Configuration Management workflow and user tasks

The Configuration Management process ensures that selected components of a complete IT service, system, or product (the configuration item) are identified, baselined, and maintained and those changes to them are controlled. It provides a configuration model of the services, assets, and infrastructure by recording the relationships between service assets and configuration items (CIs). It also ensures that releases into controlled environments and operational use are completed on the basis of formal approvals. It provides a configuration model of the services, assets, and infrastructure by recording the relationships between service assets and CIs.

The Configuration Management module is based on Process Designer. By default, the module uses the Configuration Item workflow.

Search for	Example	Results
A single word	`cat`	Topics that contain the word "cat". You will also find its grammatical variations, such as "cats".
A phrase. You can specify that the search results contain a specific phrase.	`"cat food"` (quotation marks)	Topics that contain the literal phrase "cat food" and all its grammatical variations. Without the quotation marks, the query is equivalent to specifying an OR operator, which finds topics with one of the individual words instead of the phrase.

Search for	Operator	Example
Two or more words in the same topic	`AND` `and` `+` (plus symbol) `&` (ampersand)	`cat AND dog` `"cat food"+milk` `"cat food"&"dog food"`
Either word in a topic	`OR` `or` `\|` (pipe)	`cat OR dog` `cat \| dog`
Topics that do not contain a specific word or phrase	`NOT` `not` `!` (exclamation point)	`NOT cat` `! dog`
Topics that contain one string and do not contain another	`^` (caret)	`cat ^ mouse`
A combination of search types	`( )` parentheses	`cat + (dog \| mouse)` `cat \| dog + (! mouse)`

Note Although you can create multiple Configuration Management workflows, Configuration Management supports the use of only one Process Designer workflow at the same time.

The workflow phase of a record following the Configuration Item workflow is determined by the record's status.

Status	Phase
Available	Active
In Use
In Stock
Awaiting Receipt
Planned/On Order
Received
Reserved
Installed
Missing	Inactive
Return for Maintenance
Return to Supplier
Retired/Consumed

Status

Phase

Available

Active

In Use

In Stock

Awaiting Receipt

Planned/On Order

Received

Reserved

Installed

Missing

Inactive

Return for Maintenance

Return to Supplier

Retired/Consumed

The following table illustrates what tasks can be performed in each in Configuration Item workflow phase.

Workflows phase	Common tasks
Active	Evaluate the need for a Configuration Management System (CMS) data model update Update Configuration Management policies Create a new configuration item (CI) type Modify a configuration item (CI) type Delete a configuration item (CI) type Validate a configuration creation change task Create a new model Create a new configuration item (CI) Modify a configuration item Plan CI relationship changes from a change record Review a modification to a configuration item Create a new configuration report Conduct a configuration audit Validate data sets Add a master data record Update a master data record Delete a master data record Check related configurations
Inactive	N/A

Workflows phase

Common tasks

Active