Roles > Recommended Skill Sets for UCMDB/UD/CMS Administrators

Recommended Skill Sets for UCMDB/UD/CMS Administrators

The recommended skills sets are intended to aid organizations in the selection process for candidates for the roles listed above. This section should be utilized to map general discipline, background and prerequisite competencies, rather than tool (UCMDB) specific skills. For each role, the corresponding skill areas and skill sets are listed below, organized as follows. For example, all roles will require an understanding of the UCMDB and basic communications skills.

ClosedUCMDB/UD/CMS Administrator

The UCMDB/CMS Administrator is a technical IT position, requiring a standard combination of server, networking, database, and application support skills. The focus with the UCMDB/CMS Administrator is maintaining performance and availability of the UCMDB server, and ensuring the UCMDB architecture is deployed as designed, and documented as required (see UCMDB/CMS Administrator). The major skill levels and areas required for the UCMDB Administrator are:

Skill Area

  • Skill level (basic or advanced) and specific skill sets

UCMDB/UD

  • UCMDB/UD GUI
  • CI Type Manager / UCMDB TQL (Topology Query Language)
  • UCMDB views and reports

  • UCMDB Infrastructure Settings

  • User, Roles, Security Manager

  • Enrichment Manager

  • CMDB and CMS concepts

Server

  • Basic Windows administration skills including domain configuration and networking
  • Basic understanding of UNIX platforms, shells and scripting
  • Basic understanding of VMware topology and resource configuration

Networking and Security

  • Understanding of TCP/IP networks and OSI layers
  • Basic knowledge of network devices such as switches and routers
  • Basic understanding of firewalls and DMZs
  • Basic understanding of various networking and security protocols
  • Understanding of user authentication, LDAP and SSO

Windows

  • Basic Windows administration skills
  • Windows domains
  • NETBIOS/drive mapping /Windows networking, and connectivity

UNIX

  • Basic understanding of UNIX OS and concepts
  • UNIX shells and scripting
  • UNIX file systems
  • UNIX networking concepts

Database

  • Basic Microsoft SQL and/or Oracle knowledge
  • Basic SQL knowledge: SQLPlus for Oracle, Enterprise Manager for MSSQL
  • Basic understanding of basic database architecture, for example, table spaces, allocated disk space, and so on.
  • J2EE: Basic understanding of java and J2EE application architectures. (UCMDB is a J2EE application)

Architecture

  • Understanding of java and J2EE architecture (UCMDB is a J2EE application)
  • Understanding of integration technologies such as WebServices/SOAP, ETL, REST, and so on.

  • Manages version compatibility and dependencies with other products

Support

  • Ability to manage and support a distributed enterprise-level application
  • Ability to diagnose/troubleshoot complex problems
  • Experience working with vendors and vendor support
  • Ability to trace transaction flow and use logging facilities for problem-solving

  • Familiar with Micro Focus Service Manager and Release Control

ClosedCMS Data Architect

  • Produce/assist in creation of a process map of all of the process and their high-level interfaces that are accessing the CMS, to ensure integration, consistency and continuity across all processes

    • Ensure that the design of the data model is regularly reviewed and audited for efficiency, effectiveness and compliance

  • Design secure and resilient data architectures that meet all the current and anticipated future IT requirements of the organization
  • Design measurement systems and techniques to support the continual improvement of the CMS data architecture
  • Produce and keep up-to-date all CMS data model design, architecture, policy and specification documentation
  • Translate logical designs into physical designs, taking account of business requirements, target environments, data accesses, performance requirements, existing systems and services, and any potential security related aspects
  • Interface with designers and planners from external suppliers and service providers
  • Ensure that the CMS data model is designed to meet agreed service levels for the business
  • Construct, interpret and monitor test plans to verify correct operation of completed systems against their design objectives
  • Document all work using required standards, methods and tools
  • Where required, assess changes for their conformance to the design principles, including attendance at CAB meeting if appropriate
  • Assist in the evaluation of CMS tools and recommends those that best meet the organization’s budget, resource, timescale and technical requirements
  • Manages the Configuration Data Model and its implementation
  • Defines population (data providers) of the CMS, ensures regular housekeeping of the CMS Data Model
  • Assist auditors to audit the activities of the Configuration Management team
  • Support the configuration Manager as SME for the CMS Data Model ensuring that this fits to the overall Configuration Management Plan and policy
ClosedData Flow manager (aka Discovery Manager, or UD Administrator)

The Data Flow Manager is a technical IT position, requiring a broad background in multiple IT disciplines. The primary responsibility of a Data Flow Manager is to configure the discovery and integration jobs (see Data Flow Manager (aka Discovery Manager, or Discovery Owner)). A competent discovery manager is key to a successful CMS implementation. The major skill levels and areas required for the Data Flow Manager are:

