Definition

EndDefinition

You can save an image of the graph at any time. This image is called a baseline.

• This snapshot represents an infrastructure or service at a given time in a specific context.
• It provides a reference version when managing change or deploying a release. It facilitates rollback to an initial version in the event of unexpected issues.
   

Definitions

• A CI is an impacting CI when its unavailability leads to the unavailability of another CI.
• A CI is an impacted CI when its unavailability is due to the unavailability of another CI.
   

Benefits of the CMDB graph for the IT Department

• Provide a quick view of the CIs impacted by incidents, service requests and change requests.
• Understand how the failure or unavailability of a CI affects other CIs. In case of unavailability of one or more items, all the unavailability chain will be displayed in red.

   You see that an application is no longer accessible because it is installed on an unavailable server.

• Analyze the impact of an infrastructure modification on the production of services, or the impact of a software version upgrade prior to wide-scale deployment.

    You can identify all CIs affected by the installation of a patch on a server.

• Provide a quick view of CIs whose capacity threshold is exceeded.

Examples

Impact of the unavailability of the Oracle Server CI on other CIs

• Unavailability of the Database Server CI 
• By extension, unavailability of the Payroll Application and Expense Account Application CIs
   

Capacity threshold of the Database Server CI exceeded

• CPU Usage capacity is associated with the CI, with optimum usage thresholds between 10% and 50%.
• An exceeded threshold alert appears in the graph once CPU usage exceeds 50%.

Notes

• Values are displayed in real-time, e.g. number of incidents/requests for the current CI, state of unavailability, exceeded capacity threshold.
• You should specify if the relationship is blocking or non-blocking in the Impacting CIs and Impacted CIs tabs of each CI form.

• You can move a CI in the graph without affecting its relationship with the other CIs.

Best practice

• If you want to compare a current graph with a previous graph, you should save the image in a baseline.
• If you only want to store a snapshot of the display without creating a baseline, you can save it as an image.
• You should start with the display of an existing baseline when organizing your graph.

Characteristics specific to versions 2016 and earlier

The CMDB graph in versions 2016 and earlier is different:

• Graphic interface
• Menu access

You can also view baselines by selecting Extended CMDB > Administration > Baseline in the menu.

Menu access

Asset & Configuration > Configuration Items (CI)

• In List mode:  Next to the CI
• In Form mode:  Next to the Name field

Description of the CMDB graph

The screen is divided into four zones:

• (1) Access to three panes: Exploration, Baseline Analysis (Note: Only if baselines have been saved), List of configuration items
• (2) Toolbar specific to the active pane
• (3) Workspace for displaying information from the active pane

Exploration pane

This pane displays the relationships between a CI and the impacting and impacted CIs at different levels.
         

General description

• : The current CI is surrounded by a large blue circle.
   
•  : The image displayed above the CI name is the one associated with the entry in the CI Catalog.
   
•  : A green circle means that the CI is available. A red circle means that an unavailability has been defined for the CI.
   
•  : The icon displayed at the bottom left of the image indicates the total number of open incidents, service requests or change requests for this CI.
  • This counter will not appear if there are no open tickets.
  • The icon appears in red when one or more incidents are open:
  • The icon appears in blue when only requests are open:
     
•  : The  icon, displayed at the bottom right of the image, indicates that CI capacity is exceeded.
   
• Display of relationships between CIs:
  • Links between CIs are indicated by blue arrows moving from impacting CIs to impacted CIs.
  • The text located in the middle of the arrow states the type of relationship.
  • A solid line indicates a blocking relationship.  
  • A dotted line indicates a non-blocking relationship.   
  • A red link indicates the unavailability of a CI that has an effect on another CI.
             
     
  • The  icons displayed above the CI: Show or hide the relationship of a CI with impacting and impacted CIs. Note: Click  to show or hide the relationships of the CI based on the lowest relationship level selected.

Relationships of the CI are shown		Relationships of the CI are hidden

General operating principles

• Use the mouse wheel to modify the level of zoom applicable to the graph.

• You can move the graph and CIs as follows:
  • Click and drag the current CI  to move the entire graph in the workspace.
  • Double-click the graph to center it on the page.
  • Click and drag a CI to move it in the graph. Note: You can move a CI in the graph without affecting its relationship with the other CIs.
     
• Double-click a CI to define it as the current CI.
  • Based on the lowest relationship level selected in , the relationships with this new CI will automatically appear.
  • Click  to return to the initial CI displayed in the graph.

• Display of CI relationships:
  • Click  to show CI relationships.
  • Click  to hide them.

• Information displayed in the box to the right of the workspace:
  • Click the current CI  to display a summary of the graph.  See the description.
  • Click a CI to display contextual information.  See the description.

