CIM_PhysicalElement class

The CIM_PhysicalElement subclasses define any component of a system that has a distinct physical identity. Instances of this class can be defined in terms of labels that can be physically attached to the object. All processes, files, and logical devices are not considered to be physical elements. For example, it is not possible to attach a label to a modem; it is only possible to attach a label to the card that implements the modem. The same card could also implement a LAN adapter.

Tangible managed system elements (usually hardware items) have a physical manifestation. A managed system element is not necessarily a discrete component. For example, it is possible for a single card (a type of physical element) to host more than one logical device. The card would be represented by a single physical element associated with multiple logical devices.

Important

The DMTF (Distributed Management Task Force) CIM (Common Information Model) classes are the parent classes upon which WMI classes are built. WMI currently supports only the CIM 2.x version schemas.

The following syntax is simplified from Managed Object Format (MOF) code and includes all of its inherited properties. Properties are listed in alphabetic order, not MOF order.

Syntax

[Abstract, UUID("{FAF76B61-798C-11D2-AAD1-006008C78BC7}"), AMENDMENT]
class CIM_PhysicalElement : CIM_ManagedSystemElement
{
  string   Caption;
  string   Description;
  datetime InstallDate;
  string   Name;
  string   Status;
  string   CreationClassName;
  string   Manufacturer;
  string   Model;
  string   OtherIdentifyingInfo;
  string   PartNumber;
  boolean  PoweredOn;
  string   SerialNumber;
  string   SKU;
  string   Tag;
  string   Version;
};

Members

The CIM_PhysicalElement class has these types of members:

Properties

The CIM_PhysicalElement class has these properties.

Caption

Data type: string

Access type: Read-only

Qualifiers: MaxLen (64), DisplayName ("Caption")

A short textual description of the object.

This property is inherited from CIM_ManagedSystemElement.

CreationClassName

Data type: string

Access type: Read-only

Qualifiers: CIM_Key, MaxLen (256)

Name of the class or subclass used in the creation of an instance. When used with other key properties of the class, this property allows all instances of the class and its subclasses to be uniquely identified.

Description

Data type: string

Access type: Read-only

Qualifiers: DisplayName ("Description")

A textual description of the object.

This property is inherited from CIM_ManagedSystemElement.

InstallDate

Data type: datetime

Access type: Read-only

Qualifiers: MappingStrings ("MIF.DMTF|ComponentID|001.5"), DisplayName ("Install Date")

Indicates when the object was installed. Lack of a value does not indicate that the object is not installed.

This property is inherited from CIM_ManagedSystemElement.

Manufacturer

Data type: string

Access type: Read-only

Qualifiers: MaxLen (256)

Name of the organization responsible for producing the physical element. For more information, see the Vendor property of CIM_Product.

Model

Data type: string

Access type: Read-only

Qualifiers: MaxLen (64)

Name by which the physical element is generally known.

Name

Data type: string

Access type: Read-only

Qualifiers: DisplayName ("Name")

Label by which the object is known. When subclassed, this property can be overridden to be a key property.

This property is inherited from CIM_ManagedSystemElement.

OtherIdentifyingInfo

Data type: string

Access type: Read-only

Additional data, beyond asset tag information, that can be used to identify a physical element. One example is bar-code data that is associated with an element, which also has an asset tag. Note that if only bar-code data is available, and is unique and able to be used as an element key, this property would be null and the bar-code data would be used as the class key in the Tag property.

PartNumber

Data type: string

Access type: Read-only

Qualifiers: MaxLen (256)

Part number assigned by the organization responsible for producing or manufacturing the physical element.

PoweredOn

Data type: boolean

Access type: Read-only

If TRUE, the physical element is powered on. Otherwise, it is currently off.

SerialNumber

Data type: string

Access type: Read-only

Qualifiers: MaxLen (64)

Manufacturer-allocated number used to identify the physical element.

SKU

Data type: string

Access type: Read-only

Qualifiers: MaxLen (64)

Stock-keeping unit number for this physical element.

Status

Data type: string

Access type: Read-only

Qualifiers: MaxLen (10), DisplayName ("Status")

String that indicates the current status of the object. Operational and non-operational status can be defined. Operational status can include "OK", "Degraded", and "Pred Fail". "Pred Fail" indicates that an element is functioning properly, but is predicting a failure (for example, a SMART-enabled hard disk drive).

Non-operational status can include "Error", "Starting", "Stopping", and "Service". "Service" can apply during disk mirror-resilvering, reloading a user permissions list, or other administrative work. Not all such work is online, but the managed element is neither "OK" nor in one of the other states.

This property is inherited from CIM_ManagedSystemElement.

Values include the following:

OK ("OK")

Error ("Error")

Degraded ("Degraded")

Unknown ("Unknown")

Pred Fail ("Pred Fail")

Starting ("Starting")

Stopping ("Stopping")

Service ("Service")

Stressed ("Stressed")

NonRecover ("NonRecover")

No Contact ("No Contact")

Lost Comm ("Lost Comm")

Tag

Data type: string

Access type: Read-only

Qualifiers: CIM_Key, MaxLen (256)

Uniquely identifies the physical element and serves as the element's key. This property can contain information, such as asset tag or serial number data. The key for CIM_PhysicalElement is placed very high in the object hierarchy to independently identify the hardware or entity, regardless of physical placement in (or on) cabinets, adapters, and so on. For example, a removable component that can be hot-swapped can be taken from its containing (scoping) package and be temporarily unused. The object still continues to exist and can even be inserted into a different scoping container. The key for a physical element is an arbitrary string that is defined independently of placement or location-oriented hierarchy.

Version

Data type: string

Access type: Read-only

Qualifiers: MaxLen (64)

Indicates the version of the physical element.

Remarks

WMI does not implement this class. For WMI classes derived from CIM_PhysicalElement, see Win32 Classes.

This documentation is derived from the CIM class descriptions published by the DMTF. Microsoft may have made changes to correct minor errors, conform to Microsoft SDK documentation standards, or provide more information.

Requirements

Requirement Value
Minimum supported client
Windows Vista
Minimum supported server
Windows Server 2008
Namespace
Root\CIMV2
MOF
CIMWin32.mof
DLL
CIMWin32.dll

See also

CIM_ManagedSystemElement