8.1.1 Classes managed by the asset management database

The asset management database is used to manage two classes, the object class and the association class.

• Object class

  The object class is a set of information managed by Asset Console whose items are classified by categories. It is the unit of input/output operations on the asset management database.

  For example, classes HardwareInfo and SoftwareInfo are groups of items that are managed as asset information and that are classified by the Asset type category. They represent a set of hardware information and a set of software information, respectively. The figure below shows the object class concept.

  Figure 8‒1: Object class concept

• Association class

  The association class represents the relationships (associations) between object classes.

  For example, PC information is associated with information such as the PC's asset number and user name (AssetInfo class), manufacturer and specifications (HardwareInfo class), and IP address (NetworkInfo class). In this case, HardwareLink and NetworkLink that indicate associations between individual information items are the association classes. The figure below shows the association class concept.

  Figure 8‒2: Association class concept

For details about the relationship between classes, see 14.1.3 Relationships between classes.

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