Visual CMDB

The ITIL Visual Configuration Management Database (Visual CMDB) is a series of Microsoft Excel spreadsheet applications that integrates the CMDB with Change Management and Service Level Management. The Visual CMDB provides the unifying view of the IT infrastructure in a visual representation. This common view is a cornerstone for implementing a sucessful Configuration Management process.

The Visual CMDB helps manage IT assets(CIs) such as Hardware, Software and network components and associated details such as data files, documentation and service level information.

The integration of Change Management with the Visual CMDB allows users to do impact assessments for change and to make the correct changes to the infrastructure to keep the CMDB in sync with reality. The Forward Schedule of Change provids additional visual information to help with change impact assessment over time.

References

• Office of Government Commerce (OGC), ed.: Service Support. IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL). The Stationery Office, Norwich, UK (2000)
• OGC, ed.: Introduction to ITIL. IT Infrastructure Library. The Stationery Office (2005)