Links between objects

You can create links between objects in ALVAO Asset Management that describe various relationships between objects (configuration items). For example, links can define which elements of the IT infrastructure are involved in the delivery of a particular IT service. You can then use the resulting graph to assess the impact (impact analysis) of incidents, problems and changes in the IT infrastructure.

For an overview of the links between an object and other objects, see the graphical diagram on the page Objects – Object – Link Diagram, or AM Console – Object – Link Diagram.

You can create and edit links directly in the diagram and also in the main AM Console window on the Links, or automated via the REST API included in the ALVAO Asset Management Enterprise API module.

Note:

When an object is moved to the Recycle bin or the Discarded assets folder all its links are automatically removed.

Types of links

The link type specifies the nature of the relationship between two linked objects. The following system link types are available:

Link Type	Description	Categories (system cannot be removed)
Related to - Related to	General link - object A is related to object B.	system
Is used - Uses	For example, UPS "UPS1" is used by server "SERVER1". Looking from the other side: the server is using the UPS. Thus, the correct functionality of the server depends on the functionality of the UPS. Use this type of link to define chains of dependencies between infrastructure elements going from the basic elements to complex end IT services. This type of links is recommended for analyzing the impact of outages and changes in IT infrastructure.	system
It is superior to - It is inferior to	Links of this type are determined by the object's position in the object tree and do not appear on the Links tab.	system
Hosted - Is hosted	For example, the physical server "SERVER1" hosts the virtual server "VM1". The virtual server "VM1" is hosted by the physical server "SERVER1".	custom
It is backed up - Backups	For example, the backup copy "Db1.bak" backs up the "Db1" database. Looking from the other side: Database "Db1" is backed up by backup copy "Db1.bak".	custom

If the above types are not enough, create your own link types in Administration - Asset Management - Object Link Types, or AM Console - Tools - Lists - Object Link Types.

User permissions

Only authorized users can work with Links according to the following table:

Role	View the links tab and diagram of links	Adding, editing and removing links	Manage link types
Asset Management administrators	Yes	Yes	Yes
Links managers	Yes	Yes	Yes
Links readers	Yes	No	No
Asset Management readers	No	No	No
Asset managers	No	No	No
Software licenses managers	No	No	No
Software and hardware detections managers	No	No	No
Accountant	No	No	No

Note:

The right to View Links and Links Diagram tabs means that the user can see the Links and Links Diagram tabs, respectively, of the selected object, and all its links (even links to objects to which has no rights) on it.

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