UCMDB/UD

  • CI Type Manager / TQL (Topology Query Language)
  • Discovery Console
  • Integration Studio
  • Enrichment Manager
  • CI Lifecycle and Aging
  • CMDB and CMS concepts

Server

  • Advanced Windows administration skills including NETBIOS/WMI and security policies
  • Advanced understanding of UNIX platforms, shells and scripting
  • Knowledge of UNIX administration commands such as ifconfig, df, ps, netstat, and so on.
  • Understanding of VMware topology and resource configuration
  • Understanding of mainframe and mid-range computing platforms (iSeries/AS400, pSeries, zOS)

Networking and Security

  • Advanced understanding of TCP/IP networks and OSI layers
  • Knowledge of various network devices such as switches, routers, firewalls, load-balancers, and so on.
  • Understanding of user authentication, LDAP and SSO
  • Understanding of networking and security protocols (for example, SNMP, WMI, SSH, Telnet, JMX, SOAP, SQL/JDBC/ODBC, IPSec, and so on)
  • Understanding of networking concepts such as clustering, packet sniffers, VLANs
  • Experience with network troubleshooting

Windows

  • Advanced Windows administration skills, including WMI
  • Windows Domains
  • NETBIOS / drive mapping / Windows networking, and connectivity

UNIX

  • Advanced understanding of UNIX OS and concepts:
  • UNIX shells and scripting
  • UNIX file systems
  • UNIX networking concepts
  • UNIX administration commands used for discovery, such as ifconfig/ipconfig, df, ps, and so on.

Database

  • Knowledge on various Database platforms (Microsoft SQL, Oracle, MySQL, DB2, Sybase)

  • SQL knowledge: ability to interpret system-level SQL statements used for discovery

  • Understanding of database architecture, for example, table spaces, allocated disk space, and so on.

Architecture

  • Understanding of both legacy and modern application architectures, n-tier hierarchy
  • Understanding of java and J2EE architecture (for example, JBoss, WebSphere, WebLogic, Oracle iAS)
  • Understanding of middleware and messaging systems such as WebSphere MQ
  • Understanding of integration technologies such as WebServices / SOAP, ETL, REST, and so on.

Support

  • Ability to architect and deploy discovery processes
  • Ability to work with other IT administration groups such as networking, database, servers and security
  • Experience working with vendors and vendor support
  • Ability to perform an in-depth research on unfamiliar technologies and products
  • Ability to trace transaction flow and use logging facilities for problem-solving
  • Ability to effectively communicate discovery and integration plan, results and capabilities
ClosedService Modeling Manager

The Service Modeling Manager is a technical IT position, but less technical and more applications and business focused than the other two UCMDB areas. The Service Modeling Manager is mainly responsible for modeling business services and applications to the underlying infrastructure (see Service Modeling Manager). The major skill levels and areas required for the Service Modeling Manager are:

UCMDB/UD

  • CI Type Manager / TQL (Topology Query Language)
  • Modeling Studio (Views and Reports)
  • Impact Analysis Manager
  • Enrichment Manager
  • CMDB and CMS concepts

Server

  • Knowledge of various server platform and OS types (Windows, Linux, HPUX, AIX, Solaris, and so on)
  • Understanding of VMware topology and resource configuration
  • Understanding of mainframe and midrange computing platforms (iSeries/AS400, pSeries, zOS)

Networking and Security

  • Basic understanding of TCP/IP networks and OSI layers
  • Basic knowledge of various network devices such as switches, routers, firewalls, load-balancers, and so on.
  • Basic understanding of networking and security protocols (for example, SNMP, WMI, SSH, Telnet, JMX, SOAP, SQL/JDBC/ODBC, IPSec, and so on)
  • Basic understanding of networking concepts such as clustering, high-availability, redundancy, and so on.

Database

  • Basic knowledge of various Database platforms (MSSQL, Oracle, MySQL, DB2, Sybase)

Architecture

  • Understanding of both legacy and modern application architectures, n-tier hierarchy
  • Understanding of java and J2EE architecture (for example, Jboss, WebSphere, WebLogic, Oracle iAS)
  • Understanding of middleware and messaging systems such as WebSphere MQ
  • Understanding of integration technologies such as WebServices/SOAP, ETL, REST, and so on.

Support

  • Understanding of company’s internal organization structure, LOBs
  • Intimate understanding of the company’s business services, applications, and IT infrastructure
  • Ability to interface with application SMEs: to explain the purpose of service modeling, communicate requirements and discuss application’s architecture and fingerprint
  • Ability to create a service modeling process that is appropriate and effective for the company

  • Effective communications skills:

    • Ability to work with management and technical staffs of all levels and skill sets
    • Ability to understand and prioritize different use cases
    • Persuasive speaking, ability to “sell” CMS/UCMDB/UD throughout the organization
    • Ability to present service modeling requirements as well as results to management