What is the CI Alias [cmdb_alias] table for?

[mbourla]

I've seen there's a table called CI Alias [cmdb_alias].   I can imagine what its purpose is but can't find out just how it works and how it's used in ServiceNow.  

Can anyone help?

Thanks,

Michael

[Robbie]

Hi Michael,

Whilst I have not implemented or leveraged the CI Alias table (cmdb_alias) myself, I am aware of it.

From my understanding this is used to manage DNS Alias's. A perfect scenario and use case was posted on the community in the below link with the scenario of one server with 8 different aliases and each alias assigned a different IP address (for example 10.243.4.40 - 48/255.255.255.0).

This is where you would leverage the CI Alias table.

Community Link: How are DNS Aliases modeled in CMDB

Whilst not related to the CI Alais table, from a more general 'Alias' perspective and synonym usage for CI, mark.stanger at SNGuru posted this helpful link -Configuration Item (CI) Alias

Please mark this post as correct/helpful by clicking on your post link (What is the CI Alias [cmdb_alias] table for? ) to help close out open questions and aid others with similar questions.

Thanks,

Robbie

[mbourla]

Many thanks, Robbie.   I'm not familiar with DNS Aliases as such.   It was more along the lines of that article on SNCGuru, to be able to refer to a CI by different names.   And also understanding if and how ServiceNow uses that table.   If it's used or can be used by the system in a certain way (for example by discovery or Service Mapping) then it's probably not a good idea to commandeer it.

I'll check that out guidance from Mark Stanger, because it feels like that combined with the cmdb_alias table might be a good facility.

Thanks again,

Michael