Extending Configuration Management Databases Using Generic Datatypes

A data processing system for extending a configuration management database that comprises configuration information regarding hardware and software components of a computer system, the data processing system comprising:

• a bus;
• a storage device connected to the bus, wherein the storage device contains computer usable code;
• at least one managed device connected to the bus;
• a communications unit connected to the bus;
• and
• a processing unit connected to the bus, wherein the processing unit executes the computer usable code to receive input from a user to extend the configuration management database to include additional configuration information, wherein the input includes a generic data type;
• map the generic data type including in the input received from the user to a database data type of the configuration management database:
• responsive to a successful mapping of the generic data type to the database data type of the configuration management database, dynamically generate an SQL statement, and then execute the generated SQL statement, to create the database data type in the configuration management database:
• and update tables in the configuration management database with the database data type to reduce a number of tables created for the database data type in response to a successful execution of the SQL statement.

A computer program product for extending a configuration management database that comprises configuration information regarding hardware and software components of a computer system, the computer program product comprising:

• a computer usable storage medium having computer usable program code tangibly recorded thereon, the computer usable program code comprising:
• computer usable program code to receive input from a user to extend the configuration management database to include additional configuration information, wherein the input includes a generic data type;
• computer usable program code to map the generic data type including in the input received from the user to a database data type of the configuration management database;
• computer usable program code to dynamically generate an SQL statement, and then execute the generated SQL statement, to create the database data type in the configuration management database in response to a successful mapping of the generic data type to the database data type of the configuration management database;
• and
• computer usable program code to update tables in the configuration management database with the database data type to reduce a number of tables created for the database data type in response to a successful execution of the SQL statement.