Configuration items

A Configuration Item (CI) is any component of an infrastructure. Some CI types are virtual, while others are physical. The Service CI type is an example of a virtual CI. In this context, a service can be provided from one business or organization within a business to another. Service CIs can include customer support, employee provisioning, web farms, and storage. Other CI types are physical and include hardware and software. You can use the information in CIs to determine if a change to a CI or the IT infrastructure must be made. To record information against CIs, such as CI unavailability, or to relate a change request to a CI, the CI must be recorded in the BMC Helix CMDB. If you do not have Asset Management, then Change Management provides limited ability to manage CIs and inventory.

Related topics

Creating-a-CI

You can define a CI, search for CIs, and update records within Change Management. When creating a CI name, follow a consistent naming convention. According to ITIL guidelines, use identifiers that are short, but meaningful. For hardware, do not use identifiers that are based on supplier device names. For example, the name might include an indicator of the CI's function (such as Workstation or Monitor) followed by a numeric code, such as MONITOR100.

When creating CIs in Change Management, if Asset Management is not installed on your server, the data is always taken from the AST:AppSettings form. For more information, see Relating-items-to-the-change-request.


Important

This functionality is available even if your environment does not run Asset Management, and does not need any Asset License. If you have Asset Management, you have access to additional functionality, as described in Working with CIs. You will however need to have Asset Admin or User permissions and AR fixed or floating licenses to make use of these additional functions.

 

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