CMDB
Encyclopedia
A configuration management
database (CMDB) is a repository of information related to all the components of an information system
. It contains the details of the configuration item
s (CI) in the IT infrastructure. Although repositories similar to CMDBs have been used by IT departments for many years, the term CMDB stems from ITIL
. In the ITIL context, a CMDB represents the authorized configuration of the significant components of the IT environment. A CMDB helps an organization understand the relationships between these components and track their configuration. The CMDB is a fundamental component of the ITIL framework's Configuration Management
process. CMDB implementations often involve federation, the inclusion of data into the CMDB from other sources, such as Asset Management, in such a way that the source of the data retains control of the data. Federation is usually distinguished from Extract, transform, load
(ETL) solutions in which data is copied into the CMDB.
The CMDB records CIs and details about the important attributes and relationships between CIs. Configuration managers usually describe CIs using three configurable attributes:
A key success factor in implementing a CMDB is the ability to automatically discover information about the CIs (auto-discovery) and track changes as they happen.
CMDBs contain metadata, and thus the concept overlaps with that of a metadata
repository which are both used in running large IT organizations. Configuration management addresses how the data is to be kept up to date, which has historically been a weakness of metadata repositories.
The architecture for this standard was proposed in a 2007 white paper, written by representatives from several CMDB vendors: ASG Software Solutions
, BMC Software
, CA, Fujitsu
, HP Software Division, IBM
and Microsoft
. These members represented the CMDB Federation Workgroup, or CMDBf.
In 2009, the Distributed Management Task Force
(DMTF) standardized the CMDBf specification to provide a cross-vendor, standardized solution for federating system-management data.
Configuration management
Configuration management is a field of management that focuses on establishing and maintaining consistency of a system or product's performance and its functional and physical attributes with its requirements, design, and operational information throughout its life.For information assurance, CM...
database (CMDB) is a repository of information related to all the components of an information system
Information system
An information system - or application landscape - is any combination of information technology and people's activities that support operations, management, and decision making. In a very broad sense, the term information system is frequently used to refer to the interaction between people,...
. It contains the details of the configuration item
Configuration item
The term configuration item or CI refers to the fundamental structural unit of a configuration management system. Examples of CIs include individual requirements documents, software, models, plans, and people...
s (CI) in the IT infrastructure. Although repositories similar to CMDBs have been used by IT departments for many years, the term CMDB stems from ITIL
Itil
Itil may mean:*Atil or Itil, the ancient capital of Khazaria*Itil , also Idel, Atil, Atal, the ancient and modern Turkic name of the river Volga.ITIL can stand for:*Information Technology Infrastructure Library...
. In the ITIL context, a CMDB represents the authorized configuration of the significant components of the IT environment. A CMDB helps an organization understand the relationships between these components and track their configuration. The CMDB is a fundamental component of the ITIL framework's Configuration Management
Configuration Management (ITSM)
Configuration Management is an Information Technology Infrastructure Library version 2 and an IT Service Management process that tracks all of the individual Configuration Items in an IT system which may be as simple as a single server, or as complex as the entire IT department...
process. CMDB implementations often involve federation, the inclusion of data into the CMDB from other sources, such as Asset Management, in such a way that the source of the data retains control of the data. Federation is usually distinguished from Extract, transform, load
Extract, transform, load
Extract, transform and load is a process in database usage and especially in data warehousing that involves:* Extracting data from outside sources* Transforming it to fit operational needs...
(ETL) solutions in which data is copied into the CMDB.
The CMDB records CIs and details about the important attributes and relationships between CIs. Configuration managers usually describe CIs using three configurable attributes:
- Technical
- Ownership
- Relationship
A key success factor in implementing a CMDB is the ability to automatically discover information about the CIs (auto-discovery) and track changes as they happen.
CMDBs contain metadata, and thus the concept overlaps with that of a metadata
Metadata
The term metadata is an ambiguous term which is used for two fundamentally different concepts . Although the expression "data about data" is often used, it does not apply to both in the same way. Structural metadata, the design and specification of data structures, cannot be about data, because at...
repository which are both used in running large IT organizations. Configuration management addresses how the data is to be kept up to date, which has historically been a weakness of metadata repositories.
Federated CMDBs
Information-technology managers can use a federated CMDB - an enterprise-level CMDB - to accumulate information about configurations, changes and other data from disparate sources. The goal is to enable management data providers to integrate their data into a coherent, seamless CMDB, using an industry-standard interface.The architecture for this standard was proposed in a 2007 white paper, written by representatives from several CMDB vendors: ASG Software Solutions
ASG Software Solutions
ASG Software Solutions is a privately held computer software company that develops and sells enterprise software to international clients. Founded in 1986 by Arthur L. Allen , ASG’s headquarters is located in Naples, Florida . The company also maintains offices worldwide...
, BMC Software
BMC Software
BMC Software, Inc. is a multinational corporation specializing in Business Service Management software, with record annual revenue in fiscal 2009 of $1.87 billion...
, CA, Fujitsu
Fujitsu
is a Japanese multinational information technology equipment and services company headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. It is the world's third-largest IT services provider measured by revenues....
, HP Software Division, IBM
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
and Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
. These members represented the CMDB Federation Workgroup, or CMDBf.
In 2009, the Distributed Management Task Force
Distributed Management Task Force
Distributed Management Task Force is an industry organization that develops, maintains and promotes standards for systems management in enterprise IT environments. These standards allow for building systems management infrastructure components in a platform-independent and technology-neutral way...
(DMTF) standardized the CMDBf specification to provide a cross-vendor, standardized solution for federating system-management data.
External links
- LiveTime's Cloud based CMDB
- How to build a CMDB with open source software
- Get your OpenSource CMDB with iTop. iTop is developed by Combodo a French OpenSource Software editor
- IBM Tivoli Configuration and Change Management Database IBM CCMDB
- HP Universal CMDB
- BMC Atrium CMDB
- Configuration Management Database (CMDB) Federation Specification
- CMDBuild - Configuration and Management Database Open Source
- i-doit Open Source CMDB
- CMDB