VNCproject CMDB Manual

The configuration management database (CMDB) is a centralized repository that stores information about configurations items (CIs) for use in incident, problem, change, release, and task. The CMDB is a key element of ITIL-based service management.

Each CI within the CMDB is grouped by specific CI Types and represented by Attributes and Relations. Attributes are data items that describe the characteristics of CIs under a CI Type. Relations denote the link between two CIs, which defines the dependency or connection between them.

Configuration Items (CIs)

Configuration Items (CIs) are database records that represent service components, infrastructure elements, or other items that need to be managed to ensure the successful delivery of services.

Monitor a configuration item (CI)

From the Configuration Item console, you can create new configuration items and manage them.

To access a Configuration Item console:

1. Open VNCproject.

2. Click Helpdesk on the VNCproject's main menu bar:

   

3. Click CMDB:

   

4. Select Configuration Items:

   

The Configuration Item console contains the following fields and functions:

• Filters: Sort existing CIs by name or description.
• CIs table: The list of configuration items.
• New CI item: Create a new configuration item.
• Sidebar navigation: A sidebar allows users to navigate to a specific piece of CMDB management content.
• Right sidebar arrow: The right sidebar can be hidden by clicking the arrow on its upper right.

• Operations menu: Select the action you want to do and click the corresponding icon:

  • to edit a configuration item.
  • to delete a configuration item.

Create a configuration item (CI)

1. Open VNCproject.

2. Click Helpdesk on the VNCproject's main menu bar:

   

3. Click CMDB:

   

4. Select Configuration Items:

   

5. Click the NEW CI ITEM button.

6. On the form, fill in the fields:

   • Name: Enter a meaningful name for the configuration item.
   • Configuration type: Specify the type of configuration item you want to create.
   • Sites: Select a site from the drop-down menu.
   • Description: Add a detailed description.

7. When you're finished, select:

   • CREATE to create a configuration item.
   • CREATE AND ADD ANOTHER to create a configuration item and start creating another one.
   • CANCEL to discard the values you entered and cancel the configuration item creation.

View a configuration item (CI) details page

The configuration item details page lets you review and take action on a configuration item.

1. Click the CMDB tab.
2. Select Configuration Items. This opens the configuration items list view page.
3. Click the name of the configuration item to view its details.

This opens the configuration item details page:

Each configuration item contains the following sections:

• Toolbar: A strip а control buttons that let you perform various actions on a configuration item.
• Title: Shows the name of the configuration item.
• General information: Shows general details of the configuration item such as Name, Description, Configuration Type, and Site.
• Configuration Item Attributes: Contains the characteristics of CIs under a CI Type.
• Linked Configuration Type Attributes:

Edit a configuration item (CI)

There are 2 ways to edit a configuration item:

• From the Configuration Item console;
• From the configuration item details page.

Way 1. From the Configuration Item console.

1. Open VNCproject.

2. Click Helpdesk on the VNCproject's main menu bar:

   

3. Click CMDB:

   

4. Select Configuration Items:

   

5. Use the filter to find a required configuration item. For this click .

6. Click Add filter and select one of the options from the drop-down menu:

   

7. Select one of the options from the 1st drop-down menu and enter the keyword into the 2nd field:

   

8. Once done, click Apply.

9. Click the pencil icon next to the configuration item you want to edit.
10. Change the configuration item info.
11. Click Save.

Way 2. From the configuration item details page.

1. Click the title of the configuration item you want to edit.
2. Click the EDIT button at the top of the page.
3. Once you've changed the configuration item info, click Save.

Delete a configuration item (CI)

1. Open VNCproject.

2. Click CMDB:

   

3. Select Configuration Items:

   

4. Use the filter to find a configuration item you want to delete. For this click .

5. Click Add filter and select one of the options from the drop-down menu:

   

6. Select one of the options from the 1st drop-down menu and enter the keyword into the 2nd field:

   

7. Once done, click Apply.

8. Click the rubbish bin icon next to the configuration item you want to delete.
9. Confirm that you want to delete the configuration item, click YES in the modal window.

Configuration Types

A Configuration type is a category used to classify Configuration Items (CIs). The CI type identifies the necessary attributes and relationships that make up a configuration record. Common CI Types include: hardware, software, documents, and users.

Monitor a configuration type

From the Configuration type console, you can create new configuration types and manage them.

To access a Configuration type console:

1. Open VNCproject.

2. Click Helpdesk on the VNCproject's main menu bar:

   

3. Click CMDB:

   

4. Select Configuration Types:

   

The Configuration Type console contains the following fields and functions:

• Filters: Sort existing CI types by name or description.
• Configuration type table: The list of configuration types.
• New Configuration type: Create a new configuration type.
• Sidebar navigation: A sidebar allows users to navigate to a specific piece of CMDB management content.
• Right sidebar arrow: The right sidebar can be hidden by clicking the arrow on its upper right.

