Introducing the Data Model
Understanding the Data Model
The Data Model is comprised of
Objects
that are represented in
Database tables
.
This allows the contents of the Objects to easily be searched, displayed
by the User Interface, formatted into Reports, and subject to Compliance
Tests.
Each of these
Objects
has a
set of
Attributes
that may be
present. Some Attributes are required to be present, whereas others are
optional.
While most of the Attributes in an Object typically represent information
collected about the Device's configuration or operational state, all Objects
in the Database have some additional Attributes that are used to facilitate
their storage in the database, such as database keys.
The
Attributes
may be of various
types. Here are the currently supported primitive types.

The external representation of the Data Model is defined by an XML schema
known as the DeviceConfigurationState.xsd, and other associated
Metadata
maintained in Network Configuration Manager's
Database, and in the Device Packages.
The schema is subdivided into Configuration Units, which represent a
unit of information that Device drivers know how to
pull
or push
.
Each Device Package may have its own unique set of supported Configuration
Units, however a Configuration Unit must be configured in the
Metadata
to be accessible by Network Configuration Manager.
The Metadata used by the application is visible within the application,
by selecting
Tools
then
Metadata
.
See:
Object Types