CMDB: What is? Who Make and What contain?

[clebers]

Hello,

My friends, I have some questions to do:

(Answer in agreement with your opinion)

1. What is CMDB?
2. How do I make a CMDB?
3. Which tools (Software) I can use to create a CMDB?
4. What should CMDB contain?

I thank the help.

Cleber Marques
MCP - MCDST - ITIL FOUDATION
[url]clebers@attglobal.net[/url]
São Paulo - SP. Brasil

[Guerino1]

Hello Cleber,

Please see my responses, embedded below...

[m_croon]

Cleber,

Regarding 4 (what should it contain), you should take the following steps:

1. Who are the users of the information in the cmdb?
2. Why do they want this information (how important is it)?
3. Define the scope: what kind of infrastructure do you want to register. If cmdb-users like the service desk from your department only support mainframe, than you don't have to register pc's. If they support the automated coffee machine, you also might want to register these machines.
4. Define the depth (and therefor: define the separate configuration items): if you have decided on the scope, and (as an example) you know you want to register pc's, do you want to register the monitor, the keyboard and the pc itself as separate entities in your database, or do you want to register them as one. The same question goes for software (every patch a separate entry in the db?), coffee machines etc. For an organisation with heavy graphical/video use, it might be usefull to even make a separate registration for a pc video card.
5. Define the atributes: What kind of info do you want to register for your configuration items (room, wall outlet, supplier, owner, user, price, mac adress, memory etc). Be aware: the more atributes, the costlier it will be to maintain the cmdb.
6. Define relations between configuration items. Which software configuration item is installed on which server? Which switch connects to which router? Which monitor belongs to which pc?

Especially with a succesfull #6 (relations between c.i.'s), you will be able to prove the importance and contribution of configuration management to most users of the cmdb.

Always remember that you should continue to ask yourself and other people involved what the costs and benefits are of defining and maintaining a cmdb.

Good luck,

Michiel

[ranjithraghunathan]

Clebers -

I suggest you go through the ITIL foundation materials once again.
Because the questions you have asked are basics and are very much there in the materials.

Start with Configuration Items, definition, attributes, relationship with other CIs etc.
Then go through Configuration Management team objectives, goals, functions.
Go through Configuration Management database thereby and then come back to Problem Management, Change Management and go through the CMDB dependence of these teams.

This will give answers to all your questions.

After the above, I suggest get back to this topic under this forum and go through all the postings under Configuration Management and you will be at par with the basics and a little more.
_________________
Ranjith Raghunathan
ITIL Foundation Certified

P.S - Most of my posts are to understand the ITIL fundamentals clearly. So please excuse if not genuine answers to questions.