Comparing WMI to SQL Server
Another way to better understand some key WMI elements is to compare them with SQL Server elements. You might have worked with a database system, such as SQL Server, and understand those concepts.
SQL Server and WMI are radically different systems serving very different purposes. WMI can store some data, but it is not built for the efficient large-scale storage and retrieval of data for which SQL Server is built. The programming interfaces are also completely different. However, relating some SQL Server concepts to roughly equivalent WMI concepts can help you to better understand WMI. Table B.1 lists some analogous concepts in the two systems.
Table B.1 Analogous Concepts Between SQL Server and WMI
Conceptual element |
SQL Server |
WMI |
|---|---|---|
Individual items |
Rows |
Instances |
The characteristics of items |
Columns |
Properties |
Containers of columns and rows |
Tables |
Classes |
Container of tables |
Databases |
Namespaces |
Program code that functions on data |
Stored Procedures |
Methods |
Table characteristics |
Table characteristics |
Class Qualifiers |
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