Summary of the graph

Access: Click the current CI . Click  to hide the details.

The window will show a summary of the information displayed in the graph:

• Current state: This refers to the CMDB graph at the present time
• Total number of available and unavailable CIs
• Number of relationships between CIs
• Number of unavailable CIs, displayed in a red circle in the graph
• Total number of incidents, service requests and change requests affecting CIs

Toolbar

: List of baselines saved for the current CI.

• When you open the CMDB graph, the list will display the name of the current CI .
• If no baseline was saved, only the graph at the present time will be available (name of the current CI).
• When you select a baseline from the list, the Baseline Analysis pane will appear and display the graph.
   

 : Used to select the number of relationship levels to be displayed for the current CI.

• Click  or  to decrease or increase the number of relationship levels to be displayed.
   

 : Used to save the current version of the graph in a baseline. 

• The date and time will automatically be added to the name of the baseline.
           
   

 : Used to return to the initial CI displayed in the graph.

• The initial CI will become the current CI.
• By default, the number of relationship levels displayed is two.
   

 : Used to cancel all modifications made to the graph and return to the initial display.

 (Note: Only if baselines have been saved): Used to display a comparison of two baselines with the list of added, deleted and unchanged CIs.
         

 : Used to print the CMDB graph as displayed in the workspace.

 : Used to save the CMDB graph as displayed in the workspace in a PNG file.

• The name of the file will be Graph.png.
• If there is already a file with this name, the name of the new file will be Graph (1).png.

Contextual information for a CI

Access: Click a CI displayed in the graph. Click the workspace to hide the details.

The window will display contextual information for the selected CI.

• Information on the state of availability of the CI
  •  A green circle means that the CI is available.
  •  A red circle means that the CI is unavailable. The words ! CI unavailable will appear below the name.

• Information on exceeded thresholds
  • The words ! The capacities of this CI have been reached ! will appear below the name.

• Information on open tickets
  •   Number of incidents, service requests and change requests affecting the CI. Note: The icon is grayed out if the CI is not affected by one of the types of ticket.
  • Click one of the icons to display the list of tickets.
  • Each tab shows the main information on each ticket, e.g. ticket number, name of requestor, current status of the ticket, target resolution date, and description.
             

• List of all relationships with impacting and impacted CIs
  
  • A solid line indicates a blocking relationship.
  • A dotted line indicates a non-blocking relationship.   
  • Move the cursor over a CI to display its name.
  • Click the CI image to see its contextual information.
     

• Display Form: Used to open the form of the CI.

Baseline Analysis pane

Note: Available only if baselines have been saved.

This pane is used to display baselines and perform comparisons with another baseline or with the current graph.
         

Notes

• The operating principles and the information displayed are identical to the Exploration pane.
• The baseline is a snapshot of the CMDB at a given time in the past. You can no longer modify the number of relationship levels.
• Click  to delete a baseline.

List of configuration items

This pane displays the entire list of CIs managed in the CMDB.

Toolbar

• Icons for browsing through pages in the list of CIs.
• Field used to search for CIs using the name.
   

 next to each CI: Used to display the CMDB graph for the selected CI.

Procedure: How to use the CMDB graph

Step 1: Display the CMDB graph.

1. Select Asset & Configuration > Configuration Items (CI) in the menu.

2. Display the graph.

• In List mode: Click  next to the relevant CI.
• In Form mode: Click  below the Name field.

Step 2: Define the layout of the graph.

1. Select the number of relationship levels to be displayed using .

2. To move a CI, click and drag it to the spot you want.
Its links with other CIs will automatically be moved.

Hide CI relationships

• Click  above the name of the CI.
• Click  to display them again.
   

Step 3 (optional): Change the current CI

1. Select the new CI.

• Double-click the CI from the workspace of the Exploration pane.
  or
• Open the List of configuration items.
• Click  next to the CI.

The CMDB graph will be displayed for the selected CI.

2. Click  to return to the initial CI displayed in the graph.
 

Step 4 (optional): View contextual information for a CI.

1. Click the CI.
The information box will appear to the right of the workspace.  See the description.
         

2. View open tickets for the CI via dedicated icons.

•  : Number of incidents 
• : Number of service requests 
• : Number of change requests
   

3. Display the details of the CI by clicking Display Form.
 

Step 5 (optional): Save the graph in a baseline.

1. Click .

2. Enter a name and description for the baseline.

3. Click Save Baseline.

Delete a baseline

• Click .
   

Step 6 (optional): Compare two baselines.

1. Click  in the Exploration pane or in the Baseline Analysis pane.

2. Select the two baselines you want to compare from the lists.

3. Click Comparison.
The report will show the differences between the two baselines.