Understanding Configuration Management System (CMS) and Configuration Management Database (CMDB) – Part 3

Supplier Management is the ITIL V3 process responsible for defining and maintaining the Supplier and Contracts Database (SCD), which is a database or structured Document used to manage supplier contracts throughout their lifecycle. The SCD contains key attributes of all contracts with suppliers, and should be part of the Configuration Management System (CMS), which is a subset of the overall Service Knowledge Management System (SKMS).

As mentioned in my previous post, a CMDB is a database within a CMS. At the data level, the Configuration Management System (CMS) may take data from several physical CMDBs, which together constitute a federated CMDB. Other data sources will also plug into the CMS such as the definitive media libraries (DML).

Ideally, a SCD (Supplier and Contracts Database) which stores information on supplier and contracts used in service management is also a database within the CMS. Relationship information between a Service to Suppliers of outsourced or externally supported components that supports that specific Service should be defined and captured in the CMS. In addition, the relationships between the Service, any Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and Underpinning Contracts (UCs) linked to that Service ought to be captured as well. These information forms part of the Logical Configuration Model of that Service. Using this Logical Configuration Model, any Service Management staff can easily trace the components used to support the Service, related SLAs and contracts and also finds information about the related suppliers.

Be careful of the inconsistency in the naming of the terms. A “gotcha” if you are taking the ITIL examinations. There is no “Supplier Management Information System” or SMIS, unlike the new ITIL V3 terms Availability Management Information System (AMIS) or Capacity Management Information System (CMIS) which are information systems used to support Availability Management and Capacity Management respectively. The information system to support Supplier Management is simply called SCD (like the old ITIL V2 Availability Database or ADB and Capacity Database or CDB). By the way, there is a SMIS in ITIL V3 but it stands for Security Management Information System.

Understanding Configuration Management System (CMS) and Configuration Management Database (CMDB) – Part 2

Is the Service Portfolio and Service Catalogue part of the Configuration Management System (CMS) in ITIL V3? Yes.

We can and should define a “Service” as a configuration item (CI) and build a logical configuration model  for the Service, i.e. linking the “Service” CI to the other components or CIs that supports the Service. Such logical configuration models are useful when handling incidents, solving problems, assessing impact of changes or developing a cost model for a service.

Services are described using specification sheets (Service Specifications) and forms part of the Service Catalogue and Service Portfolio. Hence, the Service Specifications, Service Catalogue and Service Portfolio should be registered as controlled documents, subject to the Change Management process, and hence defined as CIs within the Configuration Management System (CMS).

In actual implementation, the Service Catalogue may take the form of a matrix, table or spreadsheet. Some may even document their services in an intranet and present it in the form of web pages, with drill down capability to show greater details as required. The Service Catalogue can be viewed as a "database”, which forms part of a federated CMDB, containing detailed information and attributes of the Services and has linkages or relationships with other physical CMDBs within the CMS.

Announcement on ITIL V2 withdrawal

ITIL has formally announced the dates for the withdrawal of ITIL V2 certification. More details can be found in the link below:

http://www.exin-exams.com/content/news/ogc-announces-timeline-for-withdrawal-of-itil-v2.aspx

For those hoping to pursue the ITIL Expert certification via the V2 Manager route, note that the V2 Manager certification examinations will be withdrawn on 31 August 2010 and the V2 to V3 Manager Bridge will be withdrawn on 30 June 2011.

All of the above will be available for re-sits until 30 June 2011.

Do sign up for the next ITIL V2 Manager and V2 to V3 Bridge courses before it is too late.