The data organization of the Smart CMDB has a uniquely flexible structure. All objects in the database display CIs (configuration elements). This highly flexible data model enables all CIs (e.g. hardware, users, tickets, etc.) with their attributes and relations to be related to each other in any way. The Smart CMDB is able to adapt individually to your structures by freely defining the CI types and their attributes. Since the CMDB database is available in normalized form, it is particularly easy to build individual CMDB structures. Furthermore, the Smart CMDB contains predefined structure trees for standard contexts (e.g. hardware, software, etc.). These can be used “ready-to-use”, modified or even discarded. Intelligent inheritance concepts, an extensive authorization system and consistent lifecycle models simplify the structure and operation of the SmartCMDB considerably.
A picture is worth a thousand words. This statement is especially accurate as the digital environment becomes more complex. A unique feature of REALTECH’s Smart CMDB is that all objects (configuration elements) are CIs. This highly flexible data model allows all database objects (e.g. hardware, people, tickets, …) to be related to each other and graphically displayed at any time at any node as a relation to other CIs. This makes often hidden or complicated relationships visible at a glance. Using the dependency walk technique, you can switch from object to object with a mouse click and decide whether and which relations are to be displayed visually. A unique feature is that technical objects (e.g. from monitoring) can be displayed as part of an IT service and overlying processes in an image in the current state. This makes it possible, for example, to immediately recognize whether a technical malfunction has an impact on higher-level services and processes, and the other way around, why certain services are disrupted (root cause).
Configuration baselining is one of the most important concepts of a CMDB. Guidelines regarding configuration items (CIs) their attributes, relations, attachments, etc. allow the definition of precise target states, so that e.g.:
- Deviations from company specifications become visible at any time when they appear.
- The original state can be safely restored after a change that has gone wrong.
- Auditing processes are simplified on the basis of “ad hoc” baseline reports.
In addition to the connection to ITSM systems, technical and commercial information from third-party systems can be merged in the Smart CMDB. An already established use case is lifecycle management for PC or mobile phone leasing devices. And: The REALTECH CMDB allows status information to be recorded per CI, which can also be transferred from third-party tools without having to program against an API.