Chapter 6. The CMDB - the central IT repository

The configuration management database (CMDB) is not a database in the technical sense, but a conceptual IT model, which is indispensable for efficient IT service management. All IT components and inventories are managed in the CMDB. Configuration management exceeds asset management, often incorrectly used as a synonym, as it does not only document assets from a financial point of view, but captures information regarding the relationship between components, specifications, or their location. Thus IT support can quickly access information on the interdependence of IT services and the IT components (= configuration items = CIs) necessary for them.

According to ITIL, a CMDB must feature the following functionalities:

  • Manual and, where applicable, automatic recording and modification of configuration items

  • Description of the relationship and/or interdependence between CIs

  • Change of CI attributes (e.g. serial numbers)

  • Location and user management for CIs

  • Integration via the ITIL processes represented in the system

OTRS::ITSM meets all requirements stated above and offers numerous additional IT support functions in the CMDB.

The OTRS::ITSM database model

The modular architecture of OTRS::ITSM and the ability to install single OTRS::ITSM packages independently makes it difficult to display a complete database model in a single graphic. For this reason, separate graphics will be provided for the OTRS framework and for ITSM packages which change or extend the database scheme.

OTRS Framework

For better readability, the diagram can be found at: https://github.com/OTRS/otrs/blob/master/development/diagrams/Database/OTRSDatabaseDiagram.png

GeneralCatalog

For better readability, this diagram can be found at: https://github.com/OTRS/GeneralCatalog/blob/master/doc/general-catalog-database.png

ITSMCore

For better readability, this diagram can be found at: https://github.com/OTRS/ITSMCore/blob/master/doc/itsm-core-database.png

ITSMConfigurationManagement

For better readability, this diagram can be found at: https://github.com/OTRS/ITSMConfigurationManagement/blob/master/doc/itsm-configuration-management-database.png

ITSMChangeManagement

For better readability, this diagram can be found at: https://github.com/OTRS/ITSMChangeManagement/blob/master/doc/itsm-change-management-database.png

ImportExport

For better readability, this diagram can be found at: https://github.com/OTRS/ImportExport/blob/master/doc/import-export-database.png

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