CMDB Features and Capabilities

CSM CMDB has several features and capabilities:

• Searching: Quickly locate all CIs by running a Quick Search, or search for a particular CI or set of CIs by refining the search criteria to a word/phrase, timeframe, Customer, etc. Use Search Group to save/run commonly-run Searches.
• Search Groups: Use CI Search Groups to quickly locate/filter CIs, or to automate searching in Reports or on Dashboards.
• Security: Secure CIs by controlling who can view, create, edit, and delete records.
• Business Object: Use the dedicated Config Item Business Object to track CIs, and then configure the Business Object to capture/track only what you want.
• Forms: Use the powerful Config Item Forms to create, edit, and track CIs. The form provides a Quick Info Tile to display important at-a-glance information (CI type, status alert bar (current and next status), Open Incidents alert bar (with threshold colors), Primary User, asset owner, common operations (I Want To section), and an Arrangement area to dynamically display linked records (child records) that are in a relationship with the CI (parent record).
• Workflow: Use the streamlined CMDB workflow to move CIs from an initial status to a final status.
• Creation Flexibility: Create CIs manually or through an automated process.
• Ownership: Assign each CI to a Primary User to ensure accountability and track assets. The Primary User is also thought of as an external Customer, technician, or internal User of an asset. In CMDB, the Customer is referred to as the Primary User.
• Linked Records: Link child records to a parent CI Record to keep supporting information at your fingertips and to ensure data relationships. Linked child records are visible in the CI Arrangement.
• History and Revision tracking: Use linked Journals to track important status and field changes.
• E-mail correspondence tracking: Use linked Journals to track e-mail correspondence.
• Rich Text: Use Rich Text to complement your Descriptions by adding formatting and images/screenshots.
• Actions/One-Step Actions: Use powerful Actions and One-Step Actions to move CIs through their workflow, initiate common operations (ex: Assign ownership), e-mail asset owners, etc. Actions/One-Step Actions are available on the CI Form (ex: CSM Desktop Client Task Pane).
• CMDB Dashboard: Use the CMDB Dashboard to view your critical CI metrics in a single, real-time, at-a-glance control panel. The Dashboard displays the number of CIs being repaired, the number of CIs that are down, the number of new CIs, total CMDB assets based on type, the number of CI events based on type, and the number of CIs based on vendor.
• Reports: Run Reports to show up-to-date statistics on the number of assets based on type (ex: Hardware, Software, etc.).
• Automation Processes: Use Automation Processes to automatically send notification e-mails and run tiered alerts.
• Status: Use to retire and move a CI out of an active CMDB by changing the status to inactive, retired, or disposed.  Status allows the system administrator to view the lifecycle of a CI and maintain a logical history of incidents, revisions, and upgrades. The system administrator can update the status of a CI from active to inactive and apply a no orphan to particular associated records while removing the CI from the current selection processes..