Obsolescence

Introduced by iTop 2.4, the Data Model now includes an obsolescence notion defined per class of object, to improve user experience by highlighting / hiding obsolete objects.

Purpose

Highlight obsolete objects

Object defined as obsolete are flagged in the console to make this aspect obvious, by graphical icon and tag.

On a list:

On an object:

On a list of linked object:

Improved Impact Analysis

Obsolete objects are ignored by Impact Analysis

Before iTop 2.4.0:

After:

Hide obsolete objects

Based on user preference, objects which are defined as obsolete, are removed from displayed lists in the iTop console.

An obsolete object details is displayed regardless of user preference.

The same Farm as above displayed for a user, requesting to not display obsolete objects:

Be cautious with this user preference, it does hide existing objects:

modify mode

In details screen, on a drop-down list: obsolete objects will not be proposed.
In a relation tab, obsolete objects will not be displayed, so cannot be removed.
In a relation tab, obsolete objects cannot be added.

other display difference

Shortcut display a list without obsolete objects
Dashlets do not include obsolete objects
Global Search do not return obsolete objects
Audit does not report audit errors on obsolete objects
RunQuery does not return obsolete objects

Export should return a list without obsolete objects

CSV import of obsolete objects is still possible in this mode

Searching for obsolete objects

Use RunQuery and automatic attribute obsolescence_flag

Be cautious to set User Preference show obsolete data before running the query, otherwise the query won't return anything!

Limitations

The obsolescence_flag field is based on a OQL expression. It is calculated only when reading the object from database. It's not taking into account not-yet-saved object modifications, which should logically affect it.

obsolescence_date won't be documented unless the iTop cron is running.
This is done in background as an asynchronous task

User Portal never takes into account the user preferences, so obsolete data are visible unless filtered by portal scopes

Default obsolescence rules

Which objects are Obsolete?

In general:

Objects with a status equal to obsolete or inactive
Objects being a sub-object of another one, are obsolete if their main object is. Example: Physical Interface is obsolete if its ConnectableCI is. There are two exceptions to this rule: a Virtual Machine and an Hypervisor are obsolete if and only if their own status is obsolete
License expired more than 15 months ago, (Search query cannot be cached, so cautious with high volumes)

If you want to notify obsolete contacts, be aware that this will fail if the user chose to hide obsolete objects in his preference

Configuration Management core

Contact: status='inactive'
Document: status='obsolete'

CIs

Application Solution: status='inactive'
Business Process: status='inactive'
DB Server: status='inactive'
Database Schema: its DBServer is obsolete
Middleware: status='inactive'
Middleware Instance: its Middleware is obsolete
Network Device: status='obsolete'
Other Software: status='inactive'
PC Software: status='inactive'
Server: status='obsolete'
Web Application: its Web server is obsolete
Web server: status='inactive'

Miscellaneous

Group: status='obsolete'
Location: status='inactive'
OS Licence: Licence is not perpetual and end date defined and exceeded by more than 15 months
OS Patch: no obsolescence defined
Organization: status='inactive'
Physical Interface: its Device is obsolete
Software: no obsolescence defined
Software Licence: Licence is not perpetual and end date defined and exceeded by more than 15 months
Software Patch: no obsolescence defined
Subnet: no obsolescence defined
VLAN: no obsolescence defined

End User devices

On all end-user devices use the same logic defined on Physical Device: status='obsolete'

Virtualization Management

Farm: status='obsolete'
Hypervisor: status='obsolete'
Logical Interface: its Virtual Machine is obsolete
Virtual Machine: status='obsolete

Advanced Storage

Fiber Channel Interface: its Datacenter Device is obsolete
Logical Volume: its Storage System is obsolete
NAS: status='obsolete'
NAS File System: its NAS is obsolete
SAN Switch: status='obsolete'
Storage System: status='obsolete'
Tape: its Tape Library is obsolete
Tape Library: status='obsolete'

Datacenter

Enclosure: status='obsolete'
PDU: status='obsolete'
Power Source: status='obsolete'
Rack: status='obsolete'

Ticket

Since 2.5.0, there is no obsolescence rule on Ticket anymore as it was degrading performance.

Configuring Obsolescence

For defining your own rules: Define Obsolescence rules

Sidebar