## Terminology

The following terminology is used in the documentation of the SBLIM CIM Client for Java. As a DMTF Glossary document evolves, this terminology will be drawn from there, over time.

### CIM object related terms

CIM namespace
  Run-time container within a CIM server that can contain CIM classes, instances and qualifier declarations. For details, refer to the CIM Infrastructure Specification [DSP0004].

CIM class
  A CIM class, as defined in the CIM Infrastructure Specification [DSP0004]. The term is used for all three kinds of CIM classes (normal, association and indication). The term is used both for the CIM class object in the CIM server/provider and for its client side copy.

Terms denoting specific kinds of CIM classes:

Normal CIM class
  A CIM class that is neither an association class nor an indication class.

CIM association class
  A CIM class that has its Association qualifier effectively being true. Note that the Association qualifier is inherited into subclasses. Also note that the Aggregation and Composition qualifiers may refine the semantics of an association class, but such classes still remain association classes.

CIM indication class
  A CIM class that has its Indication qualifier effectively being true. Note that the Indication qualifier is inherited into subclasses.

CIM instance
  An instance of a CIM class. The term is used both for the CIM instance object in the CIM server/provider and for its client side copy.

CIM object
  A general term for either a CIM class or CIM instance. Sometimes also includes CIM namespace in addition. Sometimes also includes the name (path) of the object.

Phrases denoting whether the objects are the objects in the CIM server or their local copies:

Note: These phrases can be used with all the object related terms above.

Local copy of a CIM object
  When a CIM object is returned to the CIM client, the data being returned is called a local copy of the CIM object.

CIM object in the CIM server
  Refers to the "live" CIM object in the CIM server (or better in the provider). In the case of CIM instances, the live object represents an aspect of a real world resource, and manipulation of the CIM instance manipulates the real world resource.

### CIM object naming related terms

CIM object path
  General term for a reference to a CIM namespace, class or instance object in a CIM server. These object paths allow accessing the referenced CIM objects in the CIM server. The term does not imply any particular scope at which the object path is unique. An alternative phrase used in DMTF documents is "CIM object name".

Terms for specific kinds of CIM object paths:

CIM namespace path
  CIM object path referencing a CIM namespace object in a CIM server.
CIM class path
  CIM object path referencing a CIM class object within a CIM namespace in a CIM server.
CIM instance path
  CIM object path referencing a CIM instance object within a CIM namespace in a CIM server.

Phrases describing the uniqueness scope of object paths:

Note: These phrases can be used with all the path related terms above.

Global CIM object path
  CIM object path using a reference that is globally unique (that is, across CIM servers). The object path identifies the host and port of the CIM server, the CIM namespace within the server, and the name of the object within the namespace.
Intra-Server CIM object path
  CIM object path using a reference that is unique within a single CIM server. The object path does not identify the CIM server. It identifies the CIM namespace within a CIM server, and the name of the object within the namespace. An alternative phrase used in DMTF documents is "local object path".
Intra-Namespace CIM object path
  CIM object path using a reference that is unique within a single CIM namespace. The object path does not identify the CIM server or namespace. It identifies the name of the object within the namespace. An alternative phrase used in DMTF documents is "model path", or "class name" for class objects and "instance name" for instance objects.

### CIM class/instance member related terms

Phrases defining the set of elements in a class or instance:

Note: These phrases are stated for properties but are equally valid for references and methods.

Properties defined in a class
  The set of properties introduced in the class, or overridden in the class. This does not include any properties inherited from superclasses, or properties introduced or overridden in subclasses of the class.
Properties defined in the class of an instance
  The set of properties defined in the class an instance has been created of.
Properties of a class
  The set of properties effectively visible in the class, including any inherited properties. Overridden properties are contained in that set only once. Non-overridden properties with the same name are contained in that separately (This should be avoided, but it can happen in different classes, for instance when a superclass in a DMTF common schema adds a property that is already defined in a subclass that is a vendor extension class).
Properties of an instance
  The set of properties effectively present in the instance.

### Other terms

CIM element
  General term for CIM class (all kinds: normal, association, indication), property, reference, method, method parameter, qualifier, qualifier flavor or schema.

CIM client protocol
  General term for a remote communications protocol between CIM client and CIM server. Note that this includes for instance any upcoming Web services protocol and the new SM-CLP, and is not restricted to CIM Operations over HTTP.

CIM Operations over HTTP
  Name of the dominant CIM client protocol, specified in DMTF DSP0200 and DSP0201.

CIM client
  General term for a component (usually a class library) used to communicate with a CIM server. Handlers for indication delivery or asynchronous operation responses are also considered part of a CIM client. Usually, a CIM client is used by a management application.

SBLIM CIM Client for Java
  Name of this specific CIM client.

CIM server
  General term for a component (usually a demon) providing a service accessible through a CIM client protocol. A single CIM server instance may be used by multiple CIM client instances. In the course of handling the requests resulting from interactions with CIM clients, a CIM server interfaces with CIM providers for getting certain requests handled.

CIM provider
  General term for a component implementing all behavior that is specific to a particular CIM class. This means, CIM providers are the link between the CIM server and any interfaces specific to the real world resources. It is left open whether a single CIM provider can implement one or more CIM classes. A particular CIM provider API is not implied.