Configuration item classifications

Configuration Item (CI) classifications identify and characterize similar CIs. Other than CIs, you can classify several objects, such as locations, items, sales orders, and work orders.

You can add a classification to a CI on the Configuration Item tab of the Configuration Items (SP) application.

Classification types

There are two types of classifications, global classifications, and customer-specific classifications. Global classifications can be added to any CI, including CIs with no customer associations. Customer-specific classifications are relevant only to certain customers. A CI can only use customer-specific classifications if the primary customer of the CI (or a parent of the primary customer) is associated with the classification.

Attributes of CI classifications

Attributes define the characteristics of a classification. When you classify a CI, the primary customer of the CI determines the attributes of the classification that are copied to the Specifications table window on the Configuration Item tab.

There are two types of attributes, global attributes and customer-specific attributes. All CIs can use global attributes, including CIs with no customer associations. Customer-specific attributes are relevant only to certain customers and are copied to the Configuration Item tab when the primary customer of the CI (or parent of the primary customer) is associated with the attribute.

Example

You create a configuration item with no customer associations. You specify PC \ NOTEBOOK (a global classification) in the Classification field on the Configuration Item tab. The global attributes are copied to the Specifications table window on the Configuration Item tab.

Later, you associate customer 1 with the configuration item, and attributes specific to customer 1 become available. You click Select Attributes on the Configuration Item tab to select and copy the attributes to the Specifications table window.

Later still, you remove customer 1 from the configuration item. You now have customer-specific attributes on the Specifications table window that are not relevant to the configuration item. All attributes that are not relevant to the primary customer when they are compared with the customers that are associated with the classification or its attributes show NO in the Customer Match field on the Specifications table window.

See also

Customers and configuration items