Configuration Item Types (CI Types)

This section is common to all the editions of IT360 - Professional Edition, Enterprise Edition (Central only) and MSP Edition (Central only).

Configuration Item Types (CI Types) denote the broad classification of different entities, under which, the Configuration Items (CIs) are categorized. Any organization specific entity can be considered as a CI Type, such as Business Services, Workstations, Servers, Documents and even the People working for your organization.

Each CI Type can be defined with specific Attributes and Relationships that are unique for the CIs classified under them.

In case your CI Type structure is granulated and possess various types, then you can further drill it down to Sub Types. For instance, the CI Type-Server may possess various sub types such as File Server, Application Server, Database Servers and so on.  

Steps to Access Configuration Item Types List view

1. Log in to the ManageEngine IT360 application using your user name and password. Click the Servicedesk tab.

2. Click the Admin tab in the header pane.

3. Under Asset Management, click Configuration Item Types. The Configuration Wizard is displayed.

From this page, you can:

• Add CI Types
• Create new CIs for a CI Type
• View CIs under a CI Type
• View the relationship map with the default relationship attributes

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 Representation of Icons in the CI Type List View

•  - To create a new CI under a CI Type. Clicking this icon takes you to the Add New CI form.

•  - To view CIs under a CI Type.

•  - To view the relationship map for a CI Type. The relationship map holds the default relationships configured for the CI Type.

Adding CI Type

To add CI Type from the Configuration Wizard page:

1. Click Add New CI Type link. The Add New CI Type form pops-up.

2. Enter a Name for the CI Type. For example, Workstations, Business Services, Department. This field is mandatory.

3. If the structure of the CI Type is granulated, then you can further drill it into Sub Types. For instance, the CI Type-Workstation can be further drilled down into Sub Types like IBM Workstation, Unix Workstation and Windows Workstations.
   
   If the entered CI Type name is a sub type, then select the Parent Type from the drop down.  

4. Enter brief Description about the CI Type in the field provided.

5. Click Save button.

The page navigates to the Edit Configuration Item Type with the CI Type name, Parent Type and Description pre-populated with the specified values.  

6. Choose an Icon to depict this CI Type in the list view. By default, an icon is uploaded for the CI Type. To upload a different icon, click Change link. Click Browse to select the image and click Import Image button.

Note: The support formats to import images are jpg, gif and png.

7. Most of the CIs populated in the CMDB may be assets or components, such as Workstations, Servers, Access Points, Keyboards and so on. These CIs can be tracked as assets in the asset database.

To track CIs under a CI Type as an IT or Non-IT assets/components in the Asset module, enable Track as asset check box. Select the Category and asset Type from the drop down.

Note: The Track as asset option is available only for the parent CI Type.

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Attributes

Attributes are data elements that describe the characteristics of the CI Type. For instance, the attributes for the CI Type-Workstation could include Model, Service Tag, IP Address, Processor Speed and so on. By default, the form displays the Attributes tab.

Setting Attributes for CI Type

You can set two types of attributes for a CI Type namely, Default Attributes and Attributes Specific to CI Type. Default Attributes are common to all the CI Types, such as Name, Site, Department and so on. To add a default attribute, click Edit button. [Refer Using Drag and Drop Fields topic to know more on configuring default attributes].

CI Type Specific Attributes provide more information on a particular CI Type. The attributes for the CI Type-Workstation can be considered as the attributes specific to the CI Type. The attributes, default attributes and CI Type specific attributes, are configured using the Drag and Drop fields.

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Using the Drag and Drop Fields

The Drag and Drop Field section consists of different customizable fields such as, Single line, Multi line, Pick List, Numeric and Date fields. Apart from these customized fields, System Attributes (entities configured in the Admin tab or data fetched during scan) can also be set as attributes for the CI Type.

Adding System Attributes

1. Drag the System Attribute field in the form. The System Attributes form opens.

2. Choose the System Attributes from the drop down. You can enter a different name for the system attribute in Label Name field.

2. Click  icon to add another system attribute.

3. Click Add button to add the system attribute(s) in the form.

4. Click Save.

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Adding Customizing Fields

To add the other customized fields:

1. Drag and drop the field (Single Line, Multi Line, Pick List, Numeric or Date field) in the CI Type attribute form.

2. The Add Attribute form pops up where you need to enter the Attribute Name and Description. In the case of Pick List fields, enter the options to add to the list.

