CMDB Item Types
All CMDB items in the system must be classified as item types. ASM Core comes with a standard set of item types, but you can add further sub-types in order to classify your CMDB items.
You can configure up to nine levels of sub-types. The additional types can be configured to inherit the properties of their parents, or have their own custom screen sets. You can also restrict access to specific types and sub-types available to analysts through the CMDB tab of their Configuration Management Security Role.
For example, for the 'Configuration Item' Type (provided out of the box), you can define a sub type Hardware, and further sub-types below it for, say, Printer and Server. The 'Hardware' Type can inherit the properties of 'Configuration Item', or you can configure it to use a custom screen set so that when you add a new printer to the CMDB, the appropriate Details window appears.
ASM Core provides the following CMDB Item Types by default:
Configuration Items | Within this, there are:
You can also create sub-types within this such as Hardware, Infrastructure and so on. | ||||||
Service entities | Services, Service Actions, and Service Bundles are used to define and manage the service portfolio of services offered by your organization. For example, you can define a Service for Email. You can then define and link any number of Service Actions relating to the email service, such as “Set up an email account” or “Back up the email server”. Finally, you can associate Service Actions with a Service Bundle, such as “New Starter”. Allocating Subscriber Groups to a Service Action allows you to define which people in your organization may request each service through the Portal. Additionally, the Service Level Requirement type is provided, to allow the recording of the details of the user's needs for services. |
Besides the CMDB Items described above, you can also create the following entities within your organization’s CMDB:
People | to manage your Analysts, Users, and External Contacts |
Organizations | to manage the external suppliers and companies or departments to which Users or External Contacts belong |
Locations | to manage the physical addresses of Users and/or Organizations |
Contracts | to manage warranties, support or maintenance agreements associated with Configuration Items and Services with External Suppliers |
Agreements | to manage the agreements with Users and external suppliers used to enhance your service delivery |
Cost Centers | to manage cost centers |
Jurisdictions | to manage groups of cost centers and assign access to these groupings to analysts |
Subscriber Groups | to manage people permitted to order service actions and service bundles through the Service Request Catalog |
Benefits of Multi-level CMDB Item Types
There are numerous benefits to the hierarchical structure of CMDB Item Types.
Particular types can be assigned to different analysts through configuration management security roles.
You can create a hierarchical tier structure to as many levels as you need and flexibly and accurately model your organization’s assets in the CMDB, creating the types and sub types you need.
You can classify the items within your CMDB by configuring your own sub types.
Child types can inherit the properties set up for the parent type, including availability, and auditing settings, as well as the image associated with the parent CMDB type. In addition, if a particular screen set has been configured in the ASM Designer for a particular CMDB item type, it will also be inherited by the child types.
You can restrict the Analysts who are responsible for Servers to only modify Server CMDB items, or those responsible for email to modify only the Email Service. You can apply different levels of security to different groups of Analysts in the organization, for example, service desk Analysts can only view and search for certain types of CIs but may not modify them.
You can create a Configuration Item type for Computer, then, for the Computer type, you can create child types for Laptop, Server, and Desktop. Then, you can configure the Computer type so that Analysts are not allowed to use this type, but must choose a specific type of computer.
Avoid setting up specific assets here. The CMDB Item Type table is meant only to list the kinds of CI (configuration items) you have in your organization; Laptop, Mobile Device, Tablets, Servers, Error Codes, etc...
You can create a Service type for IT Services. Within this you can then set up child types for each particular type of service provided by the IT department, such as Email, Installation, Connection, or Maintenance. When analysts add services, they can classify them according to the Service types you have defined.
Avoid naming your organizations services here. You will create the services that your organization delivers in the CMDB. The CMDB Item Type for Services is meant to create categories of services the organization provides such as "IT", "Customer", or "Facilities".
Many organizations do not create additional services types. It is perfectly acceptable to only have a service CMDB Item type of "Services", which is provided out of the box. Instead, many organizations delineate the different lines of business with CMDB Item Classes.
Consider your reporting requirements when choosing how to configure this option.
Creating a CMDB item type
Select the Menu button, then Admin, and then select System Administration. The System Administration window is displayed.
In the Explorer pane expand CMDB.
Select CMDB Item Types to open the window.
Select the type of CMDB entity for which you want to define your own sub type.
Select the New icon . The CMDB Item Type Details window appears.
