Introduction to

TQL
Lesson # 8
HP UCMDB 8.0 Essentials

2008 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.

The information contained herein is subject to change without notice
About this Chapter

Lesson Objectives

In this lesson, you will learn how to:

Describe the purpose and use of Topology Query Language
(TQL)
Describe the applications and systems that use TQL
Create a basic TQL query
Use Attribute conditions on a TQL to filter the results
Use Cardinality conditions on a TQL to filter the results
Use Element ID conditions on a TQL to filter the results
Use the Include Subtypes property
Create a query to extract information from the CMDB to
solve business problems

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Topology Query Language Overview

Introduction to TQL

TQL stands for Topology Query Language

TQL is a graphical language composed of nodes and

links

TQL is the method for finding data in the CMDB

TQL is a constraint language, like Prolog or SQL

TQL queries are composed of assertions. TQL queries

return objects which match the criteria

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Topology Query Language Overview

TQL Dependant Subsystems

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Topology Query Language Overview

TQL Query Process

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Topology Query Language Overview

TQL Query Example

TQL
result

TQL
Query

CMDB
data

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Topology Query Language Overview

Building a TQL Query

Add nodes and relationships

Graphical expression of nodes and links
Defines the data to be returned from the CMDB

Filter the resulting TQL

Constraints to limit the CIs returned from the CMDB
TQL node condition
TQL relationship condition

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Topology Query Language Overview

Constraint Types

CIT Instance Attributes

Specific value or a range of values of an attribute

Host IP must begin with 192.168.*
Host OS must equal Linux

Relationships among CIT instances

Cardinality of linked nodes

A host should have exactly two network interfaces

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Topology Query Language Overview

Attribute Constraints
Constraints based on an intrinsic characteristic of an
object

May be chained using Boolean logic (A and B or C)

Available constraints are based on the SQL where

clause query syntax

Constraints include =, !=, <. >, NULL, NOT NULL,

LIKE, NOT LIKE & LIKE ignore case

Example:
Host object with a DNS Name of foo.bar.com
Host with operating system like %Windows 2003%
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Topology Query Language Overview

Relationship Constraints

Cardinality
Constraint based on relationships between instances
Can be applied to one or both ends of a link between two
nodes
May be used in combination with other constraints

Examples
1..* -- At least one to one, possibly to many
0..* -- Optional
0..0 -- Must not be there
7..14 -- Must be in the range 7 to 14

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Topology Query Language Overview

Common Cardinality Constraints

0..*
Indicates none or more
The CI may or may not exist
The CI is optional

0..0
Indicates that the CI has no CIs linked to it
None may exist

1..*
Indicates that the CI has at least one CI linked to it
1 to many

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TQL DISCOVERY: ACTIVITY
Single Object Discovery
Assume the CMDB is populated with the following basic
geometric shapes. Each shape represents a component of the
environment. What does this TQL select from the CMDB?
TQL

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TQL DISCOVERY: ACTIVITY
Multiple Object Discovery

What does this TQL select from the CMDB?

TQL

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TQL DISCOVERY: ACTIVITY
Complex Discovery

What does this TQL select from the CMDB?

TQL

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TQL DISCOVERY: ACTIVITY
Discovery Filter
How would we modify this TQL to return all squares, and also any circles
attached to squares?

TQL

0..*
1..*

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Topology Query Language Overview

TQL Usage Across the Modeling Managers

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Topology Query Language Overview

New TQL Overview

Defines the name, type and

properties of the TQL

TQL Types
View
Report
Correlation
Identity
Enrichment
Integration
Discovery

Structure to hold the links and

nodes
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Topology Query Language Overview

Creating a New TQL

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Topology Query Language Overview

Nodes and Relationships Overview

Defines the query in a graphical

expression of nodes and links

Defines the CITs and relationships

whose instances will be returned from
the CMDB
Identity

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Topology Query Language Overview

Adding Nodes to a TQL

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Topology Query Language Overview

Defining Relationships Between Nodes

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Topology Query Language Examples

Basic Query: all Unix hosts

TQL Query for all Unix hosts with CPU?

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Topology Query Language Examples

Basic Query: Unix hosts with Apache

TQL for all networks with Unix hosts with their IP Addresses?
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Topology Query Language Examples

Basic Query: Unix host resources

Where can you verify the relationship type between two CITs?
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Topology Query Language Overview

Attribute Conditions Review

Places conditions on the query to

constrain the results

Filters the CIs returned to the view

Constrains by the value of an Identity

attribute

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Topology Query Language Overview

TQL Node Properties Dialog

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Topology Query Language Overview

TQL Node Attribute Conditions

Host Operating System Equal

ignore case "windows 2003"
AND
Host Operating System Release
Equal "5"

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Topology Query Language Overview

Adding Attribute Conditions

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Topology Query Language Overview

Fixed Value Parameterized Conditions

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Topology Query Language Examples

Example - Windows 2003 Servers

TQL Definition

Result Set
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Topology Query Language Examples

Example - Unix Host with OS other than Linux

TQL Definition

Result Set
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Topology Query Language Overview

Identity Conditions Overview

Places conditions on the query to

constrain the results

Filters the CIs returned to the view

Constrains by a CIT instance

Identity

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Topology Query Language Overview

Defining an Identity (Select Identities)

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Topology Query Language Overview

All Hosts on the 10.168.11.0 Subnet

TQL

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Topology Query Language Overview

Cardinality Conditions Review

Places conditions on the query to

constrain the results

Filters the CIs returned to the view

Constrains by the number of

Identity
relationships from one CI to another

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Topology Query Language Overview

Defining Relationship Cardinality

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Topology Query Language Overview

Adding Relationship Cardinality

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Topology Query Language Example

Unix Hosts and their CPUs

What would be displayed for 0..* cardinality from CPU to Unix?

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Topology Query Language Example

Unix Hosts with CPUs

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Topology Query Language Examples

Unix Hosts with 2 or more CPUs

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Topology Query Language Overview

Include Subtypes Property Overview

A node or relationship condition selected by default

When selected the TQL results include the CI Type

instances and instances of all subtypes
Host CIT returns Hosts, Unix, Windows, etc.

When deselected the TQL results include the CI Type

instances but none of the instances of any of the
subtypes
Host CIT returns Hosts only

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Topology Query Language Overview

Editing Include Subtypes Properties

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Topology Query Language Overview

Using Include Subtype Properties

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INTRODUCTION TO TQL

Review Questions

1. What are the different types of TQLs? Why do

we need different types of TQLs?

2. List one major difference between SQL and

TQL.

3. How is SQL syntax used by TQL?

4. What is the purpose of an Attribute condition?

5. When might an Identity condition be used in a

View TQL?

6. What property specifies relationships between

instances retrieved by the TQL?

7. When defining cardinality, what does *

indicate?
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Chapter Summary

Summary
Key points in this lesson:
A TQL query provides a graphical or tabular representation
of nodes and relationships between the nodes

A TQL may be built in any of the Modeling managers except

IT Universe Manager and CI Type Manager

A TQL query consists of nodes and relationships along with

their conditions

A TQL can be edited by adding/subtracting nodes and

setting attribute, element id and cardinality conditions

All TQL types can be created in Query Manager but only

integration and discovery TQLs can be edited in Query
Manager
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INTRODUCTION TO TQL

Exercises

Please complete the lesson review questions and

exercises in your book.

After everyone is finished, the instructor will review the

answers.

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