CMDB Policy Propagation via Type Descriptors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current configuration management databases (CMDBs) lack an efficient method for policy propagation and association with configuration items, leading to incomplete governance and automation of resource management.
Innovation Solution
The method involves associating policies with configuration items in a CMDB using an 'applies to' field and a type descriptor, creating relationships between configuration items, and applying policies based on these fields to ensure accurate policy propagation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If policies are manually associated with each configuration item, then policy application accuracy is improved, but time consumption and operational complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining policy templates with type descriptors and 'applies to' fields before configuration items are created. When configuration items are added to the CMDB, the system automatically matches them against existing policy templates based on their types and relationships, eliminating the need for manual policy association and significantly reducing time consumption while maintaining accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by implementing automatic policy propagation mechanisms that autonomously associate policies with configuration items based on predefined rules. The CMDB automatically traverses relationships between configuration items and applies relevant policies without human intervention, allowing the system to serve itself in maintaining policy compliance.
2Reliability
If comprehensive policy coverage is achieved through manual association, then governance completeness is improved, but device complexity and operational difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements universality by creating a single policy template that can serve multiple configuration items across different types and relationships. A policy with a type descriptor and 'applies to' field can be automatically propagated to any configuration item that matches the criteria, eliminating the need for separate manual associations and reducing operational complexity while maintaining comprehensive coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary mechanism in the form of policy templates with type descriptors that act as mediators between policy definitions and configuration items. These templates automatically match and propagate policies to relevant configuration items based on their types and relationships, simplifying the complex task of comprehensive policy coverage.
3Extent of automation
If policy propagation is automated without type descriptors, then automation extent is improved, but policy application accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by introducing type descriptors and 'applies to' fields as key parameters in policy templates. These parameters define specific characteristics that automated propagation mechanisms use to accurately match policies with configuration items. The automation maintains high accuracy because it operates based on these precise parameter matching rules rather than generic automation.
Data Source
AI summary
A configuration management database (CMDB) that associates a policy with a configuration item (CI) in the CMDB. The policy contains an “applies to” field and a “type descriptor”. When a relationship is created between the CI and a second CI in the CMDB, the policy is associated with the second CI. The type descriptor of the policy may be evaluated and the policy associated with the second CI in response to the evaluation. The policy may contain a type descriptor comprising an instance of a CI type. The policy may contain a type descriptor comprising a CI type. The policy may contain an “applies to” field having a value of “this CI type”. The policy may contain an “applies to” field having a value of “hosting environment of this CI type”. The type descriptor may include a hosted CI component portion and a hosting CI component portion.