CMDB: Application Instance vs new CI

[David107]

What is the recommendation for Dev/Test/Prod environments with the CMDB? Do people generally create a CI and use "application instance" for those sub-environments? Or is application instance used for something else?

Similarly, for large, diverse programs such as SAP or even ServiceNow will there generally by a parent CI and then child CI's for some of the different functions within?  

[Brian Kelly · Accepted solution]

There is a class for ServiceNow modules/processes in the out of the box delivery.  For your services I would place them in Business services  and build a hierarchical structure linking them to the overall business service. If you have the APM module from ITBM  then this links in well, it also fits well into change and incident if you have mapping in place  between logical and infrastructure for services affected.

[dcwilson]

An Application Instance CI indicates where a particular Application is running.  

Say you have "Exchange" as a Business Service/Application.  ie Exchange@server123, Exchange@server789.  The Application Instances are then related to the "Exchange" Business Service/Application to provide the Application's dependencies.