The ICIM Reference

Managed Object Definition Language (MODEL) is integral to the SDK application development process. Its purpose is to render the schema and semantics of the VMware Smart Assurance ICIM Reference specification. MODEL is compiled, producing data model libraries that describe the model. These libraries are loaded by a Domain Manager and are operated on by SDK applications. For an SDK application, all of the classes, relationships, attributes, events, and so on are defined at compile time.

Dynamic Modeling is an extension of the existing MODEL language, building on the same core implementation and principles. It enables you to add new classes, and refine classes that are already defined in the data model libraries, at runtime when the Dynamic Models are loaded into an Manager.

The ICIM represents logical and physical components of managed systems across networked technology domains. By using an object-oriented representation, it is a conceptual view of the problem domain that provides Domain Managers with semantics that support root-cause analysis.

SDK models are object-oriented.

• The notion of class provides a mechanism for encapsulating a managed element’s state or properties. Two semantic properties especially useful for root-cause analysis are relationship and event. Relationship expresses the correlation dependencies between classes. Events are those actions that cause transitions within the model.

• The object-oriented inheritance construct allows new classes to be derived from existing classes. This is a mechanism for specialization within the model, while preserving model semantics for the new class. New classes inherit not only the properties of the base class but its semantics, as well.

• The object-oriented instance construct provides a mechanism for separating the model representation of a managed element from its actual implementation. This supports desirable modeling goals, where the model is conceptual and generalized, and independent of any particular implementation within the problem domain. With respect to ICIM, this means that the correlation model, represented by classes, is separated from the domain topology, represented by instances. So ICIM is a true model, in the sense that it can accurately conceptualize, or model, particular implementations without prior knowledge.