1. A method comprising: receiving, with an adaptive configuration management database (ACMDB) system running on a computing device, a request for configuration data from a requesting device, the request for configuration data for one or more devices coupled with the ACMDB, wherein the ACMDB stores data as a pointer to one or more systems with a data collection handler; providing to the requesting device with the ACMDB, in response to the request, a response comprising at least one or more serialized function provides information for how to configure the target device and not the configuration data itself, wherein the serialized function includes at least one function to cause the requesting device to gather configuration information from a specified location accessible by the requesting device; and updating pointer descriptors in the ACMDB utilzing a data schema and delivery process corresponding to the ACMDB in response to changes in corresponding configuration data or in response to changes in a location of corresponding configuration data.