CMDB & CMDB_CI Difference

[SatishChitti]

Hello Folks
Can anyone explain the major difference between the cmdb & cmdb_ci tables in ServiceNow?
I understand that cmdb is the parent of cmdb_ci. But what is the key difference between them?
Also, can we say that cmdb stores both assest and CI related information, while cmdb_ci only stores the actual CI records?
Thanks

[Maik Skoddow · Accepted solution]

Hi @SatishChitti 

The cmdb table is the ultimate parent or the root table in the CMDB hierarchy. It is sometimes referred to as the "Base Configuration Item" table. This table is designed to provide a baseline structure for all configuration items (CIs) and, in some implementations, can also be used to represent non-IT CIs or generic items that do not fit into the standard IT CI model. In practice, most ServiceNow implementations do not directly create records in the cmdb table; instead, records are created in its child tables

The cmdb_ci table is the core table specifically for IT-related configuration items. It is the base table for all IT CIs, and almost all CI-specific tables (such as cmdb_ci_computer, cmdb_ci_server, etc.) extend from cmdb_ci. This table stores the fundamental attributes of all CIs and is the main entry point for operational and technical management of these items.

Assets are tracked mainly for financial, procurement, and lifecycle purposes (managed in the Asset Management module, e.g., alm_asset), while CIs are tracked for operational and technical management (managed in the CMDB, e.g., cmdb_ci). There is overlap: some items are both assets and CIs, but the tables are distinct and serve different management processes. cmdb and cmdb_ci do not directly store asset records; asset records live in separate tables (like alm_asset). However, CIs (in cmdb_ci and its children) can be linked to asset records for unified management.

Maik