Note: Many topics at this site are reduced versions of the text in "The Encyclopedia of Networking and Telecommunications." Search results will not be as extensive as a search of the book's CD-ROM.

WBEM is a Web-based management architecture originally developed by Microsoft, Compaq, and Cisco, but in 1998 WBEM was turned over to the DMTF (Distributed Management Task Force) for standardization. WBEM uses Web browsers and other technologies to manage enterprise networks. The inventory model used by WBEM is CIM (Common Information Model), which is an object-oriented specification for collecting and sharing enterprise-wide management information. XML (Extensible Markup Language) is used to transfer management data between systems (replacing the Hypermedia Management Protocol defined in an earlier WBEM specification).

Basically, CIM does for management data what SQL does for data in the relational database world. Data is in a (relatively) standard format for easy access by management systems. XML is used to transfer the information around the intranet or the Internet. The data is extracted and placed in XML pages, then transferred to management systems or other entities. XML has many advantages in this environment, and the DMTF has created an XML coding specification for CIM data to simplify data exchange with Web technologies.

This topic continues in "The Encyclopedia of Networking and Telecommunications" with a discussion of the following:

• Advantages of WBEM
• How WBEM works with existing management standards such as SNMP and DMI (Distributed Management Interface)
• Vendor support
• WBEM and CIM alignment with the DMTF's DEN (Directory Enabled Networks) specification
• CIM (Common Information Model)
• Schema in CIM, including core, common, and extension scheme

Copyright (c) 2001 Tom Sheldon and Big Sur Multimedia.
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