[wsdm][uplat]meta data definiton

["M. Homayoun Pourheidari" <homayoun@hp.com>]

Here is the rewrite for the meta data definition.  Let's discuss it tomorrow.

Cheers,
H.
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what?

Meta data is generally defined as data about data. In the context of management, it is additional information about all the components of an information model that describe a managed resource.  These components include: attributes, operations, events, interface categories, and the service representing the managed resource.  Meta data may include descriptive information about the context, quality and condition, or characteristics of the data.  In the context of management, Meta data values can include units, volatility, modifiability, aliases, policies, duration, etc.  For example, Meta data values for attributes can include units, volatility, modifiability, aliases, and policies and Meta data values for operations can include endstate, policies, etc.  Meta data should be introspectable at design time and runtime. 

why?

In IT management, it is important to describe data in richer ways so that it can ultimately be linked to the business goals that drive the existence of the source of this data.  For example, information like limitations, purpose, context, quality,  and characteristics of management data as an associated piece of that data will help to describe how the data is related to the business objectives of an IT environment.  Meta data is one of the means through which such descriptions are provided.

-- 
M. Homayoun Pourheidari
Web Services Management Operation
HP OpenView Division
408.447.5012
homayoun@hp.com