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CIM Tutorial
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Schema > Common Models > Physical Model
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CIM Schema - Physical Model
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The CIM Physical Common Models describes the information related
to physical inventory and asset management, describing enclosures,
cards and physical components, and cabling information. Physical
Elements occupy space and conform to the elementary laws of Physics.
They represent any element that has a physical identity – i.e.,
that can be touched or seen. The relationships between Physical
Elements are defined as associations in the model, and mainly deal
with containment and location.
It is important to remember that the abstractions in the Physical
Model typically represent the physical make up of a ComputerSystem.
They do NOT represent the functionality that the physical items
are capable of providing. This functionality is represented by the
abstractions on the logical side of the model – usually as subclasses
of CIM_LogicalDevice, or as services hosted on the ComputerSystem.
For example, there is almost no PHYSICAL difference between a chassis
that functions as a server, storage subsystem, or network printer.
All contain cards (for example, network cards) that have mounted
components (processor and memory chips), other packages such a power
supply, and slots that may be used to house additional cards or
packages. However, there is a huge difference in the functionality
that these three kinds of systems provide. Logical Devices and Services
(defined in the Core Model, as subclasses of Logical Element) realize
this functionality.
Example:
Pictured is an instance of a Rack that contains 5 Chassis. Using
the Physical Model:
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This would be described by 1 instance of CIM_Rack and 5 instances
of CIM_Chassis.
The Location class (defined in the Core Model) can be instantiated
to specify the location of the Rack.
The PhysicalElementLocation association is used to link
the Rack and Location instances.
The ChasssisInRack association is used to link the five Chassis
within the Rack.
The LocationWithinContainer property (in the ChassisInRack
association) is used to specify the location of the Chassis
within the Rack.
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Now that we know about the containers (i.e., the Racks and Chassis),
the physical entities contained within them can be described. A
Physical Element is defined as one of four subclasses/categorizes.
They are:
- Physical Package – This class describes general containers and
frames, and provides management, maintenance, and repair information.Instances
of Physical Packages contain other Physical Elements. This is
expressed using the Container association. Physical Package is
further refined by Frame, Chassis, Rack, Card, and StorageMediaLocation
subclasses. The concept of a Card includes motherboards, backplanes,
adapter cards, daughter cards, etc. The concept of a StorageMediaLocation
defines the shelf/hole/slot where a storage magazine or tape can
be stored.
- Physical Component – Physical Component describes low-level
hardware, such as chips and physical media. The Container association
is used to describe a Component mounted on or in a Physical Package.
Physical Component is further refined by the subclasses, Physical
Media (for example, a tape) and Chip (i.e., a processor or memory
chip).
- Physical Connector – This class describes the connectors used
to attach or link Physical Elements together (for example RJ45
jacks, PCI slots, etc.). Physical Connector is further refined
by the Slot subclass. A slot describes the connector used to attach
one card to another (for example, a backplane or motherboard).
The Container association is used to describe a Physical Component
that is mounted on a Physical Package. The PackageInConnector
association is used to describe a Physical Package that is inserted
into the Physical Connector.
- Physical Link – This class describes the cabling used between
Physical Elements, such as connectors. The Elements Linked association
indicates the Physical Elements that are connected. The Link Has
Connector association describes the Physical Connector on the
cable.
There are two additional concepts described by the Physical Common Models – they are Replacement Sets and Physical Capacity.
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Replacement Sets group objects that should be removed and reinstalled
together for the purpose of repair or replacement.
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Physical Capacity describes the capability/capacity of related
hardware to contain and/or connect to a minimum number and a
maximum number of objects. The hardware being described is indicated
using the ElementCapacity association. The objects for which
min and max values are reported are indicated by specific enumerations
defined in subclasses of Physical Capacity. For example, the
Configuration Capacity class is instantiated to describe that
a disk array is capable of containing 50 disks, added in increments
of 1.
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