Configuration categories in Configuration Manager 2007 offer an optional method of sorting and filtering configuration baselines and configuration items within the Configuration Manager console, and in Configuration Manager reports. Configuration categories can be particularly useful when you have a high number of configuration items and configuration baselines to manage.
Both configuration items and configuration baselines in Configuration Manager 2007 share the same configuration categories and have the following default categories, which are examples:
- Client
- IT Infrastructure
- Line of Business
- Server
You cannot rename the examples, but you can delete them and add your own configuration categories. Configuration items and configuration baselines can belong to more than one configuration category at a time.
Configuration categories appear only in the Configuration Manager console, and in Configuration Manager reports. Configuration categories do not appear on the client Configurations tab or in reports generated from the client with the View Report button.
The category information is not included when you export configuration data to a file. However, configuration categories created in a parent site will be inherited by a child site, and configuration data inherited from a parent site will retain its configuration category information from the parent site.
If you want to add a configuration category to a configuration baseline or configuration item that is imported, or inherited from a parent site, use the Manage Categories action. For more information, see How to Assign Configuration Categories to Configuration Items and Configuration Baselines in Desired Configuration Management.