Future system that can participate in systems management activities until an actual system is on-line

Abstract

Hardware configuration management is provided. A hardware configuration manager includes a proposed new hardware configuration item for an existing production environment and its hardware configuration management software. A completed detailed setup of the management of the proposed hardware configuration item is completed before the proposed hardware configuration item is available. The detailed setup includes at least configuring policies of the proposed hardware configuration item. The hardware configuration manager also comprises a device for preventing scheduled tasks from running until a predefined period following activation of a new hardware configuration item that has the completed detailed setup and the proposed hardware configuration item is mapped thereto.