Definition > Database Views
Extensions - child class contains all fields from parent class (table)
Name the three one-to-many relationship fields:
Reference Fields
- select a record on a table defined by the reference field
Glide List
- select multiple records on a table defined by the reference field, e.g., Watchlist field on the Incident table
Document ID Fields
- select a record of any table in the instance
What is a base table?
A table that is extended but is not extending other tables
- e.g. Task table
What is a child table?
A table that extends another table
- every child table is a specialization of its base table or previous child table
What is a parent table?
A table that is extended by other tables
- possible because it has “Extensible” set as true
What does the schema Map provide?
What colors are used in the schema map and what do these colors represent?
It provides graphical representation of other tables related to a specific table
- yellow is table in focus
- tables with blue bars extends table in focus
- tables with red bars are tables referenced by table in focus
What is a custom table?
A table created (not a core table, which are tables that exist in the base system)
Name prefixed with:
u_ if created in global application
x_ namespace identifier if created in scoped application
How is a custom table named? (1 + 2)
Based on table label and a prefix:
- u_ if created in global application
- x_ namespace identifier if created in scoped application
Which modules can you use to create a new table?
Tables
Tables & Columns
What is created by default when you create a new table? (4)
Application Menu with the same name as the table Label (e.g. Infinity)
Module with the plural of the table label (e.g. Infinities)
A user role
Four access control rules, one for each CRUD
What does CRUD stand for?
Create
Read
Update
Delete
What three security levels does ServiceNow provide before an end user has the capability to perform CRUD on a table?
User Authentication/Login
- users, groups, roles
Application and modules access - controlled by roles configured at the app and module level
Database access
- tables, governed by global system properties, governed by table and field-level access control rules
What is an access control?
At what level can it be set?
A security rule defined to restrict the permissions of a user from viewing and interacting with data
Set at the row and/or column level
Can restrict CRUD operations and ServiceNow-specific operations such as execute, report_on, etc.
Name the three security modules on the Application Navigator often used by the System Admin
System Properties > Security
System Security > Access Control (ACL)
System Security > High Security Settings
What is the ACL?
Access Control List
- contains a list of the instance’s access control rules
What is specified in an access control list rule? (3)
- The object being secured
- The permissions required to access the object
- roles, conditional expressions, scripts - Operation - a valid action the system can take (CRUD)
What happens, with access control in mind, when a table is created?
Four access control rules are created by default, one for each CRUD
A new role is created and associated with these access control rules
In what order are AC rules processed?
- Match the object against table ACL rules (most specific to most general)
- Match the object against field ACL rules (most specific to most general)
- a user must pass both table and field ACL rules to access a record object
Which elevated role is required to modify access control rules?
security_admin
What type of permissions can be configured in an access control rule? (3)
Roles
Conditions
Scripts that sets the ‘answer’ variable to true or false
Which object grants access to all table records?
.None
What is an import set?
A tool used to import data from various data sources and then map that data into ServiceNow tables
What roles are needed to manage all aspects of import sets? (2)
admin
import_admin
What are the steps for importing data using an import set? (4)
Load the data (System Import Sets > Load Data)
Create a transform map (under Next steps section of the Load Data screen OR System Import Sets > Create Transform Map)
Transform the data (System Import Sets > Run Transform)
Clean the import table (System Import Sets > Import Set Tables > Cleanup)
What is the Import set table?
A staging area for records imported from a data source
Which option allows you to update existing target table records when importing data from an import set?
Coalasce
What is the Transform Map?
A tool used to determine relationships between fields in an import set and an existing (target) table
What is a Target Table?
An existing table in where the data will be placed, post-transformation
What are the Importing Best Practices? (3)
Understand what data you are bringing in and where it should be placed
Remove obsolete data
- easier to fix inaccurate data before importing
Don’t import large chunks of data
What does coalescing a field mean?
When coalescing a field, the field will be used as a unique key during imports
What configurations are possible to use when coalescing data in Import Sets?
No coalesce
- all imported rows are treated as new records
Single-field coalesce
Multiple-field coalesce
- all must match
Conditional coalesce
- script
What happens when a match is found using the coalesce field(s)?
The existing record will be updated with the information being imported
What happens when no match is found using the coalesce field(s)?
A new record will be inserted into the database
What is a Data Policy?
