Create rules for automatically adding traffic-based connections and the CIs they lead to in discovered application services. Create rules that add CIs to multiple application services.

Before you begin

  • Analyze the infrastructure you are mapping to identify the most common connections. These common connections are good candidates for connection rules.
  • Discover applications based on fingerprints.
  • Ensure that discovery based on Predictive Intelligence is enabled. Navigate to the System Property [sys_properties] table and check that the sa_ml.connection_suggestions.active property is set to True.

Role required: sm_admin

About this task

Connection rules enhance the connection suggestions generated using Predictive Intelligence. Each rule contains a condition that describes an aspect of a traffic-based connection. The fields available in conditions come from the Connection Suggestion [sa_ml_connection_suggestion] table, which is only populated when you run top-down discovery. You can base your rules directly on the connection suggestions. For example, create a rule for any connection with confidence level High. Alternatively, if you know which CIs must be part of the application services, you can choose fields that point at these CIs.

For information about Service Mapping evaluating and applying connection rules, see Traffic-based discovery in Service Mapping.

In addition to connection rules that add CIs to multiple services, you can create rules for adding CIs to specific application services.

Procedure

  1. Navigate to Service Mapping > Administration > Connection Rules.
    Alternatively, from a service application map, select Suggestions > Global Rules.
  2. Create a new connection rule by clicking New.
    Alternatively, customize an existing rule by clicking the rule name in the list.

    The Connection Rule form opens.

  3. Select Active to start using this connection rule.
    Service Mapping evaluates only active connection rules.
  4. Enter a unique and meaningful name in the Name field.
  5. Enter the value that Service Mapping uses for the sequence in the Order field.
  6. Configure the filter condition in the Condition area.
    1. Select the field, operator, and the value.
      For example, to add outgoing connections for any Tomcat server, configure the following filtering condition.
      Filtering condition for Tomcat
    2. To create an additional filtering condition, click Add Filter Condition.
    3. To create an additional filtering condition using the OR operator, click Add "OR" Clause.
  7. Select Global from the Scope list.
  8. (Optional) Specify services to which this connection rule doesn't apply.
    1. Click New in the Excluded Services area.
      The Excluded Service form opens.
    2. Select the relevant service from the Discovered Application Service list.
    3. Click Submit.
  9. Click Update.

What to do next

Verify that Service Mapping added CIs as expected by performing the following steps:
  1. After the scheduled jobs rediscover the application services, open the maps of the application services where you expected Service Mapping to add CIs.
  2. Check that CIs are added correctly based on the connection rules.