CMDB (Configuration Management Database)

You can configure your system in order to manage the CMDB in the way that suits your organization best.

ASM's Federated CMDB

ASM's Federated CMDB stands out as a versatile and comprehensive tool that plays a vital role in modern IT management, addressing the complexities of contemporary IT environments through its integrated and user-centric approach.

ASM's Federated Configuration Management Database (CMDB) is a comprehensive system designed to catalog and manage all the components of an organization's IT environment. Unlike traditional CMDBs, which may exist in isolation, ASM's Federated CMDB integrates multiple sources of data to provide a holistic view of the IT landscape. This integration enables organizations to have a unified view of their services, configuration items (CIs), and related elements, making it easier to manage complex environments.

Key Features:

• Flexibility: The module is highly configurable, ensuring it can adapt to diverse business processes and organizational needs.

• Comprehensive Data Collection: It encompasses a wide range of entities such as services, people, organizations, locations, agreements, cost centers, and contracts.

• User-Centric Design: Supports the recording of detailed user information, including their organizational affiliations, locations, departmental ties, CMDB items used, support levels needed, network IDs, and more.

• Responsibility Assignment: Service Desk analysts can be assigned specific contracts, enhancing accountability and service delivery.

• Custom Agreements: Allows for the creation of tailored agreements for different users, organizations, and external suppliers.

Benefits:

1. Enhanced Visibility: Offers a complete view of the IT environment, facilitating better decision-making and strategic planning.

2. Improved IT Service Management (ITSM): With detailed information on all configuration items and their interdependencies, ASM's Federated CMDB significantly boosts ITSM processes.

3. Increased Operational Efficiency: Streamlines workflows and enhances the management of IT assets, agreements, and user needs.

4. Customizability: Adapts to the unique requirements of any organization, ensuring that the CMDB serves the specific needs of the business effectively.

Virtually every part of the functionality provided through the CMDB module is configurable to provide immense flexibility to accommodate your organization’s requirements depending on your business processes.

The CMDB most easily refers to the collection of services you provide and the configuration items, people, organizations, locations, agreements, cost centers, and contracts supporting these services. It can also house intangible information and systems too. Some examples:

• License pools

• Error Codes

• Known Vulnerabilities and Security Threats

• Virtual Infrastructure

• Suppliers

• Programs and Projects

• User Stories and Epics

• Requirements

• etc...

The only limit to what you can store in your CMDB is your own imagination.

To consider:

What services do you want to create for your organization?

What type of configuration items do you want to record: hardware, software?

How many components of these do you want to record, for example: PC, screen, keyboard, cards in the PC?

Who are your Users (internal staff, external Users)?

Which organizations do you support (if any)?

To configure the CMDB, take the following steps:

• Configure the CMDB Settings – includes enabling auditing and object version control for CMDB items.

• Set and define CMDB Item Types – includes configuring sub types (or classes) to define all the levels in a multi-tiered CMDB.

• Set and define CMDB Item Link Types – to maintain the integrity of the CMDB by defining the way in which CMDBItems can be linked.

• Assign specific values or list options for use in the CMDB Item Details windows using other options on the CMDB administration menu as described below.

• Set Analyst access to different functionality through the Configuration Management Security Role settings.

Once the CMDB has been configured, you can then add and manage your CMDB entities (such as your Configuration Items, Services, Software Products and Inventory, People, Organizations, and Contracts).

Configuring CMDB Settings

Before you start

You must have CMDB Setup enabled within your General Access security role in order to configure any CMDB administration settings. Depending on if or how your system is partitioned, ensure that you are working in the correct partition.

1. Select the Menu button , then Admin, and then select System Administration.

2. The System Administration window is displayed. In the Explorer pane expand CMDB.

3. Select the option you require to configure your CMDB, referring to the list below for descriptions of what each option contains:

