In computing, Web-Based Enterprise Management (WBEM) comprises a set of systems-management technologies developed to unify the management of distributed computing environments. The WBEM initiative, initially sponsored in 1996 by BMC Software, Cisco Systems, Compaq Computer, Intel, and Microsoft, is now widely adopted. WBEM is based on Internet standards and Distributed Management Task Force (DMTF) open standards: Common Information Model (CIM) infrastructure and schema CIM-XML CIM operations over HTTP WS-Management for web services CIM Operations over RESTful Services Although the name labels WBEM as "web-based", it is not necessarily dependent on any particular user interface (see below). Other systems-management approaches include remote shells, proprietary solutions and IETF standardized network-management architectures like the SNMP and netconf. Features WBEM allows the management of any element in a standard and inter-operable manner. WBEM provides the technology underlying different management initiatives in information technology: desktop management (DASH) network management (NetMan) There is a DMTF page that shows a number of DSP pdfs that are the published profiles of the NetMan Initiative storage management (SMI) systems management (SMASH) virtualization management (VMAN) There is a DMTF page that shows a number of DSP pdfs that are the published profiles of the VMAN Initiative Architecture To understand the WBEM architecture, consider the components which lie between the operator trying to manage a device (configure it, turn it off and on, collect alarms, etc.) and the actual hardware and software of the device: the operator will invoke some form of graphical user interface (GUI), Browser User Interface (BUI), or command-line interface (CLI). The WBEM standard has nothing to say about this interface (although the definition of a CLI for specific applications has started): WBEM operates independently of the human interface, since human interfaces can change without the rest of the system needing to note such changes. the GUI, BUI or CLI will interface with a WBEM client through a small set of application programming interfaces (APIs). This client will find the WBEM server for the managed device (typically on the device itself) and construct an XML message containing the request. the client will use the HTTP (or HTTPS) protocol to pass the request, encoding it in CIM-XML, to the WBEM server the WBEM server will decode the incoming request, perform the necessary authentication and authorization checks and then consult the previously defined model of the managed device to see how to handle the request. This model provides the power