Configuration management is a process for establishing and maintaining settings for the performance of a product’s performance, function and attributes in line with its requirements, design and operational goals. It is often used to manage settings and changes for devices and software that comprise networked computer systems.
In computer networks managing configuration settings involves tracking and monitoring all changes that are made to the system. In the initial deployment of networks configuration settings were often performed manually and through the use of adhoc scripts. With the increasing complexity of systems today this approach is no longer tenable, especially since an improperly configured device can cause significant impacts. Today configuration management software is used to control configuration settings through the processes of identifying devices, setting a baseline configuration, specifying an identifier (version) for any changes and auditing and recording of this information.