Insight · Topic 3 of 4
Unified Map and Dependency Views
Unified Map for the CIS-DF exam: home node, levels, filters, map editor, contextual side panel, related items and timeline, and Dependency Views.
- 5 min
- Unified Map lives in CMDB Workspace and combines Dependency Views and Service Mapping capabilities.
- The home node is the CI the map centers on; Open Map on a CI form sets it.
- Levels and filters control how much of the CMDB is drawn.
What it is
A query answers "which CIs"; a map answers "how are they connected". The Unified Map in CMDB Workspace combines capabilities of Dependency Views and Service Mapping in one map.
Dependency Views is the older relationship map. Exam questions may name either.
How it works
Opening the map
You can open the Unified Map in several ways:
- From Quick Links on the CMDB Workspace home page.
- From All > Unified Map in CMDB Workspace or in Service Graph Workspace.
- From Open Map on the form of a CI in an operational state, which makes that CI the home node.
Main components
| Component | What it does |
|---|---|
| Map | Nodes are CIs, lines are connections; solid lines are relationships and dashed lines are references |
| Home node search | Finds and sets the CI the map is centered on |
| Levels | Sets how many relationship levels from the home node are drawn |
| Filters | Narrows by layer count, CI class, relationship type, discovery source, location and CI ownership |
| Map editor | Adds or removes CIs on the map, and adds, changes or deletes relationships in the CMDB |
| Toolbox | Zoom, layout mode and export of the map as a PDF |
| Mini-map navigator | Moves the view to an area of a large map |
| Timeline | Shows related incidents, problems and changes over a period for the selected CI |
A badge on a line means more than one relationship links the two CIs. With a filter applied, you can choose to show filtered CIs as dimmed, view-only nodes instead of hiding them, which keeps the shape of the map visible.
The contextual side panel
Select a node and the side panel on the right shows details for that CI. Its panels are:
| Panel | Shows |
|---|---|
| Overview | A summary of the selected CI |
| Attributes | The CI's attributes; for a group CI such as an application service, also cards for its member CIs |
| Service instances | Service instances that include the CI; needs Service Mapping |
| Related items | Incidents, problems and changes related to the CI |
| Changes | Change history for the CI |
Select a connection instead of a node and you see the attributes of that relationship.
What the map hides and why
Non-operational CIs are hidden from maps by default. An administrator with the sn_cmdb_admin role decides which life cycle stage values appear, so retired CIs do not clutter impact analysis.
Removing a node in the map editor only takes it off the map. It does not delete the CI record. Adding or deleting a relationship in the map editor, by contrast, changes the CMDB.
Who uses the map for what
| Role | Typical use |
|---|---|
| Service owner | Sees the CIs behind a service, with open incidents and planned changes on the home node |
| Change manager | Checks what sits upstream and downstream of a CI before approving work |
| Incident or problem analyst | Traces from a failing CI to the services it affects, and back to likely causes |
| Configuration manager | Spots missing or wrong relationships and fixes them with the map editor |
Dependency Views
Dependency Views draws a CI and its related CIs, centered on a root CI, using the layout and number of levels set in the map properties. Map indicators are icons on a node that show related records, such as open incidents, open problems, alerts, outages and change requests.
Inside CMDB Workspace, the answer is the Unified Map; the classic map with indicators is Dependency Views.
How the exam asks about this
- "A service owner wants to see active incidents and planned changes for the service without leaving the map." Select the home node and open Related items in the contextual side panel.
- "A map of a large data center is too crowded to read." Reduce the levels or apply filters by class, relationship type or location.
- "An analyst removed a server from the map and asks whether the CI was deleted." No; removing a node in the map editor only takes it off the map.
What to remember for the exam
- Unified Map lives in CMDB Workspace and combines Dependency Views and Service Mapping capabilities.
- The home node is the CI the map centers on; Open Map on a CI form sets it.
- Levels and filters control how much of the CMDB is drawn.
- The side panel has Overview, Attributes, Service instances, Related items and Changes.
- The timeline shows incidents, problems and changes over time for the selected CI.
- Non-operational CIs are hidden by default, based on life cycle stage.
The map editor is not read-only. Adding or deleting a relationship there writes to the CMDB, so treat it as a data change, not a view setting.
Common mistakes
Using a query when a picture is asked for. "Show what depends on this server" is a map question. A query gives a table of rows; the map shows upstream and downstream connections.
Expecting retired CIs on the map. Non-operational CIs are hidden by default. If a decommissioned CI does not appear, that is usually the life cycle stage setting, not missing data.
Confusing the two maps. Dependency Views is the older map with map indicators. Questions about CMDB Workspace, the side panel or the timeline point to the Unified Map.
Check yourself
Where does a service owner see open incidents and planned changes for a CI on the Unified Map?
In the Related items panel of the contextual side panel, after selecting that CI. The timeline also shows these records over time.
Does removing a node in the map editor delete the CI?
No. It only removes the node from the map, although adding or deleting relationships in the editor does change the CMDB.
Why might a retired server not appear on the Unified Map?
Non-operational CIs are hidden from maps by default, based on which life cycle stage values an administrator allows.
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