Service Manager

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Setting up a Change Window and Lockout

About Change Windows and Lockouts

Setting Up a Change Window

Creating a New Schedule

Linking Configuration Items to a Change Window

Setting Up a Change Lockout

Linking Configuration Items to a Change Lockout

About Change Windows and Lockouts

Configuration Managers can create a lockout period and a change window for a configuration item. The lockout period appears on the change scheduler in red, while the change window appears in green.

A change lockout period indicates that changes should not be made during this time. They can be overridden by the Change Manager, if necessary.

A change window indicates to the Change Manager that it is a preferred time to implement a change for the configuration item.

Setting Up a Change Window

By setting up a change window for a configuration item, you are letting change management know of the preferred time to implement changes that affect the configuration item. For example, you can set up a change window during weekends or non-work hours.

1.Log in to the Service Desk as a Configuration Manager.

2.Open the Configuration Item workspace. The list of objects appears.

3.Double-click a record. The record details appear.

4.Click the Change Window tab.

5.Click Link. A list of schedules appears.

6.Choose a schedule, then click Select. The schedule appears in the list.

7.Click Save.

Creating a New Schedule

1.Log in to the Service Desk as a Configuration Manager.

2.Open the Configuration Item workspace. The list of objects appears.

3.Double-click a record. The record details appear.

4.Click the Change Window tab.

5.Click New Change Window. A blank change window form appears.

6.Enter information into the fields.

Field Description
Name A unique, descriptive name for the schedule.
Description Optional. Describes how the schedule is to be used.
Start Time / End Time
All Day Event Does not specify specific times.
Start Date / End Date The start and end dates (according to your local time) of the change lockout.
No End Date Does not specify an end date.
Daily Runs the change lockout daily within the above specified dates. Enter the number of days, such as, recurs every 2 days.
Weekly Runs the change lockout weekly within the above specified dates. Enter the number of weeks, such as recurs every 1 week on Wednesday.
Monthly Runs the change lockout monthly within the above specified dates. Enter the number of months, such as, recurs every 3 months on the second Monday.
Yearly Runs the change lockout annually within the above specified dates. Enter the number of years, such as recurs every 2 years in January on the first Monday.

7.Click Save.

If this configuration item links to a change, the Change Manager can view the change window and know the preferred time to implement any changes that involve this configuration item.

Linking Configuration Items to a Change Window

You can associate a single configuration item or multiple configuration items to a change window. If a change is created using any of the associated configuration items, the change window is shown in the Change Calendar tab of the change record.

1.Log in to the Service Desk as a Configuration Manager.

2.Open the Change Window workspace. The list of objects schedules appears.

3.Double-click a record. The record details appear.

4.Click the CI tab.

5.Click Link . A list of records appears.

6.Select a record, then click Select.

7.Click Save.

The configuration items are now associated with the change window. If a new change is created for any of the configuration items that are associated with this change window, the change window appears in the Change Schedule tab of the change record. The configuration item records also show the change window associated with the configuration items.

Setting Up a Change Lockout

By setting up a change lockout for a configuration item, you are letting Change Management know that changes that affect the configuration item should not be made during the lockout window. For example, you can set up a change lockout during business hours on weekdays.

1.Log in to the Service Desk as a Configuration Manager.

2.Open the Configuration Item workspace. The list of objects appears.

3.Double-click an object from the list. The record details appear.

4.Select the Change Lockout tab.

5.Click Link . A list of schedules appears.

6.Select a schedule and click Select. The schedule appears in the list.

7.Click Save.

Linking Configuration Items to a Change Lockout

You can also associate a configuration item or bulk configuration items to a change lockout from the Change Lockout workspace.

1.Log in to the Service Desk as a Configuration Manager.

2.Open the Change Lockout workspace. The list of object schedules appears.

3.Double-click an object from the list. The record details appear.

4.Select the CI tab, then click Link . A list of records appears.

5.Select a record, then click Select.

6.Click Save.

The configuration items are now associated with the change lockout. If a new change is created for any of the configuration items that are associated with this change lockout, the change lockout appears in the Change Schedule tab of the change record. The configuration item records also show the change lockout associated with the configuration items.


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