Itential provides two methods to integrate quickly and easily with external systems:
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Adapters under Admin Essentials, are the first generation of Itential’s system integration methods. Itential Adapters can be created using the freely available Adapter Builder.
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Integrations under Admin Essentials, are the second generation of Itential’s system integration methods. Itential Integrations require a two-step method. The first step is to create an Integration Model by importing an OpenAPI Spec document. An Integration can then be created, referencing the Integration Model.
Both generations of Itential's System Integration methods can be very useful when integration with external systems is required to build automations to complete an orchestration.
Itential Adapters vs. Itential Integrations
Many times, the question of which system integration methods should be used is asked. Both methods are very efficient and effective when integrating with external systems. There are clear differences between the two methods and why you should use one over the other. Below is a table that lays out the differences.
| Itential Adapters | Itential Integrations |
|---|---|
| Built using Itential's Adapter Builder. | Utilizes an OpenAPI specification document. |
| Adapter installation requires restart of Itential Platform. | Does not require restart of Itential Platform |
| Numerous authentication methods. Adapter logic is customizable to accommodate unique authentication methods. |
Only utilizes resources as required, on-demand. |
| Updates to an Adapter requires (at a minimum) restarting the adapter, but may require Platform restart as well. | Updates to Integration Models require temporary removal of the integration configs and full removal of the Integration Model, replacing the model and restoring the Integration config. |
Beginning with the Platform 6 feature release, the recommended method for optimal system integration is the use of Integrations. Adapters are still available for select use cases and will continue to function within the Platform; however, the next generation of system integration via Itential Integrations is considered more efficient and optimized.
Adapters
Integration with Itential Platform is enabled by several adapters:
- Azure/EntraID: Requirements to set up and connect to EntraID (formerly Azure), and synchronize EntraID groups with Itential Platform
- LDAP Adapter: Information that enables Itential Platform to communicate with and interact with LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) servers
- Network Adapters: Information that bridges how to connect with Ansible Tower, Automation Gateway, and NSO
- OSS Adapters: Adapters within this context typically facilitate the integration of OSS tools with Itential's systems
- RADIUS Adapters: Adapters that serve as the intermediary between Itential Platform and a RADIUS server for handling authentication and authorization requests
Integrations
These topics will guide you in how to create Integrations using Integration Models, along with how to use security schema integrations:
- Using Integration Models
- Creating Integrations from Integration Models
- Integration Token Management
- Security Schemas for Integration Token Management
- OpenAPI 3.1 Specification Extensions in Security Schemas
- Mutual TLS (mTLS) Security Schemas
- OAuth2 Authorization Code Flow
- OAUTH2 Scopes Schema
- OpenID Connect (OIDC) Discovery