CMDB ( Configuration management database ) is a buzz word in Infrastructure management forums and I know lot of local / state goverments budgeting for it every year. Sometimes they never get to spend it due to the following reasons:-
1. Lack of clear understanding of the CMDB life cycle
2. Constantly changing definitions of a realiable CMDB that is aligned with other Service Desk aspects
3. ITIL masked vendors trying to push their products rather than helping CIOs understand what is involved
I am writing this to clarify certain aspects and ease the understanding!
CMDB – Step 1 – Define your CI
ITIL defines enterprise assets that are configurable as CI (from a layman standpoint this includes Desktops, Laptops, Routers, Servers, Blackberry Devices, Printers, Mail Servers, Gateway, etc)
You have to come out with a high level list with types of assets that you want to track. I would call it as ‘CI Types’
Deliverable — CI Types
Example — DELL Laptops, HP Printers, Blackberry devices, Cisco Routers, SAP Servers, Exchange Servers, AS400
CMDB – Step 2 – Discover your CI instances
Discovering assets in any organization can be real tough and it involves automated discovery, physical audit, finding it by chance, and manual addition of known assets. You can use free tools available in the market to do the basic discovery that uses techniques like WMI, SNMP, SSH to discover CIs across the network.
Now the output of this exercise can be really huge and that is where people get lost!
Look at Step 1 deliverable and filter your list using CI Types and this would ensure that you are dealing with the assets that you want to track rather than everything!
Deliverable – CMDB Master List
Consolidated List of all CI that you want to track and important physical attributes like Name, IP Address, Make, Model, Serial #, MAC Address, and Purpose (why it is there in the first place?)
Example — ATLXPL1540, 10.34.1.9, DELL, Dimension 2400, 1FD340,00-0D-54-EB-43-GD, radiology lab system
Generally this list would be a grand sum of count of all your computers, network equipment, licensed software (if you choose track them as assets), etc. (Commonly it is called as Hardware and Software assets)
Once you have this list, SMILE and RELAX for a week!
After a week, look at the list again and see how much it has changed by doing some sample tests. This is to measure the volatile nature of your CIs – so that you can improve the discovery process to keep them updated as much as possible. Some of my customers use ‘Periodic Auto Discovery’ mechanisms to keep the CMDB up to date.
CMDB – Step 3 – Gather more information on your CI
You have to work the list to find additional information about your assets. Think of the following:-
a. How long we have the CI in our environment? Life Cycle details
b. Who is responsible for it? Is it a Mission Critical CI? Owner
c. Is it under warranty? If so, gather all details with contact information - External support
d. where is the CI located? Physical location attributes
e. What are the availability expecations? Who ensures it? (Linked to SLA definitions)
Attach any documents, service contracts, manuals to the CI
f. Identify CI dependencies and relationships — This is critical!
If you have helpdesk Server as CI with a corresponding 50-inch LCD monitor for dashboard display, the monitor becomes the depending accessory. Again, sometimes only the accessory CIs are visible to outside world – once you dig deep you may find some other CIs (that was unnoticed during Step 1 or 2)
If you are tracking Agilent BioCel 1800 system as one of your CI, VWorks automation control and Direct Drive robot would be your CI dependencies. While handling CI dependies you can either define additional CI Types and include a relationship or keep more like a Parent-child matrix
Also, 2 different CIs may have a relationship and mutual dependency (CRM Server and SQL Server 2008)
Deliverable — CMDB Expanded List
At any point of time, you should be able to link the CMDB master record with corresponding lifecycle details, Owner, vendor information, physical location, availability matrix and dependent CI information
Suri Anantharama, PMP provides ITIL consulting for organizations and assists in building CMDB
