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Role required: cmdb_admin.

The CMDB extension feature allows enables you to manage Configuration Items ( CIs): add to your CMDB structure Add classes of CIs and equipment models specific to these classes . Add to your CMDB structure. You can add special attributes to classes and models to define up-to-date information about assets and equipment.

The picture below illustrates the CMDB structure:

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CMDB collects and stores the following items as configuration records:

CMDB Classes aregroups of CIs based on their parameters.CMDB Models arecomposite templates of CI parameters.
  • Configuration Items are IT Services and their components required for service delivery.
  • A CI class is a logical combination of configuration items into groups based on similar purposes and equipment characteristics. A class can have child classes. A class is a Record Extended Model (REM) that includes collections of attributes defined at the class level and derived from the class hierarchy. There are two types of attributes that can be set for classes: editable and non-editable. Editable attributes are set at the class level and can take individual values ​​for each class CI. Non-editable attributes are set at the level of the CI configuration model and do not change until the model itself changes.

    A configuration model is a composite template of filled and non-editable attribute values ​​that are specific to certain CIs of the same class. The configuration model can be applied to various categories of CI, such as hardware and devices, software, and so on.

    A configuration item is a component or a service asset that must be managed to provide the IT service. When using the extended CMDB structure, CIs always belong to a specific class and can have a related hardware model.

    The picture below illustrates the CMDB structure. 

    Image Added

    Add a new CMDB class 
    Anchor
    class
    class

    Tip

    Role required: cmdb_manager.

    CMDB Class


    Classes are logical combinations of CIs with similar functions, parameters, and characteristics. Class attributes are the collections of the REM attributes Record Extended Model (REM) attributes for the Configuration Items (sys_cmdb_ci) table. 

    • One of the collections contains non-editable attributes − static for all CIs of a specific class.
    • The other collection contains editable onesattributes, which can be changed during the CI exploitation.
    Info

    Download and import a demo .SOP file of the classes on your instance to try the functionality.

    To add a new class, please perform the following steps:

    1. Navigate CMDB → CMDB Class.
    2. Click New and fill in the fields. 
    3. Click Save or Save and Exit to apply the changes.

    CMDB Class form fields

    FieldMandatoryDescription
    NameYSpecify a name for the CMDB class name.
    DescriptionNType Add a detailed description of the of the class.

    Parent CMDB class

    N

    Define a parent class for the this class.  

    Info

    You can choose only classes that are Select a class that is higher in the hierarchy or are is not in the hierarchy.


    IconNSpecify the Attach an icon for the class by attaching it from your device.

    After the class record is saved, two UI Actions are actions become available on the form:

    • Create model attributethe action opens the modal window that allows for creating model attributesa window where you can create non-editable model attributes. Model attributes of a parent class are inherited by its child classes. Attribute values are set on the model form.
    • Create CI attributethe action opens a modal window that allows for creating window where you can create editable CI attributes. These attributes will be displayed only on the CI form and will be available for editing.
    In the Related Lists 

    The created model attribute/CI attribute will appear on the Model Attributes/CI Attributes tab in the Related Lists area. In this area, you can also see models, CIs

    , model attributes, CI attributes

    , and child classes related to the record. 

    Attribute form fields

    FieldMandatoryDescription
    Attribute TypeYSpecify an attribute type.
    TitleYSpecify a title for the attribute.
    ActiveNSelect the checkbox to activate the attribute.
    MandatoryNSelect the checkbox to make the attribute field mandatory.
    ReferenceY

    Specify a table with the values you need.

    The field appears when the List or Reference option is specified in the Attribute Type field.

    Default ValueNDefine the default value for the attribute.
    Reference Qualifier TypeN

    Specify the type of the reference qualifier. Available options:

    • Simple
    • Dynamic

    The field appears when the List or Reference option is specified in the Attribute Type field.

    Reference Qualifier ConditionN

    Configure the filter using the condition builder.

    The field appears when the Simple option is specified in the Reference Qualifier Type field.

    Dynamic Reference QualifierN

    Select the dynamic reference qualifier from the list. 

    The field appears when the Dynamic option is specified in the Reference Qualifier Type field.

    Reference Qualifier FixedN

    Select the checkbox to fix filters in the breadcrumbs. When the checkbox is selected, the condition builder is blocked.

    The field appears when the List or Reference option is specified in the Attribute Type field.

    Choice Table N

    Select a table with the required choice options.

