SNOW-CSA Database Administration and CMDB Practice Question
During a CMDB audit, an administrator discovers that some CIs have a 'sys_class_name' of 'cmdb_ci' instead of a specific subclass like 'cmdb_ci_server'. What is the most likely cause?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common mix-up: candidates assume Discovery sensors are solely responsible for classification, but the identification rule's table setting is the primary driver for the CI's class assignment, and a misconfigured rule can override sensor classification.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The identification rule is incorrectly configured to map to the base table.
The most likely cause is an incorrectly configured identification rule that maps the CI to the base table 'cmdb_ci' instead of a specific subclass. Identification rules determine how CIs are matched and created; if the rule's 'Table' field is set to 'cmdb_ci' rather than a subclass like 'cmdb_ci_server', all new CIs matching that rule will be created at the base class level, losing subclass-specific attributes and relationships.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The administrator manually changed the class field to 'cmdb_ci'.
Why it's wrong here
While possible, manual change is unlikely to be the cause of multiple CIs.
- ✗
The CI was created by Discovery and the sensor failed to classify it.
Why it's wrong here
Discovery typically sets the correct class; failure would result in a status of 'unclassified', not necessarily a base table record.
- ✓
The identification rule is incorrectly configured to map to the base table.
Why this is correct
If identification rules or scripts directly create records in cmdb_ci without subclass, the CI will have sys_class_name 'cmdb_ci'.
- ✗
The CI has been retired and the class was reset.
Why it's wrong here
Retiring a CI does not change its class.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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