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Introduction

This white paper provides technical information on the HP Client Management Interface (HP CMI). HP

CMI is an open architecture for gathering client computer inventory, monitoring health events, and

managing BIOS configuration settings on HP business class client computers. This interface is included

standard on select new models beginning with the HP Compaq dc7600 series and dx7200 series

business desktops, and the HP xw4300 workstation. An HP CMI Software Provider SoftPaq is also

available for legacy models and may be downloaded from HP.com.

This document describes the business need which drove development of HP CMI, benefits of the

interface, architectural details, examples of how HP CMI can be used to carry out various client

management tasks, and the security model.

Background

Historically, it has been a challenge for customers to easily integrate HP client computers with systems

management tools and applications they are using. The typical management software model relies on

a “software management agent” installed on the client computer. This software agent exposes

management instrumentation through a proprietary driver and hardware interface and communicates

with the systems management tool console. Often, the software agent must be updated and

redeployed as new manageability features and new computer models are introduced.

Traditional Management Software Model

This traditional management software model contains three tightly integrated components: the

computer hardware to be instrumented, an operating system specific driver to surface the

instrumentation, and a software agent to expose and communicate the instrumented data with the

management software console. In most cases these software agents are further specialized by the

HP xw4300 Technical White Paper

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