Overview
A CMDB (Configuration Management Database) is a repository of information which gathers and links components of an information system, thus enabling a better understanding of their organization.
Elements of a CMDB are named configuration items (CI). A configuration item is an instance of entity with modifiable attributes.
In MEGA 2009 SP5 R7, a tool allows you to import CMDB assets into a MEGA repository.
Import format
Objects to import must be described in an XML file whose structure complies with the format defined by the XSD file supplied by MEGA.
The MEGA schema allows importing configuration items from different CMDB tools (BMC, HP, etc.) and thus avoiding discrepancies between versions.
Imported objects
The objects you can import into MEGA are:
• CMDBs
• Configuration items
• Configuration item types
CMDB
All elements imported are linked to a CMDB. A CMDB contains configuration items and their type.
Name of the CMDBs contained in the imported file appears in the import wizard. If no CMDB is specified in the imported file, the wizard automatically creates it.
Configuration items
The different components imported into MEGA are created in the form of configuration items. Then you can map them with MEGA Architecture objects (Servers, workstations, artifacts, physical assets, etc.). See “Mapping CI with MEGA Architecture components”, page 8.
A configuration item can contain other configuration items. The link between an item and its sub-item is represented by a Configuration Item Composition.
Configuration items properties
The XML file must provide the name of the items to import as well as their properties.
If certain properties do not exist in MEGA, you can define them in the XML file so that MEGA can create them and link them to the appropriate items.
New properties appear in a dedicated tab of the item property window. See example page 12.
Identifier
Configuration items imported into MEGA have a CMDB identifier. MEGA memorizes this identifier in order to recognize all configuration items. When importing items, the wizard checks if they already exist in the MEGA repository so that it can either create it or update it.
The CMDB identifier is displayed in the property window of the configuration item, under the Characteristics tab.
Status
As an indication, you can give the Status of the configuration item:
• Active
• Deprecated
• Inactive
Contrary to the Delete option, the status definition has no impact on the item. See « Deleted objects», page 4.
Configuration item type
A configuration item is associated to a type. In MEGA, the configuration item type is displayed in the item property window, under the Characteristics tab.
Deleted objects
In the XML file you can specify that certain items already imported into MEGA must be deleted (because they have been removed from the CMDB source for example). To delete them in MEGA, you must check the Delete in MEGA the objects marked for deletion in XML file option in the import wizard.