https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.krsaborio.net%2Funix%2Fresearch%2Facrobat%2F0004.pdf&psig=AOvVaw3Yc259C3XE6QzrUZ6NQGrZ&ust=1672922336094000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAwQjRxqFwoTCKD74sr3rfwCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD

Starting page 257 physical

9.3.1 AIX configuration management
The following section will describe configuration management in an AIX environment.

9.3.1.1 AIX Object Data Manager (ODM)
The Object Data Manager (ODM) is an object-oriented database that
contains AIX system data. ODM provides a more robust, secure, shareable resource than what previously existed in the UNIX environment (ASCII
stanza and colon files). Information is stored and maintained as objects
with associated characteristics. The ODM can also be used to manage data
for application programs. Access to information stored in the ODM and
the ability to add, delete, or change information can be accomplished
through the SMIT interface, the command line, or C language subroutines.
The basic components of ODM are object classes and objects. An object
class is a group of objects with the same definition. The object class
is conceptually similar to an array of structures, with each object
being a structure that is an element of the array. An object, a member
of a defined object class, is an entity that requires storage and
management of data. The object is the equivalent of the record in the
object class. This record is further divided in fields in which a
particular attribute is stored.

System data managed by the ODM includes:
• Device configuration information
• Display information for SMIT (menus, selectors, and dialogs)
• Vital Product Database (VPD) for installation and update procedures
• Communications configuration information
• System resource information

System data not managed by the ODM includes the following (for
compatibility reasons with other UNIX systems):
• Information about filesystems (stored in /etc/filesystems)
• Information about printer queues (stored in /etc/qconfig file)
• Information about users and groups (stored in /etc and /etc/security directories)

System configuration
A primary function of the ODM is to manage the system resource
information or system configuration. The system configuration
information is divided into three categories:

• Predefined information - This database contains configuration
information related to all devices that can be installed on the system.

On AIX Version 4, the user can make the Predefined Database contain
information about devices not present on the system by choosing to
install additional device support. This database is comprised of the
following object classes:
- Predefined Devices Object Class (PdDv)
- Predefined Connections Class (PdCn)
- Predefined Attributes Object Class (PdAt)

• Customized Information - This database contains configuration
information related about actual devices installed (configured) on the
system. This database is comprised of the following object classes:
- Customized Devices Object Class (CuDv)
- Customized Dependency Class (CuDep)
- Customized Attribute Object Class (CuAt)
- Customized Device Driver Class (CuDvDr)
- Customized Vital Product Data Object Class (CuVPD)

• Boot Information - This boot ODM contains the bare minimum predefined
and customized databases required to perform a system boot. Thus, only
devices considered necessary for boot are included in this object class.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)