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Basic Information Configuration

Overview​

The Basic Information tab is used to define the core attributes of a CI type, including name, display name, description, and whether instance creation is allowed.

Field Reference​

FieldRequiredBusiness MeaningWhen to Use
NameYesUnique identifier for the type, used for internal system referenceDefined when creating a type; cannot be modified after creation
Display NameYesDisplay name for the type shown on the interfaceWhen you need users to easily identify what the type represents
DescriptionNoDetailed explanation of the typeWhen the type name is not sufficient to explain its purpose
Allow Instance CreationYesWhether CI instances can be created for this typeAbstract types should be set to not allowed; concrete types should be set to allowed

Configuration Details​

Name​

Purpose: Unique identifier for the type, used for internal system reference and API calls.

Rules:

  • Must start with a letter
  • Can only contain letters, numbers, and underscores
  • Cannot be modified after creation
  • Must be unique across the entire system

Examples:

  • ci_computer - Computer type
  • ci_db_instance - Database instance type
  • erp_app - ERP application type

Display Name​

Purpose: The name displayed for the type in the user interface.

Description:

  • Can use any language
  • Can be modified after creation
  • Used in tree structure, detail page titles, and other locations

Description​

Purpose: Detailed explanation of what this type represents and what it contains.

Recommended Content:

  • What resource this type represents
  • Main use cases
  • Key attributes it contains

Allow Instance Creation​

Purpose: Controls whether CI instances can be directly created for this type.

Setting Description:

  • Enabled: Allows creating CI instances for this type (for concrete types)
  • Disabled: Does not allow direct instance creation; can only be used as a parent type (for abstract types)

System Built-in Types: This setting cannot be modified for system built-in types.

Save and Cancel​

  • Save: Click the "Save" button at the top to save changes
  • Cancel: Click the "Cancel" button at the top to discard changes

Frequently Asked Questions​

Q: Does modifying the display name affect existing data?​

A: No. Modifying the display name only affects the interface display and does not change data stored in the database.

Q: Can the type name be modified?​

A: No. The type name is a unique identifier and cannot be modified after creation. If you need to change it, you must delete and recreate it.

Q: What are the restrictions on deleting types?​

A:

  • System built-in types cannot be deleted
  • Types with CI instances cannot be deleted
  • Types with subtypes cannot be deleted (all subtypes must be deleted first)