How do I learn the purpose and use of the CMDB_CI tables?

HugoFirst · ‎10-23-2015

We have a team of about 20 people who are on a team to develop our CMDB.

I have presented a list of the tables and the fields for each table, but we need to know more.

For many tables, we need to know the purpose and use of the tables. Sure, we can figure out what "cmdb_ci_linux_server" is all about.

But what is "cmdb_ci_zone" used for? And "cmdb_ci_vm_parrallels"? I could go on.

Is there a list of tables with some kind of description or context of use?

I've searched and found a fair amount of CMDB documentation, but every promising page just shows the tables by name.

I appreciate any help you can give me.

Mike Allen · ‎10-26-2015

cmdb_ci_ats_power_eq: Transfer switch - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

cmdb_ci_business_process: Map incidents and problems to the process they came from

cmdb_ci_circuit: IP Circuit

cmdb_ci_cluster: Cluster of servers or databases

cmdb_ci_cluster_node: Each server in the cluster

cmdb_ci_cluster_node_resource: Each resource currently on the cluster node

cmdb_ci_cluster_resource: Global cluster resources

cmdb_ci_zone ( OK this is a Data Center Zone, but just what is a Data Center Zone? And why do we care? 😞 Data centers are divided into zones, which allow you more granular visibility as to where it is; ie, if you have an issue and someone gives you a data center, it is akin to giving you a city in a map. A zone gives you a zip code, essentially, where a rack would be a street name and a row would be an address.. it is just more specific information for locating something in a data center

cmdb_ci_infra_service ( it inherits from Application. But how is it different from a Service? )

cmdb_ci_outage ( is this really a CI? 😞 Tracking outages of CIs and allowing you to tie them back to SLAs

cmdb_ci_pdu_outlet: Outlets on the power strip so you aren't having to trace cables

cmdb_ci_vm_parallels: Parallel Virtual Machine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

cmdb_ci_patches: Server patches

cmdb_ci_pdu: Power distribution Unit.. Power strip in a rack

cmdb_ci_appl_pending ( is this just an application in a pending state? )

cmdb_ci_snc_component ( is this the servicenow CI's that we use? 😞 These are the ServiceNow components, servers, etc

cmdb_ci_tower_tower_eq: Power equipment

cmdb_ci_beacon_tower_eq: Power equipment

cmdb_ci_tower_eq: Power equipment

cmdb_ci_twr_light_cnt_tower_eq: Power equipment

cmdb_ci_tower_light_tower_eq: Power equipment

cmdb_ci_vm_zones: VLAN? I don't know

View solution in original post

KCallaghan · ‎10-26-2015

Few things i noted:

cmdb_ci_circuit - We use this for Power circuits in our data center.

cmdb_ci_vm_zones: Solaris zones - Solaris virtual hosting

HugoFirst · ‎10-26-2015

I'm working all this up in a Knowledgebase article for my future reference.

I noticed that you have a different context with cmdb_ci_circuit than Mike. He lists it as an "IP Circuit" while you use it for power circuits.

Guess I need to allow for multiple contexts/use cases.

Thanks for your input!

Anyone with additional information is welcome to contribute. I hope to put it all together in a knowledge base article.

Larry Youngqui1 · ‎08-05-2016

Any additional info on Business Processes would be appreciated?

Can these be used to track and report on Business "Capabilities" (ie; high level capabilities that the business service enables)?

HugoFirst · ‎10-26-2015

Yea Mike! You Rock!

Thank you for filling me in!

Akshay74 · ‎09-23-2020

Hi,

Please go through the below link containing tables and its description.

https://docs.servicenow.com/bundle/paris-servicenow-platform/page/product/configuration-management/reference/cmdb-tables-details.html

Hope it helps!!

Thanks.

Regards,

Akshay Sharma