Configuration Management Database
The configuration management database (CMDB) is a database that stores information about configurations items (CIs) for use in change, release, incident, service request, problem, and configuration management processes. The CMDB is a key element of ITIL-based service management. The CMDB might be part of a larger Content Management System (CMS).
The CMDB stores sufficient information about objects to enable you to work productively. For example, the information stored for a CI includes its type, or classification; it attributes, which describe the characteristics of the particular CI instance; and its relationships with other CIs. All this information is structured according to the Tivoli Common Data Model, an information model used to define and share data about configuration items and other artifacts across several Tivoli management products. The CMDB is maintained by the configuration management component of this product but is also used by other components such as change management, service request management, asset management, and more.
The CMDB also stores information about process artifacts that are used in the process of managing the configuration items. These artifacts are linked to CI records. For example, a record of a request for change (RFC) would be linked to the CIs that were its targets.
- Maximo database
- Contains the actual and authorized versions of configuration item data, as well as information used for security, application and workflow design, reports, and other product functions.
- Federated databases
- Any other databases whose contents you federate with another database. Can contain additional data regarding configuration items from any source.
- IBM® Tivoli® Application Dependency Discovery Manager (TADDM)
- If you also installed TADDM in your environment, this product includes the TADDM database.
Including all these types of data in one virtual CMDB enables you to look at and compare different views of the same configuration item.