Successful practices in developing a complex information model

Abstract

The Desktop Management Task Force (DMTF) has recently announced the introduction of the Common Information Model (CIM). The primary objective of CIM is to facilitate the useful exchange of management information between different management applications and between management applications and the resources they are managing The information model defines the objects and their characteristics necessary for critical aspects of system, network, database, and application management.

CIM captures many common representations required for management applications. This paper argues that these common representations are similar to object oriented design patterns. DMTF member organizations including Microsoft, IBM, SUN, Intel, Computer Associates, Hewlett Packard and Compaq have committed to support the model. For example, Microsoft's implementation of CIM will be in the form of an object manager that supports the basic CIM model together with compliant win32 extensions. This implementation will be a part of all future Microsoft operating systems.

This paper describes the basic model and many of the design decisions and trade-offs considered in producing the Common Information Model.