• Operations menu: Select the action you want to do and click the corresponding icon:

  • to edit a configuration item.
  • to delete a configuration item.

Create a configuration type

1. Open VNCproject.

2. Click Helpdesk on the VNCproject's main menu bar:

   

3. Click CMDB:

   

4. Select Configuration Types:

   

5. Click the NEW CONFIGURATION TYPE button.

6. On the form, fill in the fields:

   • Name: Enter a meaningful name for the configuration type.
   • Description: Add a detailed description.

7. When you're finished, select:

   • CREATE to create a configuration type.
   • CREATE AND ADD ANOTHER to create a configuration type and start creating another one.
   • CANCEL to discard the values you entered and cancel the configuration type creation.

View a configuration type details page

The configuration type details page lets you review and take action on a configuration type.

1. Click the CMDB tab.
2. Select Configuration Types. This opens the configuration types list view page.
3. Click the name of the configuration type to view its details.

This opens the configuration item details page:

Each configuration item contains the following sections:

• Toolbar: A strip а control buttons that let you perform various actions on a configuration type.
• Title: Shows the name of the configuration type.
• General information: Shows general details of the configuration type such as Name and Description.
• Configuration Item Attributes: Contains the characteristics of CIs under a CI Type.

Edit a configuration type

There are 2 ways to edit a configuration type:

• From the Configuration Type console;
• From the configuration type details page.

Way 1. From the Configuration Type console.

1. Open VNCproject.

2. Click Helpdesk on the VNCproject's main menu bar:

   

3. Click CMDB:

   

4. Select Configuration Types:

   

5. Use the filter to find a required configuration type. For this click .

6. Click Add filter and select one of the options from the drop-down menu:

   

7. Select one of the options from the 1st drop-down menu and enter the keyword into the 2nd field:

   

8. Once done, click Apply.

9. Click the pencil icon next to the configuration type you want to edit.
10. Change the configuration type info.
11. Click Save.

Way 2. From the configuration type details page.

1. Click the title of the configuration type you want to edit.
2. Click the EDIT button at the top of the page.
3. Once you've changed the configuration type info, click Save.

Delete a configuration type

1. Open VNCproject.

2. Click CMDB:

   

3. Select Configuration Types:

   

4. Use the filter to find a configuration type you want to delete. For this click .

5. Click Add filter and select one of the options from the drop-down menu:

   

6. Select one of the options from the 1st drop-down menu and enter the keyword into the 2nd field:

   

7. Once done, click Apply.

8. Click the rubbish bin icon next to the configuration type you want to delete.
9. Confirm that you want to delete the configuration type, click YES in the modal window.

CI Relations

The CMDB helps you track not only the configuration items (CIs) within your system but also the relations between those items. To view relations between any 2 CIs you should define them first. The relationships can be either direct or inverse.

A relationship in the CMDB consists of two CIs and a relationship type:

• Parent CI
• Child CI
• Type of the relationship that links both CIs

For example, in the [Server1] [Managed by] [Server2] relationship:

• Server1 is the child CI
• Server2 is the parent CI
• [Managed by] is the relationship type

You can create relations, edit relations or delete ones.

Monitor CI relations

From the Configuration Item console, you can create new configuration items and manage them.

To access a Configuration Item console:

1. Open VNCproject.

2. Click Helpdesk on the VNCproject's main menu bar:

   

3. Click CMDB:

   

4. Select Configure CI Relations:

   

The Relation console contains the following fields and functions:

• Filters: Sort existing relations by name or inverse name.
• Relations table: The list of relations.
• New CI relation: Create a new CI relation.
• Sidebar navigation: A sidebar allows users to navigate to a specific piece of CMDB management content.
• Right sidebar arrow: The right sidebar can be hidden by clicking the arrow on its upper right.

• Operations menu: Select the action you want to do and click the corresponding icon:

  • to edit a configuration item.
  • to delete a configuration item.

Create a relation

1. Open VNCproject.

2. Click Helpdesk on the VNCproject's main menu bar:

   

3. Click CMDB:

   

4. Select Configure CI Relations:

   

5. Click the NEW CI RELATION button.

6. On the form, fill in the fields:

   • Name: Enter a meaningful name for the relation.
   • Inverse Name: Type an inverse name.

7. When you're finished, select:

   • CREATE to create a relation.
   • CREATE AND ADD ANOTHER to create a relation and start creating another one.
   • CANCEL to discard the values you entered and cancel the relation creation.

View a relation details page

The relation details page lets you review and take action on a CI relation.

