---
title: Get started with software counters for the legacy Software Asset Management plugin
description: A good way to see how software counters work is to use the demo data provided with the legacy Software Asset Management \(com.snc.software\_asset\_management\) plugin.
locale: en-US
canonical_url: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/australia/it-service-management/software-asset-management/c\_GetStartedWithSoftwareCounters.html
release: australia
product: Software Asset Management
classification: software-asset-management
topic_type: concept
last_updated: "2026-03-12"
reading_time_minutes: 1
breadcrumb: [Software license reconciliation counters for the legacy Software Asset Management plugin, Legacy Software Asset Management plugin, ITSM Software Asset Management, Asset Management common applications, IT Service Management]
---

# Get started with software counters for the legacy Software Asset Management plugin

A good way to see how software counters work is to use the demo data provided with the legacy Software Asset Management \(com.snc.software\_asset\_management\) plugin.

Load the demo data on a non-production instance.

\[Omitted image "SoftwareAssetMgmtDemoData.png"\] Alt text: Software Asset Management demo data

Using the demo data, try some of the procedures on this page, such as [Use the Software Counter](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/it-service-management/software-asset-management/c_UseTheSoftwareCounter.md) and [View a Usage Counter Result](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/it-service-management/software-asset-management/t_ViewAUsageCounterResult.md).

To use software counters with your own information, follow the steps in the [Legacy Software Asset Management plugin setup process](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/it-service-management/software-asset-management/c_SetupProcess.md). ServiceNow Discovery does not populate the Software Usage \(cmdb\_sam\_sw\_usage\) table. Use a third party tool such as Microsoft's System Center Configuration Manager to add information about software assets to the Software Usage table.

**Parent Topic:**[Software license reconciliation counters for the legacy Software Asset Management plugin](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/it-service-management/software-asset-management/c_UseCountersSWLicenseReconcil.md)