Technically, the CMDB is similar in many philosophical ways to a data warehouse. Where they differ is in the actual DELIVERY of the technology and how the whole system of data is used within an ITIL-based ORGANIZATION. As a CMS with federation, the parts (the MDRS) are linked differently than a data warehouse, and the tools that PRODUCE and consume the data are ALIGNING with the CMS direction. It is certainly conceivable—and indeed expected—that data warehouses will play some role in the CMS, just as traditional relational databases will. The overall system that brings all of these parts together is the CMS.

Technically, the CMDB is similar in many philosophical ways to a data warehouse. Where they differ is in the actual delivery of the technology and how the whole system of data is used within an ITIL-based organization. As a CMS with federation, the parts (the MDRs) are linked differently than a data warehouse, and the tools that produce and consume the data are aligning with the CMS direction. It is certainly conceivable—and indeed expected—that data warehouses will play some role in the CMS, just as traditional relational databases will. The overall system that brings all of these parts together is the CMS.