ServiceNow CMDB: Key Concepts and Interview
Q&A
1. CMDB Meaning
CMDB stands for: Configuration Management Database
2. What is CMDB?
A CMDB is a database that stores comprehensive information about IT assets, their
configurations, and the relationships between them within an organization.
3. What is a Configuration Item (CI)?
CI: Stands for Configuration Item, representing any single IT asset or component managed
in the CMDB. Examples include servers, applications, routers, and more.
4. CMDB Base Tables
cmdb_ci: Primary table that stores CI records.
cmdb_rel_ci: Table that records relationships between CIs.
5. Asset vs. CI
Aspect Asset Configuration Item (CI)
Ownership Financial (tracking costs, lifecycle) Functional (tracking role, dependencies)
Example Laptop as a company property Laptop’s CPU, RAM, HDD as CIs
6. Is a Datacenter an Asset?
A datacenter is typically considered a CI, reflecting its role in IT operations, not just a
financial asset.
7. Where to Store Datacenter Data
Store datacenter information in the cmdb_ci table within the CMDB.
8. Ways to Populate CMDB Data
Manual entry via forms.
Import sets for bulk uploads.
Discovery tools to scan and import infrastructure data.
API integrations from other platforms or tools.
9. CMDB Relationships
CMDB relationships explain how CIs are connected, interdependent, or support each other
—enabling impact analysis and troubleshooting.
10. Testing CMDB Health
Data integrity checks: Validate consistency and completeness.
Reconciliation rules: Ensure accuracy and eliminate duplicates.
Identification rules: Confirm uniqueness and merge duplicates.
11. Identification Rules
Identification rules help distinguish and merge duplicate CI records, ensuring each CI is
uniquely identifiable.
12. Reconciliation Rules
Reconciliation rules maintain consistency between CMDB and external data sources,
resolving data conflicts.
13. Data Precedence
Data precedence establishes which data source takes priority when conflicting or duplicate
data is found across sources.
14. Role Needed to Manage CMDB
The cmdb_admin role is typically required for comprehensive CMDB management and
administration.
15. How CMDB Works
The CMDB aggregates, stores, and manages CI records, their configurations, and inter-
relationships, drawing data from various internal and external sources and ensuring data
accuracy through CMDB rules.
16. Data Flow in CMDB
Data flows into the CMDB from multiple sources, with rules and processes in place to ensure
quality, consistency, and integrity.
17. CI Relationship Maintenance
CI relationships are maintained via the cmdb_rel_ci table and through reconciliation rules.
18. Normalization in CMDB
Normalization processes standardize data and reduce duplicates in the database,
improving integrity and searchability.
19. Asset vs. CI Example
A laptop (asset) is tracked for financial purposes, but each component (CPU, RAM, HDD) is
managed as a CI for technical and operational oversight.
20. Multiple Criteria Attributes
Yes, multiple criteria attributes can be created for a table to improve matching,
identification, and reporting.
21. Main Base Table of CMDB
The main base table is cmdb_ci.
22. Examples of Base Tables
Windows Server
Router
Business Application
23. Five Best Practices for CMDB
Define clear criteria for CIs and their relationships.
Establish strong data governance and ownership policies.
Use identification and reconciliation rules for data quality.
Regularly audit and clean up CMDB data.
Train users and stakeholders on CMDB processes and importance.
24. Order of CMDB Rules
1. Identification rules
2. Reconciliation rules and Data precedence rules
Note: Data precedence rules were merged into reconciliation rules starting with the Paris
release of ServiceNow.
Applying these concepts demonstrates strong foundational and practical knowledge of
ServiceNow CMDB for interviews and effective system management.
