Overview

The dashboards implement a sophisticated batching strategy designed to process large datasets efficiently while preventing resource exhaustion. This approach is crucial for handling metrics that need to analyze thousands or millions of records without causing system performance issues.

How the Batching Strategy Works

1. Time-Limited Execution:
   

• Each job runs for a maximum of 10 minutes
  
• After reaching the time limit, the job is killed
  
• The system waits for 1 minute to release resources
  

• The job is then restarted automatically

  1. Stateful Processing:
     

• Context data is preserved between job executions

• When restarted, the job knows exactly where it left off

Metric-Specific Runtime Thresholds

Each metric in the CMDB and CSDM Data Foundation Dashboards has its own configurable thresholds defined in the sn_getwell_metric table:

1. Runtime Threshold: Maximum acceptable execution time for the metric
2. Fail Count Threshold: Number of consecutive failures allowed before automatic deactivation

This per-metric configuration allows for fine-tuned performance monitoring, as different metrics may have varying complexity and resource requirements.

Automatic Deactivation Mechanism

The system includes a self-protection mechanism to prevent persistently problematic metrics from impacting overall system performance:

• If a metric exceeds its runtime threshold consecutively for the number of times specified in its fail count threshold, it is automatically deactivated
• Once deactivated, the metric will not run in future scheduled jobs
• A user with appropriate permissions must manually reactivate the metric after investigating and potentially optimizing it

This prevents resource-intensive metrics from continuously causing performance issues while allowing administrators to address the underlying problems.

Execution Statistics and Audit Trail

The system maintains comprehensive records of metric executions and status changes:

1. Execution Statistics (sn_getwell_metric_execution_stats table)

• Records each execution of a metric
• Tracks whether the execution completed successfully or exceeded its runtime threshold
• Maintains a history of previous runs to identify patterns of performance issues
• Helps administrators diagnose which metrics are consistently problematic

2. Activation Audit (sn_getwell_metric_activation_audit table)

• Records all changes to metric activation status
• Distinguishes between manual deactivation by users and automatic deactivation due to repeated failures
• Provides an audit trail for compliance and troubleshooting purposes
• Helps track the history of problematic metrics

Complete Workflow with Protection Mechanisms

Here's how the entire process works with these additional safeguards:

1. Scheduled job starts metric calculation
2. Batch processing begins with time limits (max 10 minutes per execution)
3. Job context is saved between batches for continuity
4. System tracks total execution time for the metric
5. If runtime exceeds the metric's threshold:
   
   • Execution statistics record is marked as "exceeded"
     
   • Failure counter for the metric is incremented
6. If failure counter reaches the fail count threshold:
   
   • Metric is automatically deactivated
     
   • An entry is added to the activation audit table
     
   • The metric is excluded from future scheduled runs
7. If execution completes successfully:
   
   • Results are stored and displayed in the dashboard
     
   • Execution statistics record is marked as "completed"
     
   • Failure counter is reset

This comprehensive approach ensures that the CMDB and CSDM Data Foundation Dashboards remain performant and reliable even when dealing with extremely large datasets or complex metrics. It provides both automatic protection and detailed visibility into the system's operation, allowing administrators to focus on optimizing problematic metrics rather than constantly troubleshooting performance issues.

Metric Adoption

CMDB Metrics

Metric Category	Metric Name	Fix Strategy	Version	PRB	Playbook KB Article
CMDB	Unique Locations	Batching	v4.1.1+	PRB1798752	KB0832200
CMDB	CIs Processed via IRE	Batching	v2.6.1+	PRB1553457	KB0829078
CMDB	Hardware CIs with Serial Numbers	Batching	v4.2+	PRB1906065	KB0829077
CMDB	CIs with Relationships to Parent and Child	Batching	v4.1.2+	PRB1824667	KB0829101
CMDB	Custom CMDB Attributes at the Right Level	N/A	N/A	N/A	KB0832206
CMDB	Create Asset Business Rule is Enabled	N/A	N/A	N/A	KB0829855
CMDB	Use of Custom Attributes	N/A	N/A	N/A	KB0832208
CMDB	Active CIs Updated in Last 90 days	N/A	N/A	N/A	KB0829106
CMDB	Base System Relationship Types Not Deleted or Recreated	N/A	N/A	N/A	KB0829857
CMDB	Changes Referencing a CI	N/A	N/A	N/A	KB0868259
CMDB	Changes Relating to both a Service and a CI	N/A	N/A	N/A	KB1116973
CMDB	CIs with Names	N/A	N/A	N/A	KB0829852
CMDB	Base System Business Application Table Usage	N/A	N/A	N/A	KB0868431
CMDB	Custom CMDB Tables Using Standard Naming	N/A	N/A	N/A	KB1116975
CMDB	Base System CMDB Relationship Types Usage	N/A	N/A	N/A	KB0829858
CMDB	Incidents Referencing a CI	N/A	N/A	N/A	KB0864671
CMDB	Incidents Relating to both a Service and a CI	N/A	N/A	N/A	KB1116972
CMDB	Managed CIs with Model Entries	N/A	N/A	N/A	KB0832205
CMDB	Installed Server CI Naming Reflecting Hostname	N/A	N/A	N/A	KB0864735
CMDB	Services with Owners	N/A	N/A	N/A	KB0869040
CMDB	Servers with Location	N/A	N/A	N/A	KB0966472
CMDB	Handled Duplicate CIs	N/A	N/A	N/A	KB0829103

CSDM Metrics

Metric Category	Metric Name	Fix Strategy	Version	PRB	Playbook KB Article
CSDM	Application Services with 'Consumes::Consumed By' Relationship to Business Application	Batching	v4.1.1+	PRB1791979	KB0831503
CSDM	Application Services with Business Application Relationships	Batching	v4.1.1+	PRB1791979	KB0831505
CSDM	Business Application with Application Service Relationship	Batching	v4.1.1+	PRB1791979	KB0831506
CSDM	Application Services with Business Service Offering Relationship	Batching	v4.1.1+	PRB1805774	KB0831510
CSDM	Business Service Offerings with Application Service Relationship	Batching	v4.1.1+	PRB1805774	KB0831511
CSDM	Business Application with Information Object Relationship	Batching	v4.1.2+	PRB1862653	KB0831515
CSDM	Information Objects with Business Application relationship	Batching	v4.1.2+	PRB1862653	KB0831514
CSDM	Product Instance 2.0 Model Enabled	N/A	N/A	N/A	KB1703219
CSDM	Configuration Item Status Values	N/A	N/A	N/A	KB0952946
CSDM	CIs with Matching Operational Status and Life Cycle Stage	N/A	N/A	N/A	KB1703220
CSDM	Business Units with Companies	N/A	N/A	N/A	KB0864259
CSDM	Base System Service Tables	N/A	N/A	N/A	KB0831513
CSDM	Dynamic CI Groups with CMDB Group	N/A	N/A	N/A	KB0952944
CSDM	Locations with Parents	N/A	N/A	N/A	KB0864260
CSDM	Named Product Models with Product Owners	N/A	N/A	N/A	KB0864257
CSDM	Services Using Base System CMDB Tables	N/A	N/A	N/A	KB0831512
CSDM	Technical Service Offerings with Support Group or Change Group	N/A	N/A	N/A	KB0952941
CSDM	Technical Service Offering with Reference to Technical Service	N/A	N/A	N/A	KB0831509

Additional Resources

Landing page

CMDB Data Foundations Dashboard product documentation

CSDM Data Foundations Dashboard product documentation

Next Step

CMDB and CSDM Data Foundations Dashboard Common Error Scenarios