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CIM Specification

The Common Information Model (CIM) is an approach to the management of systems and networks that applies the basic structure and conceptualization techniques of the object-oriented modeling paradigm. The approach uses a uniform modeling formalism that supports the cooperative development of an object-oriented schema.

The CIM Specification describes an object-oriented meta model based on the Unified Modeling Language (UML). This model includes expressions for common elements that must be clearly presented to management applications (e.g., classes, properties, methods, indications and associations).

The specification defines the syntax and rules of the model. The specification defines the CIM meta schema, each of the meta schema elements, and the rules for each element. The specification also defines a CIM syntax language based on Interface Definition Language (IDL) called Managed Object Format (MOF). The specification additionally defines the CIM Naming mechanism.

The CIM Specification does not describe specific CIM implementations, API's, or communication protocols. These topics are outside the scope of the specification. The CIM Specification also does not include the core and common models. These models are separate from the CIM Specification and are defined independently.