Weighted Configuration Reconciliation for CMDB Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Configuration Management Databases (CMDBs) struggle to maintain synchronization across multiple point products and tools, leading to inaccurate and incomplete records of configurable systems, as changes in hardware, software, and relationships are not consistently updated or notified, resulting in discrepancies and incompatibilities between CMDB systems.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that receive configuration data sets from multiple sources, assign weight values using weighting rules and preferences, create a new configuration data set by selecting elements with higher weights, and update the CMDB entry with confidence factors to resolve discrepancies and generate human-readable reports, ensuring accurate and reliable configuration information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple CMDB tools and point products are used to manage configuration information, then the system can handle diverse technologies and products, but the records become inaccurate and inconsistent across different CMDB systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a mediation process that receives configuration data from multiple CMDB tools and point products, compares the records, and produces reconciled configuration information. This intermediary mechanism resolves conflicts and inconsistencies between different CMDB systems, ensuring accurate records while maintaining the ability to manage diverse technologies through multiple sources.
2Productivity
If configuration changes are not consistently updated or notified across systems, then system operations can proceed independently, but synchronization between CMDB records and real-world systems deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where configuration changes detected in point products or CMDB tools are systematically communicated back to other systems. Change notification processes ensure that when a configuration change occurs in one system, other CMDB tools receive updated information, maintaining synchronization without requiring continuous independent updates from all systems.
3Reliability
If manual verification of configuration accuracy is performed, then record accuracy can be improved, but the time required for verification increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables configuration management systems to self-verify their own accuracy through automated comparison processes. The system automatically compares configuration records across multiple CMDB tools and point products, detects inconsistencies, and generates reconciled records without requiring manual verification. This self-service approach maintains high accuracy while significantly reducing the time that would otherwise be required for manual checking.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system, method, and medium for providing configurable item configuration data by receiving a plurality of configuration data sets from a plurality of sources, all which pertain to the same configurable item (CI), then using weighting rules and preferences to assign weight values for each option, feature, and component in each report according to discrepancies and commonalities between the data sets, creating a new data set for the configurable item by selecting options, features, and components having the greatest weight values among all of the data sets, assigning confidence factors to each option, feature, and component by weight comparisons between the plurality of data sets; updating a configuration management database entry for the configurable item accordingly. The confidence factors are useful for inhibiting regulated processes, such as software release processes and change control processes, and for generating human-readable configuration reports indicating confidence levels of the reports and their contents.