The Configuration Management System (CMS) is a set of tools and data that is used for collecting, storing, managing, updating, analyzing and presenting data about all configuration items and their relationships. A CMS may manage more than one physical Configuration Management Databases (CMDB). Its underlying structure is defined by the Configuration Model, a logical model of the IT organization’s service assets. The CMS is used to store information on all Configuration Items (CIs) under the control of Configuration Management. CIs can be of various types: the CMS almost always covers services and IT infrastructure, but might also cover other item types like policies, project documentation, employees, suppliers, etc.
Configuration Model and CI Types