    The field appears when the Choice option is specified in the Attribute Type field.

    Choice FieldY

    Select a column of Choice Table that contains the required choice options.

    The field appears when the Choice Table field is populated. 

    Choice TypeY

    Define whether the None option is applicable for the field. Available options: 

    • Dropdown with --None--
    • Dropdown without --None-- (specify a default value)

    If the Dropdown without --None-- is chosen, the Default value field becomes mandatory.

    The field appears when the Choice option is specified in the Attribute Type field. 

    Extra AttributesN

    Specify additional configurations for the field. 

    For example, enter the text below to apply the radio buttons style to the choice field:

    Code Block
    choice_decorator=radio

    The field appears when the Choice option is specified in the Attribute Type field.

    Maximum LengthN

    Specify a maximum value length for the column. The value length cannot exceed the allowed length for the specified data type.

    The field appears when the String, Text, or URL option is specified in the Attribute Type field.


    info
    Note
    • If you decide to create an attribute record via the form of the Attributes (sys_re_attribute) table, keep in mind that the form view should be the Default one. 
    • If you need to set up choice options for a created attribute,
    you should
    • go to the attribute record
    and create
    • and create choice
    options in
    • options in the Related Lists area.
    CMDB Model


    Add a new CMDB model
    Anchor
    model
    model


    Models are compound templates of CI parameters. They define specific CIs features. Each class has its a list of models.

    For CMDB models, the Record Extended Model (REM) is used. Attribute values of the REM are model parameters. Models include all non-editable attributes of collections from all class levels. The base values of model parameters are the default values of attribute collections and their constituents.

    To create a model, please complete the steps below:

    1. Navigate CMDB → CMDB Model.
    2. Click New and fill in the fields. 
    3. Click Save or Save and Exit to apply the changes.
    As a result,

    After the model record is created

    . The model's

    , its display name consists of

    the Vendor field value and the Identifier field value. 

    the Vendor + Identifier values.

    CMDB Model form fields

    FieldMandatoryDescription
    ClassY

    Define a class for the model. When the class is specified, the Technical Details section appears with class attributes.

    The class cannot be changed after saving.

    IdentifierYSpecify the identifier of the model.
    DescriptionNAdd a detailed description of the model.
    IconNAttach an icon for the model.
    VendorYSpecify the manufacturer of the model.
    ActiveNSelect the checkbox to activate the model.
    Technical Details section
    This section contains model attributes that are created at the CMDB class level.

    In the Related Lists area, the CI tab displays all CIs related to the created model record.

    Create a CI
    Anchor
    ci
    ci


    You can create

    The CI tab displays all related CIs to the model record in the Related Lists area.

    Configuration Item

    Create, identify, configure, and manage your CIs and their parameters within with the records in the Configuration Items Items (sys_cmdb_ci) table. The table These records keep contain detailed information about CIs such as a the CI type, set of attributes with their values, CIs characteristics, model attributesand lists with the related records.

    To add a new Configuration Itemconfiguration item, please complete the steps below:

    1. Navigate to the CMDB → Configuration Items.
    2. Click New and fill in the fields.
    3. Click Save or Save and Exit to apply the changes.

    After the CI record is created, its display name consists of the CI number and the name of the related model.

    Configuration item form fields

    Field

    Mandatory

    Description

    ClassY

    Specify the class of the CI. When the class is specified, the Specification section with class attributes appears below the fields.

    The class cannot be changed after saving.

    ModelN

    Select an active CI model. When the model is specified, the Model section with model attributes appears below the fields.

    State

    N

    Specify the state of the CI. It defines the possibility to use the CI. Available options:

    • Active

    • Inactive

    Operational state

    Anchor
    Operational state
    Operational state

    N

    Determine the CI availability. Available options:

    • Available − a proper CI is provided.

    • Degraded − the quality of CI does not correspond to the requirements.

    • Unavailable − the CI is unavailable.

    • Maintenance − the CI is not available due to maintenance activities.

    DescriptionAdd a detailed description of the CI.
    IconN

    This field appears after the form is saved if the model is specified. The icon is attached automatically from the model record.

    Owner NDefine the user who owns the CI.
    GroupNDefine the group of users who own the CI.
    Specification section
    This section contains editable CI attributes. Attribute values are set at the level of the CMDB class.
    Model section
    This section contains non-editable CI attributes. Attribute values are set at the level of the CMDB model.


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