Symantec® ServiceDesk Customization Guide 7.0
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Relationship Between ServiceDesk 7 & Symantec
Workflow
ServiceDesk 7 relies upon Symantec Workflow software to drive the core ServiceDesk 7
ITIL processes, and the Service Catalog and Knowledge Base process. Symantec
Workflow is a critical technology to understand, as it is fundamental to the functionality
and customization of ServiceDesk 7. Most customization explained in this document is
done using this tool.
ServiceDesk 7 processes are contained in Symantec Workflow projects that are provided
by the ServiceDesk 7 installation.
ServiceDesk 7 follows a different paradigm than other helpdesk applications in that it is
driven by process, not by data. The process enforces the rules. Symantec took great
care in creating the processes, taking into account customer feedback and ITIL best
practice recommendations.
Note that changes to a Symantec Workflow project require testing and deployment to
production in order for the changes to become visible to ServiceDesk 7 users. The
instructions in this document cover the basics of deployment, but more in-depth
instructions on it and using the Debugger for testing are covered in the Symantec
Workflow documentation.
Process Manager (ServiceDesk) Database
The term “Process Manager” refers to the database that stores process data, and
ServiceDesk data such as groups, users, and permissions. The Process Manager
database is a standard part of Symantec Workflow; when you install ServiceDesk, it is
expanded to become the ServiceDesk database (however it is commonly referred to as
“Process Manager”). This database resides on the SQL Server computer.
Relationship Between ServiceDesk 7 & Altiris
Notification Server (NS) Computer
Note:
Symantec Management Platform 7.0 is the product installed on the NS computer that
manages the licensing.
Previous versions of Altiris HelpDesk used the Notification Server computer to define
business rules; now all of these are handled in Symantec Workflow. ServiceDesk 7 relies
upon Altiris Notification Server for three functions:
z
Licensing information,
z
IT asset locations, configurations, and historical information, and,
z
Exposure to the Configuration Management Database (CMDB).
It is required to have Notification Server computer up and running, and configured, prior
to implementing ServiceDesk 7.