Methods and apparatus for authentication of configuration items via configuration item change analysis

a technology of configuration items and authentication methods, applied in the field of information technology (it) systems, can solve problems such as inability to understand without, create an unmanageable number of entities,

Inactive Publication Date: 2014-06-12
INT BUSINESS MASCH CORP
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This approach enables efficient authentication and management of CI lifecycle states by identifying authorized changes and maintaining an accurate record of CI states, ensuring accountability for significant changes and reducing the need to analyze extensive change histories.

Problems solved by technology

Large and complex IT service management environments that provide multiple services to a plurality of customers can create an unmanageable number of entities.
Therefore in looking at the current state of a CI, the administrator, or user of the CMDB, will be unaware of the correct authorized state of the CMDB, and unable to understand it without analyzing all changes since the inception of the CI.

Method used

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  • Methods and apparatus for authentication of configuration items via configuration item change analysis
  • Methods and apparatus for authentication of configuration items via configuration item change analysis
  • Methods and apparatus for authentication of configuration items via configuration item change analysis

Examples

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Embodiment Construction

[0015]As will be described in detail below, the embodiments of the present invention introduce techniques for authenticating lifecycle state transitions of CIs in a CMDB. A CI may be augmented with properties so that it is possible to review the change history from a marker position and identify the authorized variance report data generated from just this portion of the change history. A CI audit is the process of verifying changes made to a CI. Changes that are made to a CI as a result of a RFC are considered authorized changes in accordance with best practice.

[0016]Referring initially to FIG. 1, a lifecycle state diagram illustrates available states for a CI and permissible lifecycle state transitions, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The lifecycle state of a CI is the span of time that begins when the CI is created and ends when it is no longer available for use. The lifecycle state of a CI is stored in the CMDB as a CI attribute and may be one of the followin...

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PUM

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Abstract

A method comprises retrieving a change history for each of one or more configuration items for a specified time period, retrieving requests for change identifiers utilized for each of the configuration items in the specified time period, generating an audit report for the configuration items in accordance with the retrieved change history and the retrieve request for change identifiers, determining if each attribute value change in the change history of each of the configuration items is authorized, and recording a marker in the change history through which a given configuration item has authorized changes. Determining if each value change is authorized comprises comparing changes in the retrieved change history to the retrieved request for change identifiers for each of the configuration items to distinguish value changes that occurred without a request for change from value changes that occurred with a request for change.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 679,996, filed on Feb. 28, 2007, the disclosure of which is fully incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to information technology (IT) systems and, more particularly, methods and apparatus for providing authentication of configuration items (CIs) in a configuration management database (CMDB) through an analysis of CI changes and associated requests for change (RFCs).BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Large and complex IT service management environments that provide multiple services to a plurality of customers can create an unmanageable number of entities. It is best practice to make use of a logically centralized repository for the storage and access of the data, commonly referred to as a CMDB. The configuration data stored in this CMDB includes a representation of managed resources; such a representation is called ...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & AuthorityApplications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): G06F9/44
CPCG06F8/71
InventorAIKENS, GLENN C.BUCO, MELISSA JANESURENDRA, MAHESWARANWARD, CHRISTOPHERWEINBERGER, STEVEYANG, SAM SHIXIONG
OwnerINT BUSINESS MASCH CORP