Open Source CMDB
A configuration management database (CMDB) is a collection of information on the parts that make up an information system. Similar programs have been used by companies’ IT departments for several years, but what makes CMDBs different is that they are put forth by the Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL), the largest and most widely accepted framework for best practices in IT management.
According to the ITIL, a CMBD is a representation of acceptable configurations for each component in the IT environment. Its main purpose is to help companies better understand how these components work together, and allow them to monitor each component for quality and performance.
There are many CMDB programs in the market, but most are costly due to their highly specialized nature. They also tend to be complicated and require an expert, usually from the publisher itself, to provide on-site support and customize the program to the organization’s needs. This adds further to the cost, making CMDBs too costly especially for small and startup businesses. A good alternative for such businesses is an open source CMDB—one that’s created by a public community of developers rather than a single firm. This not only makes it cheaper, but allows for more accessible support.
One of the more popular open source CMDBs is Itop, short for IT Operations Portal. Besides a fully customizable CMDB, it offers a variety of web services and import tools that make it easy to integrate the program into your IT system. It also includes tools for document management, various management modules, error database, a helpdesk system, and a simple dashboard interface that provides a quick summary of the system.
Another excellent free CMDB is OneCMDB, designed mostly for small and medium businesses. Although it can be used on its own to monitor software and hardware, it can also be used in configuration management and related tasks. You can import data from existing sources or input them by hand, and uses a custom data model that can be tweaked without using code.
CMDB.info is a fairly popular resource for IT managers. Although it doesn’t have a product of its own, it offers free expert advice on using CMDBs from theoretical concepts to practical use. They also provide solutions for common problems specific to large and small businesses. The pages are updated regularly, so you can be sure the tips are all up to date and take into account the newest developments.
