Related articles

• Basic Octopus model (pre-configurations) 
  • Article defining all configurations of Octopus default model.

Definitions

• Configurations (CMDB)
  • In Octopus, the "Configurations" module corresponds to the database of ITIL configurations (CMDB: Configuration Management DataBase), which is a database used to assemble the elements of the infrastructure and to follow them throughout their life cycle
• CI ("Configuration Item")
  • Part of an infrastructure contributing to a service delivery
• Types of CI
  • In Octopus, the CI types represents the lowest level of items managed in the CMDB, i.e. the list of items that are strictly used to deliver services (ex.: workstation, laptop, printer, server, router, etc.). For each type of CI, we define attributes (characteristics), a relation with other types of CI and the category (if necessary).
  • In some cases, the huge flexibility of the "Configurations" module allows us to get out of the CMDB context and use other types of CI for other useful functions. 
• Status
  • Status that a CI can have throughout its life cycle (ex.: in stock, under repair, Spare, in operation, etc.)
• Relationship types
  • Bi-directional link between 2 CI, allowing to link for example, an application to a server, which would contribute to better evaluate the impact during an outage
• Attributes
  • Characteristics of a CI (IP address, MAC address, network card, video card, etc.). In Octopus, some attributes can automatically be entered thanks to the application ESI.Octopus.WMIUpdaterApp.exe
• Categories
  • Grouping of several CI Types in a CI category (class) (material, software, server, networking equipment, etc.) to better structure the CMDB and facilitate the management of CI groups

Introduction

The "Configurations" module of Octopus allows for complete management of equipment necessary for the delivery of services of an IT organization. It is more than an inventory; because in addition to contain physical elements, we can incorporate logic elements, establish relationships between them and follow the history of statuses throughout their life cycle (from the introduction into the CMDB to withdrawal).

Octopus has been pre-configured with statuses, CI types, attributes and relations to facilitate the tool integration into your environment. Below, you will find basic configurations that have been applied.

If you wish yo revise them, we invite you to download the following Excel spreadhseet; it includes a tab of CI Types definitions and their attributes, and a tab to identify the import sources.

Download file: CMDB - Basic configuration

Status

• Available for loan
• In operation
• In stock
• In test
• On loan
• On order
• Under repair
• Retired*

Relation types

Relationship types must be created in advance in order to identify the permitted relationships for certain CI types. They are bi-directional. The standard Octopus configuration contains the following relationship types (see Tools > Reference Data Management... > CI  > Relationship Types):

• Depends on / Has as dependent
• Has the following installed / Is installed on
• Is associated with / Applies to
• Is composed of / Is part of
• Is connected to / Is connected to
• Shares / Is shared by
• Uses / Is used by

CI Types

CI types are the CIs that we accept to maintain in the infrastructure to deliver the services; a leveling that is too low (too detailed) requires a maintenance that may be too laborious (and costly) and a leveling that is too high may not provide the information needed. Here are the preconfigured CI types in the standard Octopus model: