Extending configuration management databases using generic datatypes

1. A computer implemented method for extending a configuration management database, the computer implemented method comprising:

receiving input from a user to extend the configuration management database, wherein the input includes a generic data type;

mapping the generic data type to a database data type of the configuration management database, wherein mapping the generic data type is performed using a data mapping algorithm which obtains the database data type for the configuration management database based on the generic data type and size provided in the input;

generating an SQL statement to create the database data type in the configuration management database, wherein generating an SQL statement is performed using a minimal table creation algorithm, wherein the minimal table creation algorithm comprises: ordering attributes associated with the database data type by size from smallest to largest; adding sizes of the attributes from smallest to largest until a page limit size is met; placing attributes within the page size limit into a first table; and placing attributes falling outside the page size limit into a second table; and

responsive to a successful execution of the SQL statement, updating tables in the configuration management database with the database data type to reduce a number of tables created for the database data type, wherein the configuration management database comprises core configuration management database extensible markup language schema plugins, internal extension extensible markup language schema plugins, and customer extension extensible markup language schema plugins, wherein the plugins are linked by a common extensible markup language file, wherein the common extensible markup language file comprises schema information for the configuration management database; and

responsive to updating tables in the configuration management database, updating the common extensible markup language file to include the database data type.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

responsive to an unsuccessful execution of the SQL statement, throwing an exception to notify the user of an error.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , wherein generating the SQL statement further comprises:

determining a location in the configuration management database in which to insert the database data type, wherein the location is one of a new column or a new table in the configuration management database; and

assigning a name to the new column or table, wherein the name is based on the input and whether the new column or table is an external or internal request to extend the configuration management database.

4. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the input includes a generic data type and size.

5. A data processing system for extending a configuration management database, the data processing system comprising:

a bus;

a storage device connected to the bus, wherein the storage device contains computer usable code;

at least one managed device connected to the bus;

a communications unit connected to the bus; and

a processing unit connected to the bus, wherein the processing unit executes the computer usable code to receive input from a user to extend the configuration management database, wherein the input includes a generic data type, map the generic data type to a database data type of the configuration management database using a data mapping algorithm which obtains the database data type for the configuration management database based on the generic data type and size provided in the input, generate an SQL statement to create the database data type in the configuration management database, wherein SQL statement is generated using a minimal table creation algorithm, wherein the minimal table creation algorithm comprises: ordering attributes associated with the database data type by size from smallest to largest; adding sizes of the attributes from smallest to largest until a page limit size is met; placing attributes within the page size limit into a first table; and placing attributes falling outside the page size limit into a second table, update tables in the configuration management database with the database data type to reduce a number of tables created for the database data type in response to a successful execution of the SQL statement, wherein the configuration management database comprises core configuration management database extensible markup language schema plugins, internal extension extensible markup language schema plugins, and customer extension extensible markup language schema plugins, wherein the plugins are linked by a common extensible markup language file, wherein the common extensible markup language file comprises schema information for the configuration management database, and update the common extensible markup language file to include the database data type in response to the update of the tables in the configuration management database.