14 CIM_PhysicalElement
CIM_PhysicalElement
Subclasses of the CIM_PhysicalElement class listed in Table 2-1 define any component of a system that
has a distinct physical identity. Physical elements are tangible managed system elements (usually actual
hardware items) that have a physical manifestation of some sort. By contrast, processes, files, and logical
devices are not classified as physical elements. A managed system element is not necessarily a discrete
component. A single card (which is a type of physical element) can host more than one logical device.
One card, for example, could implement both a modem and a local area network (LAN) adapter. In this
case, the card would be represented by a single physical element associated with multiple logical devices.
Table 2-1. CIM_PhysicalElement Properties
Class Name: CIM_PhysicalElement
Parent Class: CIM_ManagedSystemElement
Property Description Data Type
CreationClassName See Table 1-2, “Common Properties of Classes.”
Manufacturer See Table 1-2, “Common Properties of Classes.”
Model The name by which the physical element is generally known. string
SerialNumber A manufacturer-allocated number used to identify the physical element. string
Tag Uniquely identifies the physical element and serves as the element’s key.
The Tag property can contain information such as asset tag or serial
number data. The key for physical element is placed very high in the object
hierarchy in order to identify the hardware/entity independently, regardless
of physical placement in or on cabinets, adapters, and so on. For example, a
hot-swappable or removable component can be taken from its containing
(scoping) package and temporarily unused. The object still continues to
exist and may even be inserted into a different scoping container.
Therefore, the key for physical element is an arbitrary string that is defined
independently of any placement or location-oriented hierarchy.
string
CIM_ManagedSystemElement
CIM_PhysicalElement