Configuration Item Merging for CMDB Data Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Configuration management databases (CMDBs) face inefficiencies due to the proliferation of redundant configuration items (CIs) over time, leading to slower access and inaccurate system representation, as components change and attributes drift, causing multiple CIs to represent the same or non-existent entities.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that determines associations between CIs using predetermined criteria, merging CIs that represent the same entity and flagging or removing CIs that represent non-existent entities, thereby maintaining an accurate and efficient CMDB by executing merge and ignore instructions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If configuration items are continuously added to the CMDB as system components change, then the CMDB maintains comprehensive system information, but redundant CIs accumulate leading to slower access and inaccurate representation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies merging by consolidating multiple CIs that represent the same entity into a single CI record. The system detects redundant CIs through association analysis and merges them, eliminating duplicates while preserving all unique attributes. This resolves the contradiction by reducing CI proliferation (worsening feature) while maintaining comprehensive system information (improving feature), thereby improving data accuracy and access efficiency.
2Loss of information
If multiple CIs represent the same entity due to system drift, then the CMDB captures all attribute variations, but access speed decreases and data integrity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges CIs that represent the same entity by detecting associations between them through attribute comparison and graph analysis. By consolidating redundant CIs into single representative records, the system reduces the number of database queries needed for system representation, thereby improving access speed while maintaining complete information through attribute inheritance and consolidation.
3Productivity
If CIs are merged based on associations, then redundant entries are reduced improving efficiency, but false merges may occur reducing precision
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs feedback mechanisms through iterative association analysis and confidence scoring. The graph-based detection algorithm continuously evaluates CI relationships, adjusts association thresholds based on detected patterns, and refines merge decisions through feedback loops. This ensures high-precision merging by validating associations against multiple criteria before consolidation, preventing false merges while maintaining processing efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques that determine whether each configuration item in a plurality of configuration items is associated with every other configuration item therein. If each configuration item in the plurality of configuration items is associated with every other configuration item therein, the plurality of configuration items are merged such that each attribute associated therewith is associated with one configuration item. If each configuration item in the plurality of configuration items is not associated with every other configuration item therein, it is determined whether at least one configuration item may be ignored.