3. Click Save. The customizable field is added in the form.

You can re-arrange fields in the form by dragging the fields and placing it over the highlighted area.

Note:

1. Newly added Product Type with Type field as Assets or Components will be considered as CI Type and populated automatically in the CI Type List view.
2. You cannot create a sub type for the CI Type - People. Instead you can create sub types for Requesters and Technicians.
3. The sub types inherit the Attributes and Relationships from the parent CI Type. Apart from this, attributes and relationships can also be configured for sub type.

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Editing CI Attributes

To edit a customized attribute:

1. Click the Edit icon  beside the field to modify. The Edit Attribute form pops up with the values pre-filled while adding the attribute.

2. Modify the Attribute Name and Description fields.

3. Click Save. The form is populated with the newly added changes.

Deleting CI Attributes

You can remove unwanted attributes from the CI Type form. To delete a customized attribute:

1. Click the Delete icon  beside the field. A dialog box confirming the delete operation appears.  

2. Click OK to proceed. The field is removed from the form and is added to system attributes list.

WARNING: Deleting a CI Type attribute will remove the attribute from the form. You may lose the data configured for the attribute in the CI form.

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Setting Default Relationships

You can establish default relationships between the newly added CI Type and other CI Types from the Relationships tab. For instance, the relationship set for the CI Type Workstation can be,

     Workstation                         Runs                               Software

(Newly added CI Type)        (Relationship Type)                    (CI Type)

the inverse of this relationship type will be automatically added for CI Type - Software as;

Software                               Runs on                          Workstation

(CI Type)                            (Relationship Type)                  (CI Type)

Setting default relationships provides feasibility while adding relationship between the CIs categorized under the CI Type. For a sub type, the parent CI Type relationships are adapted, apart from which new relationships can also be created. Using the Relationship Map, the relationship configured with other CI Types can be viewed, and the map can be exported or printed.

Adding Relationships

To establish a relationship between two CI Types:

1. Click Relationships tab in Edit Configuration Item Type form.

2. Click Add button. The Add Relationship form pops up.

3. Select the nature of the relationship between the CI Type and another CI Types from Relationship Type drop down.

4. Select the CI Type to which the relationship is established. Both the Relationship Type and CI Type are mandatory fields.

5. Click Save. The attributes associated to the relationship can be set.

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Adding Relationship Attributes

Relationship Attributes provides more information on the relationship between the CI Types. For instance, the relationship attributes between the CI Type Workstation and Software can be, the Version of the software installed, the Installation path, Installed on, service pack details and so on.

To add relationship attributes:

1. Click Add Relationship Attribute button.

2. Enter the Attribute Name, Say, Version Installed.

3. Select the Field Type from the drop-down. The field type can be either Single Line, Multi Line, Pick List, Numeric or date field.

4. Enter brief Description about the relationship attribute in the field provided.

5. Click Save. The attribute is added to the relationship attribute list.  

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Deleting Relationship Attributes

1. Enable the check box beside the Attribute Name in the Add Relationship form.

2. Click Delete button. A dialog box confirming the delete operation appears.

3. Click OK to proceed. The relationship attribute is deleted from the list.

Relationship Map

The default relationships configured with other CI Types are viewed in the Relationship Map. Click Relationship Map icon  to view the map.

Editing Default Relationships

To edit a CI Type relationship:

1. Click the edit icon beside the CI Type relationship to edit. The Edit Relationship Type form pops up pre-filled with values configured while adding the relationship.

2. Modify the Relationship Type and CI Type. Both the fields are mandatory.

3. Even while editing, you can add new relationship attributes or edit the existing relationship attributes by clicking on the Attribute Name link.

4. Click Save.

Deleting Default Relationships

To delete a CI Type relationship:

1. Click the delete icon  beside the CI Type relationship. A dialog box confirming the delete operation appears.

2. Click OK to proceed. The relationship is deleted from the CI Type relationship list.

WARNING: Deleting a CI Type relationship will remove the relationship from the relationship map.

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