The structure of the configuration management database (CMDB) is flexible and allows for a multi-level organization. Each Configuration Item (CI) must be registered under a specific Type. If a logical grouping of related Types or a hierarchical structure of the CMDB is required, Types can optionally be nested within Groups, which serve for navigation and can be further nested.
- Item Groups (CI Groups – optional) – s are optional elements used primarily to group related types for easier orientation and navigation within the CMDB (e.g., the types Laptops and Desktop PCs can be grouped under the group End Devices). Groups can be nested hierarchically, creating a multi-level tree structure.
Item Types (CI Types – mandatory) – represent a specification for configuration items of the same type that share the same set of attributes and properties defined by this type. A type is a basic data model that determines what data will be collected for a given item.
- Items (CI – Configurable Item) – are the actual records in the CMDB that represent an entity (software, hardware, service, location, person, etc.) tracked in the system. Each item must be registered under a specific type and is a specific record of that type. An item (CI) does not appear as an element of the CMDB’s basic structure or hierarchy. Example: the Notebook type defines the structure and attributes, while a specific Notebook with ID: 123 is an item (CI) that fills this structure.
The basic building block of a CMDB structure is the Item Type, which defines a set of attributes for individual items. The following diagram illustrates the placement of item types within the hierarchy—at the top level of the hierarchy, within a group, or at the end of a group hierarchy.