A rule that enforces data consistency by setting fields as mandatory and/or read only
(not about security but about integrity of data)
Are similar to UI policies but UI policies are only enforced on data entered into a form (passing through the UI)
Data policies run on the server side (but can also run as a UI policy on the client side) and are applied to all data entered into the platform
Which tool is used to determine relationships between fields in an import set and an existing table?
Transform Map
What is the CMDB?
The Configuration Management Database
- a series of tables and fields that store all of the information about the configuration items (CIs), and their attributes and relationships, controlled by your organization
What roles are required to access the CMDB tables and underlying data?
asset
itil
itil_admin
cmdb_read
What is a configuration item (CI)?
Configuration Item:
- tangible (hardware, software, servers etc) or intangible (services, email etc) devices or applications in the CMDB that need to be managed in order to deliver services
Name the three CMDB tables:
Base Configuration Item [cmdb]
- base CMDB table
Configuration Item [cmdb_ci]
- stores the basic attributes of all the CIs
CI Relationship [cmdb_rel_ci]
- contains CI relationship data
What does the Configuration Item Form contain?
All relevant attribute data about an item (CI Attributes/fields)
Information about the relationship between items (related items toolbar)
What are the two views you can toggle between on the Configuration Item Form?
Form View
Health Dashboard View
What are the benefits of having an accurate and up-to-date CDMB?
Locating failed changes and associated incidents
Facilitating quick analysis of impact, helping reduce or eliminate downtime
What does the CI Relationship Editor provide?
It uses a concept of suggested relationships to help users see reasonable relationships between CIs
What does the (Configuration Items) Dependency View provide?
It graphically display an infrastructure view for a configuration item and the services that it is part of and that it supports
It also indicates the status of its CIs, and allows access to CI related alerts, incidents, problems, changes, and services
Which ServiceNow product can be used to populate the CMDB?
Discovery
What are the three Access Control Definition Rule Types?
table. None
- applies to entire table (set condition read = can read entire table)
table. field
- applies to the specified field (set condition to read = can read specified field on the table)
table. *
- applies to every field on e record without a table field rule
How can you extend a table?
When creating a table, on the table record, select the table to extend in the Extends Table field
What are some ways to access and edit an application/module?
Find the application/module in the application navigator and click the pencil icon beside it, OR
System Definition > Application Menus
System Definition > Modules
How can you access a schema map from the table’s record?
Scroll down to related links and click on Show Schema Map
What is a way to view the access controls associated with a table?
Type [table name].CONFIG and select the Access Controls tab
Which module allows you to create a new role?
System Security > Users and Groups > Roles
OR
User Administration > Roles
Once you’ve located an existing role, you can check which apps and modules are associated with the role and also edit which roles contain other roles (Contains Roles List tab)
How do you associate a role with a group?
System Security > Users and Groups > Groups
OR
User Administration > Groups
Once group is located, go to Roles tab and click Edit
What is the Automatic Mapping Utility?
Matches fields from the Import Set with those of the target table if they have the same names
Click “Auto Map Matching Fields” in the related links in the Table Transform Maps form and confirm proper matching
What is the Mapping Assist Utility?
A visually intuitive environment to specify mapping between Import Set and Target table fields
How would you set coalesce field(s)?
- System Import Sets > Administration > Transform Maps
- Locate the transform map
Scroll to the Field Maps related lists - In the Coalesce column, select and save true
- Save
How do you clean up Import Set Tables?
- System Import Sets > Import Set Tables > Cleanup
- Add the import set table to the “Delete these tables box”
- Check/uncheck “Delete related transform maps” as appropriate
- Check/uncheck “Delete data only (preserve table structure)” as appropriate. Checking this preserves the transform map
- Click the Cleanup button
What is the CMDB Data Manager?
A tool to create, publish, and manage CI policies and help maintain the CMDB in an efficient and operational state
How would you create new relationships/relationship rules?
Configuration > Relationships > Suggested Relationships
OR
Go to the CI and under Related Items toolbar of the configuration item form, click the + sign
ServiceNow Service Mapping
Discovers and models the relationships and dependencies between discovered CIs and automatically populates this information into the CMDB
What is the CSDM?
Common Service Data Model
A set of terms and definitions that can be used with all ServiceNow products on the Now Platform
What is the CI Class Manager and how do you get to it?
Configuration > CI Class Manager
The CI Class Manager displays the entire CI Class hierarchy in a tree-view format, consolidating class definitions into a central location.
How would you view all base configuration items?
cmdb.list
OR
Configuration > Base Items > All
