Component

Components represent IT infrastructure/configuration items from a detailed technical point of view.

Objects of the Component object type may be used to represent for example:

• physical components (units, unit parts)
• physical component groups (assemblies made from components)
• software (programs etc.)

• software modules ('assemblies' made from programs)

Components can be associated to a system in two ways:

• Components Installed

  Installed components are components which essentially make up the system. These components are listed in the 'Components Installed' reference catalog of the system editor. A component belonging to a system as installed component cannot belong to another system. (A component can be installed to one system only.)

• Components Connected

  Components connected are components associated with the system in some other way than being installed. These components may be installed on another system and loosely functionally connected to the system(s) where they are registered as 'Components Connected'. The important difference between 'Components Installed' and 'Components Connected' is that one component can be 'connected' with more than one system. The type of such system - component functional association is specified by the 'Connection Type' attribute.

Hardware/Software System Development Life Cycle

Component type attribute 'SDLC' (System Development Life Cycle) facilitates control of software or hardware through all stages of its life cycle. The attribute values can be set manually by the authorized user.

Possible attribute values are: 'Planning', 'Analysis', 'Design', 'Implementation' and 'Maintenance'. All valid and active component types should have SDLC set to 'Maintenance'.

The attribute is available on both software and hardware component types. The systems development life-cycle concept applies to a range of hardware and software configurations, as a system can be composed of hardware only, software only, or a combination of both.

Main Component

One of the installed components can be assigned as 'main component'. In the 'Components Installed' reference catalog of the system editor, the main component is signified by a check box in the 'Main' column.

It is possible to automate main components creation by specifying a component type as 'Main' in the 'Item Type Assignment to Component Type' editor (see below for more information). This is then reflected during the Incoming Goods action, when a component of the corresponding component type becomes the main component of the newly created system.

Furthermore, it is possible to specify a component type as the 'Main' component type among all component types belonging to one component class. For instance, within the 'Monitor' component class, one monitor type may be specified as 'main' monitor type.

To specify a component type as 'Main' for 'Item Type Assignment to Component Type':

1. Open the item type for editing.
2. Locate the 'Component Types' reference catalog.
3. Set the 'Main' check box of the appropriate assigned component type to True.
   Alternatively, double-click the assigned component type to open the 'Item Type Assignment to Component Type' editor and set the 'Main' check box in the editor to True.