Documentation forSolarWinds Service Desk

CI Dependencies

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Introduction

In SolarWinds Service Desk (SWSD) it is important to create associations that describe the nature of the relationship between two or more configuration items (CIs). For example, if a network router has an interruption of service, then all servers and PCs connected to that router will also experience an interruption of service. CI dependencies between the router and all servers and PCs connected to it help you in understanding the impact of the interruption of service.

Each relationship has a forward and inverse dependency.

Each dependency has a forward and inverse direction. For example, a laptop is the host that runs software programs. Therefore the software runs on the host.

Navigation

Setup > CMDB > Dependencies.

All Dependencies index page

After you have created multiple dependencies within your organization, you can view them all in the All Dependencies Index page, which is customizable. See List view for more information on customizing your view.

Create a custom dependency

From the All Dependencies index page, click Add and complete the requested information. Mandatory fields are marked with an asterisk.

  • Name*: Dependency name (e.g. Utilization, Consumption, Installation)
  • Forward Dependency*: Name of the forward direction of the dependency (for example, Utilizes, Consumes, Deploys). This value will be displayed when attaching CIs together.
  • Inverse Dependency*: Name of the inverse direction of the dependency (for example, Is Utilized By, Is Consumed By, Is Deployed By). This value will be displayed when attaching CIs together.
  • Description: A short description of the dependency for internal usage and documentation.

Create a new configuration item (CI) and attach a dependency

  1. Navigate to Service Desk > CMDB.

  2. Click Add in the upper right.

  3. From the pop-up dropdown list, select the appropriate type for the CI you are creating.

  4. In the new CI dialog, provide all required information (designated by a red asterisk (*) and make appropriate selections from the dropdown menus.

  5. Scroll down within the unsaved CI and select the Dependencies tab.

  6. Click Attach.

  7. In the Configuration Items dialog:

    1. Select a dependency type from the dropdown at the top.

    2. Place a check mark next to the CI you want to attach.

    3. Click Attach.

  8. Click Create to save new CI.  
  9. Click View Refresh to update the contents of the All Configuration Items list.

Attach a dependency to an existing CI

  1. Navigate to Service Desk > CMDB.

  2. Click the name of the CI you want to add a dependency to.

  3. In the pane on the right, scroll to the Configuration Items section, then click Attach.

  4. In the Configuration Items dialog:

    1. Select a dependency type from the dropdown at the top.

    2. Place a check mark next to the CI you want to attach.

    3. Click Attach.

You can choose to deactivate a dependency to ensure users will not attach CIs of that type.

Modify or delete a dependency

To modify a dependency, select the CI type and edit as needed.

To delete a dependency, select the CI type and edit out any relationship that is no longer relevant.

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