Creating a Configuration Management System (CMS) process

This recipe provides steps for creating a Configuration Management System process.

Getting ready

This recipe is focused on a Configuration Management System (CMS) process using SCSM. The CMS process differs from a Configuration Management Database (CMDB). A CMS combines one or more CMDBs. SCSM implements a CMS within its CMDB by merging data from multiple CMDBs including the following:

• Active directory (AD)
• System Center Configuration Manager (ConfigMgr)
• System Center Operations Manager (OpsMgr)

This recipe is focused on how you create a CMS process with SCSM using AD, ConfigMgr, and OpsMgr.

How to do it...

An example of the steps for creating a CMS process is as follows:

1. Plan to agree and document the organization configuration management policy.
2. Document the operational process to support the configuration management policy.
3. Create and assign people roles to manage the process.
4. Install and configure the CMDB systems in scope (in this example, AD, ConfigMgr, and OpsMgr).
5. Add the AD capable assets to the AD CMDB.
6. Discover the AD joined assets with ConfigMgr and deploy the ConfigMgr agent.
7. Discover the AD joined assets with OpsMgr and deploy the OpsMgr agent.
8. Configure the AD connector for SCSM and synchronize the data from AD with SCSM.
9. Configure the ConfigMgr connector and synchronize the data from ConfigMgr with SCSM.
10. Configure the OpsMgr connector and synchronize the data from OpsMgr with SCSM.
11. The CMS example structure is shown in the following figure:
    

How it works...

SCSM addresses the technology requirements of a CMS process by providing a simplified and consistent framework for connecting multiple CMDBs. In the example, the three CMDBs provide information, which SCSM merges to provide a single view of the asset. Using a database server as our asset, here's an example:

• AD provides the computer details and information registered in the AD CMDB
• ConfigMgr provides information on the hardware and software of the asset (for example, 64-bit operating system with Microsoft SQL Server 2014)
• OpsMgr provides information on what databases are installed on the computer

SCSM presents a consolidated view of this information to the analyst and is dynamically refreshed by the owner of the data.

SCSM builds the ITIL© process on its CMDB, which is a dynamic CMS. The CMS approach ensures that the data accuracy and management is performed at the source (AD, ConfigMgr, OpsMgr, or another supported connector). This approach removes the risk of data inconsistency typical of other systems where the IT Service Management (ITSM) tool does not automatically synchronize with CMDBs in scope.

See also

• The Importing Active Directory configuration items recipe in Chapter 4, Building the Configuration Management Database (CMDB)
• The Importing Configuration Manager configuration items recipe in Chapter 4, Building the Configuration Management Database (CMDB)
• The Importing Operations Manager configuration items recipe in Chapter 4, Building the Configuration Management Database (CMDB)