Talk:Configuration management database

how is CMDB different/same than SCM (software configuration management)? Is it just that SCM only for software & CMDB is software plus hardware? DEddy 04:13, 12 April 2006 (UTC)[reply]

It very much depends on the CMDB implementation. Certainly most CMDBs maintain extensive information about hardware and devices on the network and their configurations - some CMDB vendors will capture software information as well - for instance website configuration files. Software inherently has a variety of means of configuration from settings in files to registry entries in the likes of Windows operating systems. Some settings are only accessible when the software is running and via the user interface only.

A perfect CMDB would know everything i.e. HCM+SCM+DCM

CMDB

A CMDB according to ITIL is a repository that contains all configuration items (CIs) in an organization and their relationship to each other. That includes the configurations of harware, software and also includes documentation. The CMDB is not a product from a vendor, but a repository that an organization builds for this information. All processes in ITIL depends on the CMDB. The CMDB forms part of the Configuration Management process of ITIL and according to ITIL should only be updated through a Change Management process.

There are several vendor who provide a ready-made CMDB, and each have their own approach regarding it. The largest players in this area are CA, HP and BMC. IBM has in the past made use of the CMDB from Peregrine, but Peregrine has been purchased by HP.

A common way of establishing a CMDB is by creating a baseline using a discvery tool. The information is then imported into the CMDB. This established baseline is the updated via a Change Management process. A discovery tool should not automatically update a CMDB, since any update to a CMDB should follow a Change process.