Complete the details.
| Name | Name of the CMDB item type. This is a mandatory field |
|---|---|
Ref Prefix | Prefix for the CMDB item type. When analysts create CMDB items under this CMDB item type, this prefix will display in the Ref field on the CMDB Item Details window. Similarly, when CMDB items are created automatically, for example through the Federated CMDB, this prefix is added to the Item ID. The default prefix is set in the System Titles window. |
Parent Type(s) | A read only field that displays the parent CMDB item type on which the current CMDB item type is based. |
Allow Creation of CMDB Items | This option is useful if, for example, you have defined a CMDB item type “Computer” and below that child CMDB item types for “Laptop”, “Workstation” and “Server”, and want to ensure analysts choose the specific computer type, rather than the more generic parent type. By clearing Allow creation of CMDB Items for the CMDB Type Computer, and selecting the option for the child types, Analysts will have to choose a specific computer type when they add a computer item. If you clear Allow Creation of CMDB Items, CMDB items classified under this CMDB item type can still be searched on. |
Display New Menu Item in Wrapper | This option is enabled if you select Allow Creation of CMDB Items. Select to allow analysts to create new CMDB items under this CMDB item type straight from the New menu option. |
Turn Audit On | Select to enable auditing on CMDB items of this CMDB item type. This enables the Audit explorer option on the CMDB Item Details window. If this option has already been selected on the parent CMDB item type, it will be pre-selected and disabled on the current CMDB item type. |
Categorize as an Asset | Select to flag this CMDB Item as an Asset. This flag enables you to identify those CMDB items you want to track as assets for financial purposes. By default the Software Product, Inventory, and Structure configuration item types are flagged as assets. |
Track Availability | Allows Analysts to link outages against CMDB items of this CMDB item type. If you are using availability on your system, analysts can select the Availability explorer option for CMDB items. |
Auto-create Outages | This is enabled when you select Track Availability. Select to automatically select the Create/Link Outages checkbox when a Call or Request is logged for a CMDB item of this CMDB Item Type, allowing the Analyst to create or link an outage from the call or request. If Auto-create Outages is already selected on the parent CMDB item type, it will be pre-selected and disabled on the current CMDB item type. |
Description & Images | A text box below this heading enables you to provide a description of the CMDB type. If it is HTML enabled, you can format the text, adding tables, hyperlinks and so on. |
Add an Image | You can link an image (icon) to the CMDB item type by selecting . Images may be in JPEG, GIF, or BMP format. This image appears to the left of the item type in the CMDB Item Types window. If an image has already been added, it appears in the window. To remove it, select . |
Portal Submit Button | Enter the text to display on the Order button of Service Actions in the Self Service Portal Service Request Catalog that are created for this CMDB Item Type. Text entered here replaces the default button label "Order". |
Open Designer | This button allows you to configure the screens associated with this item type in the ASM Designer. You must have Designer selected in your General Access Security Role. |
Screens | The Screens browse table displays the screens in the screen set associated with this CMDB item type. If you have permission to access the ASM Designer, you can personalize these screens by either modifying the standard screen or adding and configuring your own. |
Select the Save icon to save the changes and close the window. Provide the Change Reasons if prompted to do so. You may need to scroll back up to see the button.
Updating and renaming a CMDB Item Type
Select the Menu button, then Admin, and then select System Administration. The System Administration window is displayed.
In the Explorer pane expand CMDB.
Select CMDB Item Types to open the window.
Select the CMDB item type you wish to update.
Select the item by double-clicking or by clicking the Action icon.
In the CMDB Item Type Details window, edit the details of the CMDB item type.
Select the Save icon to save the changes and close the window. Provide the Change Reasons if prompted to do so.
Deleting a CMDB item type
You cannot delete a default CMDB item type. The delete button is grayed out on the CMDB Item Types window for default CMDB item types.
If you delete a CMDB Item Type, any existing CMDB items that use this CMDB item type still retain that CMDB item type which will be displayed with an asterisk beside the name to indicate it is deleted.
Select the Menu button, then Admin, and then select System Administration. The System Administration window is displayed.
In the Explorer pane expand CMDB.
Select CMDB Item Types to open the window.
Select the CMDB Type you want to delete.
Select the Delete icon.
Restoring a Deleted CMDB Item Type
Select the Menu button, then Admin, and then select System Administration. The System Administration window is displayed.
In the Explorer pane expand CMDB.
Select CMDB Item Types to open the window.
Select the Show Deleted checkbox to include deleted CMDB item types in the listing. The deleted items are indicated by a red circle icon.
Highlight the item you want to restore and select the Undelete icon. Provide Change Reasons if prompted to do so.
After a moment, the display refreshes and the red circle is removed from the item, indicating that it has been restored.
If you wish, you can deselect the Show Deleted checkbox to see that the item appears among the active items.