How to manually structure software suites in CMDB

[Pete Laws]

Can someone provide me with an example of how I should manually structure software suites in CMDB using the CI Class Manager? Using CMDB for INC management. Using the example of Microsoft Office

• Option 1:
• • Should I create a class under Applications (i.e. Microsoft Office)
  • Then create a CI list of the applications under the new class (i.e. outlook.CI, word.CI, powerpoint.CI, etc)
• Option 2:
• • Build my CI's under the Software - Software Application class
  • NOTE: when i tried it this way i was unable to create a relationship between my application service and the CI

Any help would be appreciated thanks!

[Mary Vanatta · Accepted solution]

The CSDM 3.0 guidance from SN states that MS Office is not a Business Application, it has no underpinning services. Here is a link to the community article.  Not following CSDM can limit achieving value out of the platform.

This is the way we have been advising, based on guidance directly from SN. 

First, do not use the Applications table [cmdb_ci_appl]  this is for the apps that are discovered using SN Discovery.  ( I do tons of remediation on this)

Look at it this way from a "Service vs a CI" perspective. 
This would require alignment to CSDM and Incident and Change reconfiguration to use the "Service Offering" field on Incident. 

Service [cmdb_ci_service]: End User Services or something more definitive like Office Productivity (look into TBM Taxonomy)
Service Offering [service_offering]:  Microsoft Office (what the business offers to their business users to do office work)
CI: Possibly the laptop that the application is being accessed or it is installed on. 

The nice thing about this is the service offering can contain the support group for Incident. 
You can do this and be CSDM aligned, and not need Discovery or a full CMDB of CIs

Business Applications are not to be used operationally for Incident and Change

I recommend the course in NowLearning for CSDM and CMDB.  The CSDM 3.0 whitepapers are available in the course.  Nowlearning is available to all partners and clients you will have to register.