Update data via CSV files

This topic describes how to update AppViz data from CSV files from the AppViz Administration area or via CLI.

Data can also be imported from CSV files in the main Discovery area. For details, see Discover applications .

Supported import data

AppViz provides the ability to import the following data from CSV files:

  • Flows to applications (including discovery search results)
  • Applications and custom application fields
  • Contacts and custom contacts fields
  • Contacts and their roles in applications
  • Network Objects and their custom fields

CSV file sources

Some options for acquiring the CSV file include:

  • Exporting it from your configuration management database (CMDB).
  • Exporting it from AlgoSec Firewall Analyzer. For details, see Export flows directly from AFA.
  • Creating it through a AppViz discovery search. For details, see Discover applications.
  • Preparing it manually from scratch or using an a example CSV file. For details, see Prepare a CSV file.

When you have the data ready, run the update.

For details, see:

Prepare a CSV file

Note: You can download an example of any of the types of CSV files. In the Import tab of the Administration area you can download examples of the Applications, Contacts, Flows or Application Contacts CSV file. In the Objects Update tab of the Administration area you can download an example Network Object CSV file.

Download CSV examples

This section explains how to download CSV examples for Applications, Flows, Contacts, or Application Contacts.

To download a flows CSV example from the Settings area:

  1. In the toolbar, click your username.

    A drop-down list appears.

  2. In the drop-down list, select Settings.

    The Settings page appears in the workspace.

  3. Click the Import tab.

    The Import tab appears.

  4. Use the Record Type drop-down to select the type of record to import: Applications, Flows, Contacts, or Application Contacts.

  5. Click Download Example to download a sample CSV file of the selected Record Type.

    A sample CSV file downloads to your computer.

Import CSV data into AppViz

After acquiring the CSV file, import the data into AppViz.

Applications, Flows, Contacts, or Application Contacts

The AppViz CSV import interface allows you to import CSV data, track the status history of imports, and access detailed error information when needed.

Note: For importing network objects CSV data, see Network objects.

Note: You can optionally import CSV files using the following methods:

To import the data from the CSV file:

  1. In the toolbar, click your username.

    A drop-down list appears.

  2. In the drop-down list, select Settings.

    The Settings page appears in the workspace.

  3. Click the Import tab.

    The Import tab appears.

  4. Use the Record Type dropdown to select the type of record to import: Applications, Flows, Contacts, or Application Contacts.

  5. Click Select File.

    The Open File dialog box opens.

  6. Select the desired CSV file and click Open.

    The selected file appears in the Web Interface.

  7. Click Upload to import the file.

    The file is imported, and a success message appears with information about the import.

    Note: Click View to view the updated import list on the Import page.

Note: You can see a history of past uploads on the lower portion of the screen. Use the dropdown filters to Record Type and Time Period to filter the history results.

Network objects

You can choose to import the CSV files manually or schedule automatic updates from the AppViz database.

Additionally, you can review the results of the last import. For details, see Update objects from a CMDB .

Note: You can optionally import network objects using the CLI. For details, see Import CSV data into AppViz via CLI.

To run the update for network objects:

  1. Navigate to the Administration area.

    • Hover over the SETTINGS icon at the bottom left of the screen. After the panel expands, click ADMINISTRATION.

    • In the toolbar, click your username. From the drop-down menu, click ADMINISTRATION.

    The Administration area appears in the workspace.



  2. Click the Objects Update tab.

    The Objects Update tab appears.

  3. Configure the behavior of the import, by doing the following:
    1. In the Update Objects from file area, click Manage.

      The CSV Objects Process Settings page appears.

    2. Select the desired options as needed. For details, see Update objects from a CMDB .
    3. Click Save Changes.

      A confirmation message appears at the top of the workspace.

  4. In the Update Objects from file area, do one of the following:
    • To manually update objects, do the following:
      1. Click Update Now.

        The Update Network Objects dialog is displayed.

      2. Do one of the following:
        • To select a file from the AppViz server (/home/bflow/config/discovery_from_logs), do the following:
          1. Select From AppViz server.
          2. In the drop-down menu, select the CSV file.
        • To select a CSV file from any location, do the following:
          1. Select Upload CSV file.
          2. Click Select a File.
          3. Select the desired CSV file.
      3. Click Update Now.

        The objects are updated, and a success message appears with information about the import.

        • To schedule automatic updates, do the following:
          1. Click Edit.

            The Schedule Update of Network Objects dialog is displayed.

          2. Complete the fields as needed. For details, see Update objects from a CMDB .

            Note: If many files accumulate between scheduled updates and are consequently all imported at once, the oldest file is imported first. Conversely, in the case where the update is configured to delete objects that are not present in the file, objects will only be deleted if they do not appear in any of the files.

          3. Click Save Changes.
          4. Save the file you want to use for the update to the AppViz server:

            /home/bflow/config/objects_update.

            The automatic updates are scheduled, and will run off of the file you specified.

Import CSV data into AppViz via CLI

To run an import for a CSV file from the CLI:

  1. Open a terminal.
  2. Enter the following command:

    BusinessFlow-CLI.sh -t Task -i CSVFile

    where Task is one of the following tasks:

    • import_applications. Imports applications and custom application fields to the AppViz database.
    • import_contacts. Imports contacts and custom contact fields to the AppViz database.
    • import_app_contacts. Imports contacts and their roles to applications.
    • import_objects. Imports network objects.
    • import_flows. Imports flows definitions to applications.

    and, CSVFile is the full path to the CSV file.

    The data in the CSV file is imported.