Configuration item (CI) types

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Introduction

The SolarWinds Service Desk (SWSD) CMDB data model has a parent/child hierarchy and provides out-of-the-box CIs. You can also create additional custom CI types to ensure your data model accurately reflects your physical and virtual IT infrastructure. You first define your CIs, then use the SWSD CMDB data model to assist you in defining the relationships and dependencies of your CIs.

The CMDB data model is built so that each CI type inherits the layout and fields of its parent CI type. This allows for time efficient customization of the data model to meet each organization's business needs. For example, when you add a custom field to the System CI type layout, that field will display on all of its child layouts as well, such as computer, network device, and router.

Navigation

Setup > CMDB > CI Types.

List of CI types

The list below contains the common components used across most organizations.

CI Type Name	Parent CI Type
Configuration Item
Application	Configuration Item
Building	Configuration Item
Contract	Configuration Item
Data Center	Configuration Item
Database	Configuration Item
Group	Configuration Item
Legacy	Configuration Item
Other Asset	Configuration Item
Person	Configuration Item
Service	Configuration Item
Software	Configuration Item
System	Configuration Item
Vendor	Configuration Item

View CI types

Navigate to Setup > CMDB > CI Types. The Configuration Item Types index page displays. (For more information on index pages, see List view.)

Your Custom CI types are stored in Legacy.

You can also see CI hierarchy on this page. CIs types with a chevron to the left have at least one child CI type. Click on the CI type to expand the list of child CI types.

Create a new CI type

1. Navigate to Setup > CMDB > CI Types.

2. Hover over the appropriate parent CI type until you see three buttons.

   • If you are adding a new CI type at the parent level, hover over Configuration Item.

     

   • If you are adding a new service, hover over Service to add a child.

     

3. Click Add .

4. Name the new CI type, add an optional description, select Enabled, and then click Next. SWSD creates the new CI type and adds it to the bottom of the list.

Edit an existing CI type

Hover over the CI type and click Edit . In the open CI type, any fields with a grey background are out-of-the-box and cannot be altered. Custom fields that you created contain a white background and can be modified to meet your needs.

You can then:

• Edit the name and description of your CI type

• Add custom fields

• Edit the CI type layout by hovering over the CI type and selecting the appropriate icon:

  • Add a custom field via drag-and-drop from the custom fields pane on the right.

  • Remove custom fields via the trash icon.

  • Change custom fields to be mandatory or optional.

  • Move a custom field directly from the layout to another CI type.

    

Disable, move, and/or remove a CI type and its branch

There are additional actions you can take to customize your CMDB by hovering over a CI type.

You can adjust the data model to meet your needs. If you currently don't want a specific device type, you can disable that type until the time that you need it.

• Disable. Disable a specific CI type and prevent users from creating instances of that type.

• Disable all. Disable a CI type and all of its child types and prevent users from creating instances of these types.

Out-of-the-box CI types cannot be moved or removed; however, there are additional options for custom CI types you created.

For example:

• Remove. Delete a CI type from the hierarchy.

  This action cannot be undone. If data is associated with the CI type you wish to delete, you will be prompted to first delete the data. You can only delete a CI type if associated data has been deleted.
• Move. Move a CI type and its children across the hierarchy. In order to move a CI type, you will be prompted to select a new parent.
  • When moving a CI type in the hierarchy, the CI type will inherit its layout from the new parent. For example, if you move the CI type computer from System to Other Asset, the data will be maintained but the custom fields specific to the System hierarchy will no longer be reflected. Therefore, you must manually move any additional fields.
  • Moving CI types across the hierarchy does not delete any field.

Related topics

• Setup: CMDB
• CI Dependencies