1. Click the CMDB tab.
2. Select Configure CI Relations. This opens the relations list view page.
3. Click the name of the relation to view its details.

This opens the CI relation details page:

Each configuration item contains the following sections:

• Toolbar: A strip а control buttons that let you perform various actions on a relation.
• Title: Shows the name of the CI relation.
• General information: Shows general details of the CI relation such as Name and Inverse Name.

Edit a relation

There are 2 ways to edit a relation:

• From the Relation console;
• From the relation details page.

Way 1. From the Relation console.

1. Open VNCproject.

2. Click Helpdesk on the VNCproject's main menu bar:

   

3. Click CMDB:

   

4. Select Configure CI Relations:

   

5. Use the filter to find a required configuration type. For this click .

6. Click Add filter and select one of the options from the drop-down menu:

   

7. Select one of the options from the 1st drop-down menu and enter the keyword into the 2nd field:

   

8. Once done, click Apply.

9. Click the pencil icon next to the relation you want to edit.
10. Change the relation info.
11. Click Save.

Way 2. From the relation details page.

1. Click the title of the CI relation you want to edit.
2. Click the EDIT button at the top of the page.
3. Once you've changed the CI relation info, click Save.

Delete a relation

1. Open VNCproject.

2. Click CMDB:

   

3. Select Configure CI Relations:

   

4. Use the filter to find a configuration type you want to delete. For this click .

5. Click Add filter and select one of the options from the drop-down menu:

   

6. Select one of the options from the 1st drop-down menu and enter the keyword into the 2nd field:

   

7. Once done, click Apply.

8. Click the rubbish bin icon next to the CI relation you want to delete.
9. Confirm that you want to delete the CI relation, click YES in the modal window.

Sites

Monitor a site

From the Site console, you can create new sites and manage them.

To access a Site console:

1. Open VNCproject.

2. Click Helpdesk on the VNCproject's main menu bar:

   

3. Click CMDB:

   

4. Select Sites:

   

The Sites console contains the following fields and functions:

• Filters: Sort existing sites by name or description.
• Site table: The list of sites.
• New Site: Create a new site.
• Sidebar navigation: A sidebar allows users to navigate to a specific piece of CMDB management content.
• Right sidebar arrow: The right sidebar can be hidden by clicking the arrow on its upper right.

• Operations menu: Select the action you want to do and click the corresponding icon:

  • to edit a configuration item.
  • to delete a configuration item.

Create a configuration type

1. Open VNCproject.

2. Click Helpdesk on the VNCproject's main menu bar:

   

3. Click CMDB:

   

4. Select Sites:

   

5. Click the NEW SITE button.

6. On the form, fill in the fields:

   • Name: Enter a meaningful name for the site.
   • Description: Add a detailed description.

7. When you're finished, select:

   • CREATE to create a site.
   • CREATE AND ADD ANOTHER to create a site and start creating another one.
   • CANCEL to discard the values you entered and cancel the sitecreation.

View a site details page

The site details page lets you review and take action on a site.

1. Click the CMDB tab.
2. Select Sites. This opens the sites list view page.
3. Click the name of the site to view its details.

This opens the site details page:

Each site contains the following sections:

• Toolbar: A strip а control buttons that let you perform various actions on a site.
• Title: Shows the name of the site.
• General information: Shows general details of the site such as Name and Description.

Edit a site

There are 2 ways to edit a site:

• From the Site console;
• From the site details page.

Way 1. From the Site console.

1. Open VNCproject.

2. Click Helpdesk on the VNCproject's main menu bar:

   

3. Click CMDB:

   

4. Select Sites:

   

5. Use the filter to find a required configuration type. For this click .

6. Click Add filter and select one of the options from the drop-down menu:

   

7. Select one of the options from the 1st drop-down menu and enter the keyword into the 2nd field:

   

8. Once done, click Apply.

9. Click the pencil icon next to the site you want to edit.
10. Change the site info.
11. Click Save.

Way 2. From the site details page.

1. Click the title of the site you want to edit.
2. Click the EDIT button at the top of the page.
3. Once you've changed the site info, click Save.

Delete a configuration type

1. Open VNCproject.

2. Click CMDB:

   

3. Select Sites:

   

4. Use the filter to find a configuration type you want to delete. For this click .

5. Click Add filter and select one of the options from the drop-down menu:

   

6. Select one of the options from the 1st drop-down menu and enter the keyword into the 2nd field:

   

7. Once done, click Apply.

8. Click the rubbish bin icon next to the site you want to delete.
9. Confirm that you want to delete the site, click YES in the modal window.

Download CI Report

1. Open VNCproject.

2. Click CMDB:

   

3. Select Download CI Report:

   

4. The report will be downloaded to your device.