XML
Extensible Markup Language (XML) is a markup language and file format for storing, transmitting, and reconstructing data. It defines a set of rules for encoding electronic document, documents in a format that is both human-readable and Machine-r ...
-based
markup language
A markup language is a Encoding, text-encoding system which specifies the structure and formatting of a document and potentially the relationships among its parts. Markup can control the display of a document or enrich its content to facilitate au ...
which provides a means for describing data center environments such as dependencies between data center components and managerial policies governing those environments with an open, vendor-neutral language.
DCML can be used to, for example, link a server provisioning system with a server monitoring system so that when a new server is provisioned, it is also automatically monitored. The DCML document transmitted to the monitoring system in this instance would include information about the machine's
IP address
An Internet Protocol address (IP address) is a numerical label such as that is assigned to a device connected to a computer network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication. IP addresses serve two main functions: network interface i ...
and any special ports and services running on the machine that are to be monitored. The DCML document would also contain information about what application the server belongs to and whom to contact, as well as how to contact them, when it goes down. This information is imported into the system that is available to NOC personnel for consultation when an alert occurs.
DCML is being developed by the Data Center Markup Language Interest Group in conjunction with