Set up the Data Foundations advisor dashboard manually

---
title: Set up the Data Foundations advisor dashboard manually
description: If the Data Foundations advisor dashboard was not configured automatically, set it up manually by selecting the principal classes that define the Data Foundations scope.
locale: en-US
canonical_url: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/australia/servicenow-platform/configuration-management-database-cmdb/cmdb-sa-df-manual-setup.html
release: australia
product: Configuration Management Database \(CMDB\)
classification: configuration-management-database-cmdb
topic_type: task
last_updated: "2026-09-10"
reading_time_minutes: 2
keywords: [manual dashboard setup, select principal classes, Data Foundations scope configuration, Set principal classes dialog box, recommended principal classes]
breadcrumb: [Get started with dashboard setup, Advisor setup, Use Data Foundations advisor, CMDB success advisor, Configuration Management Database \(CMDB\), Configuration Management, Extend ServiceNow AI Platform capabilities]
---

# Set up the Data Foundations advisor dashboard manually

If the Data Foundations advisor dashboard was not configured automatically, set it up manually by selecting the principal classes that define the Data Foundations scope.

## Before you begin

Role required: sn\_cmdb\_admin

## Procedure

1.  On the CMDB success advisor landing page, select **Set principal classes**.

    For more information about the CMDB success advisor landing page, see [Viewing the CMDB success advisor landing page](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/servicenow-platform/configuration-management-database-cmdb/cmdb-sa-landing-page.md). For information about other ways to access CMDB success advisor, see [Access CMDB success advisor](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/servicenow-platform/configuration-management-database-cmdb/cmdb-sa-access.md).

2.  On the Set principal classes dialog box, select a group to choose all its classes, or expand a group to select individual classes. Move the selected classes from the **Available classes** column to the **Selected classes** column.

    Any CI classes added to an application-specific advisor dashboard such as for Hardware Asset Management \(HAM\) are automatically monitored as principal classes.

    The number of principal classes you can select is set in the CMDB Advisor Content Template \[sn\_cmdb\_advisor\_content\_template\] table. The default configuration enables you to select up to 200 principal classes. For more information, see [Components installed with CMDB success advisor](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/servicenow-platform/configuration-management-database-cmdb/cmdb-sa-components-installed.md).

    CI classes on the exclusion list aren't shown in the **Available classes** column.

    **Tip:** The **Recommended additions** group, shown at the top of the Group list, includes CI classes ranked by recent incident, problem, and change \(IPC\) activity. You can start with these recommended principal classes to improve foundational CMDB data and maximize operational value. To learn more, see [CI class recommendations](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/servicenow-platform/configuration-management-database-cmdb/cmdb-sa-df-class-recom.md).

3.  To remove a CI class, select X icon next to the class in the **Selected classes** column.

4.  Select **Done** to build the CMDB success advisor for Data Foundations dashboard.


## Result

The selected classes are marked as principal classes and data collection begins immediately via the **CMDB Advisor - DF Daily Data Collection** scheduled job. The Data Foundations advisor dashboard is populated after data collection completes. The scheduled job then continues running on a daily basis.

Until this initial data collection completes, dashboard cards indicate that no data is available and let you refresh to check again.

After manual setup, once initial data collection completes, you receive a notification indicating that insights for the selected principal classes are ready for review.

To update the scope after initial setup, select **Manage principal classes** on the Data Foundations advisor dashboard.