CMDB

A CMDB is like a Swiss bank account

skeptic — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 21:12:42 -0700

I have an analogy for CMDB - it is like a Swiss bank account. Allow me to paraphrase some of the conversations I've had around CMDB:

CMDB and CMS – the industry-created myth

skeptic — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 19:30:24 -0700

It is pernicious the way the vendors and analysts talk as if CMDB is a given. In fact it is more than a given, it is “the heart and soul of service management” apparently, according to an email about an itSMF Brighttalk. No it isn’t. 95% of sites don’t have a CMDB. Perhaps that explains why service management is so heartless and soulless. And now it is happening with CMS - which by the way doesn't exist. [Updated January 2010]

Microsoft make an even broader patent claim on CMDB

skeptic — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:48:15 -0700

The next time you feel even the faintest twinge of believing that Microsoft are on your side, ask them why they would be wanting to patent the concept of CMDB. To advance ITSM? To create a fair and open market? To increase healthy competition? Maybe Goooogle are exhibiting a few signs of evil but Microsoft hold the franchise.

Taking on the CMDB Deathstar

skeptic — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 22:15:38 -0600

Anyone who has read my posts on CMDB and those of Troy DuMoulin on that same topic might think we disagree and they'd be right... but only partly. There is a lot we DO agree on over CMDB. Nevertheless I look forward to some brisk debate at the Pink conference in February in Vegas.

The value of CMDB seldom exceeds the cost of doing it

skeptic — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 20:38:00 -0600

Let us summarise the skeptical arguments focused around the value of CMDB . [Updated to move some text up from comments]

CMDB federation - making a dead elephant dance

skeptic — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 18:10:40 -0600

The analysts can beat the drums all they like - they won't make the CMDB dead elephant dance [I'm in training for the World Mixed-Metaphor Championship]. I've talked before about how the analysts are in a symbiotic relationship with the vendor industry: they have to talk new ideas up so as to have some change to write about. Never has this been more clearly illustrated than around CMDB. For one wonderful moment I thought an analyst was going to be skeptical about CMDB but then he beat the drum, or perhaps flogged the dead elephant [there I got another one in!]

CMDB's Dirty Little Secret

skeptic — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 18:18:47 -0600

Through all the talk about the wonderful benefits of a CMDB, nobody mentions the additional drag a CMDB puts on all change to the IT environment.

The IT Skeptic presents on Owning ITIL

skeptic — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 21:23:47 -0600

Here is a presentation given to the New Zealand Computer Society on 25th June 2009, on the topic of "Owning ITIL". it covers why ITIL is pretty much always a project, what to watch out for in ITIL projects (ITIL the Cult, ITIl the fad, CMDB can't be done...), what to expect from ITIL.

less than 5% of fortune 2000 have an active CMDB installed ?

skeptic — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:47:19 -0600

Can anyone who was at the Gartner conference this week confirm what I saw on Twitter? "Major takeaway from Gartner IOM event is less than 5% of fortune 2000 have an active CMDB installed "

CA CMDBf paper oversells the CMDB Federation standard, as predicted

skeptic — Tue, 19 May 2009 22:32:33 -0600

Apparently CA are working to an entirely different standard for CMDB Federation than the rest of us are. This is the only rational conclusion to be drawn from a recent white paper from them. Either that or they are shovelling the bull excrement at a remarkable rate. The paper is called "The Value of Standards-based CMDB Federation". CA are certainly extracting more value out of the standard than most of us.