The ODM is a repository of system information that includes the basic components of object classes and characteristics. Information is stored and maintained as objects with associated characteristics.
System data managed by ODM includes:
- Device configuration information
- Display information for SMIT (menus, selectors, and dialogs)
- Vital product data for installation and update procedures
- Communications configuration information
- System resource information
IBM® provides a predefined set of devices (PdDv) and attributes (PdAt). Hitachi Vantara has added its own device definitions to the ODM, based on classes defined as objects with associated characteristics. This allows you to add devices that are recognized when the system boots or when the configuration manager command (cfgmgr) is executed. These devices have their own set of predefined attributes, which allows you to customize device definitions easily and automatically, thereby minimizing the amount of work required to define a device.
IBM® also provides a set of commands to manipulate the ODM and procedures to package ODM updates. For details, see the IBM® AIX® documentation.