CMDB Settings	To enable configuration of the global settings for the CMDB module. These settings can be used to define options for items in the CMDBcontaining configuration items, Users, organizations, contracts, agreements, services and external suppliers.
CMDB Service Levels	To define the items that will appear in the Service Level list on the CMDB entity Details windows (such as the Configuration Item Details, or Organization Details window).
CMDB Item Attributes	To define categories of information related to CMDB Items which are not recorded in the main details window.
CMDB Item Classes	To enable CMDB items to be profiled or categorized according to their function in an organization, for example, Sales, or Marketing.
CMDB Item Criticality	To define the items that will appear in the Criticality list in the CMDB Item Details window
CMDB Item Physical Statuses	To enable you to define the items that will appear in the Status list in each of the CMDB Item Details window
CMDB Item Stakeholder Roles	To define roles for stakeholders linked to CMDB items.
CMDB Item Types	To enable creation and management of CMDB Item Types. These are required when creating new CMDB items.
CMDB Link Status	To define options available in the Link Status list. Creating a link between CMDB items, and assigning link status, provides information such as whether the link is active or frozen.
CMDB Link Types	To define the types of links that can be used to link CMDB items, specifying which CMDB item types may be linked, as well as the type of relationship the two items can have.
Contract Attributes	To define categories of information related to Contracts which are not recorded in the main details window.
Contract Stakeholder Roles	To define roles for stakeholders linked to contracts.
Contract Support Type	To define the type of support that is offered with a contract.
Contract Types	To define different contract types in order to create different profiles.
Cost Center Category	To define categories of cost centers.
Cost Center Stakeholder Roles	To define roles for stakeholders linked to cost centers.
Custom CMDB Profile 1, Custom CMDB Profile 2, Custom CMDB Profile 3	Custom CMDB Profiles are types of extension fields (additional fields used by analysts to record non-standard information about a CMDB item)
Person Attributes	To define categories of information related to Person Details which are not recorded in the main details window.
Person Profile	To define the items available for selection in the Profile lists on the Person Details window. These fields can be used to indicate the area in which the User or analyst is involved, such as Sales, or Systems.
Person Stakeholder Roles	To define roles for stakeholders linked to people.
External Contact Type	To define external contact types. When analysts add people and designate them as External Contacts, the additional field, External Contact Type, appears on the Person Details window
User VIP Status	To define VIP statuses which can then be assigned to Users in the Person Details window. The VIP status indicates to a support analyst that a call they are handling has been logged by a VIP User.
Disposal Methods	To define methods of disposal of CMDB items. Analysts can select a disposal method when specifying the CMDB item details.
Financial Status	To define financial statuses which can be used when adding financial information to the CMDB item details.
Financial Category	To define financial categories which can be used when adding financial information to the CMDB item details.
Freeze Status	To define freeze status types which Analysts can use when freezing or unfreezing a CMDB item.
Link Manufacturer To Model Type	To enable model types to be linked to specific manufacturers. When Analysts are completing CMDB item details, they can select a manufacturer and then have a list of available models.
Location Attributes	To define categories of information related to Locations which are not recorded in the main details window.
Location Stakeholder Roles	To define roles for stakeholders linked to locations.
Manufacturers	To define the entries within the manufacturer type list
Model Types	To define the entries within the model list.
Organization Attributes	To define categories of information related to Organizations which are not recorded in the main details window.
Organization Stakeholder Roles	To define roles for stakeholders linked to organizations.
Organization Profiles	To define values in the Organization Profile field. Analysts can profile an organization by making a selection from this list when specifying the organization details
External Supplier Status	To define the entries within the External Supplier Status list
Purchase Method	To define purchase methods, that is, describe the ways CMDB items can be purchased. Analysts can select a purchase method when specifying the CMDB item details.
Service Link Types	To define the relationships between a service and another entity such as a person or agreement. For example, an SLA might have a link type of Legal Contract, while an organization might have a link type of Minimum Agreed Service. Analysts can select a service link type when linking a service to an agreement or location.
Service Portfolio Statuses	To define the values that are displayed in the Portfolio Status drop-down list in the Criticality and Status section of the Service, Service Action and Service Bundle Details in the CMDB Item Details window.
Service Cost Types	To define a service cost type (for example, Pay Per Use, Subscription, or No Charge Back) which can be assigned to the service entity.
Service Period	To define a Service Period to specify the length of time the service will be available.
Subscriber Group Stakeholder Roles	To define roles for stakeholders linked to subscriber groups.
Asset Management - Asset Lifecycle Status	To define the options that appear in the Asset Lifecycle Status list on the Inventory or Software Product Details window. These options allow analysts to define the Lifecycle Status of a particular inventory or software license. For example: Available, In Design, or Decommissioned.
Asset Management - License Type	To define the options analysts can select in the License Type field, for example: Per Person, Enterprise.
Asset Management - Transaction Status	To define the list of transaction statuses in the Transaction Status list, for each type of transaction or “asset pool”.
Self Service Portal Display Categories	To define the Self Service Portal display categories that appear in the Self Service Portal Display Category list on the Service, Service Action, and Service Bundles Details in ASM Core, and when a user browses the Service Request Catalog in Self Service Portal.