Cooperation Between Vendors Over CMDB?

What of the vendors not involved? Those already in the club probably figure that the task of keeping them together is hard enough without encouraging more. Once they get to a standard then everyone else will follow along―they hope. They are taking a gamble. The risk is a competing proposal for a standard, or worse a competing standard. DCML, anyone?

I can’t help feeling this initiative would have greater chance of success if it were itSMF- or OGC-driven. Both parties have been conspicuously absent when it comes to driving the ITIL software industry, though either party would have the perceived right to do so. And OGC has shown itself happy to quickly decree unilateral standards: look at the recently announced ITIL software scheme. None of this messing around with vendors or consultation or DMTF process for OGC, they just drop a standard on the industry like a bomb. It is hard to say which approach is more painful.

Skepti-Score (unchanged after two years):

• 6 out of 10 for trying.
• 31% probability that a CMDB federation standard will emerge in the next two years.

Rob England is an IT industry commentator and consultant, best known for his blog The IT Skeptic.