Here are some key aspects of a MultiSource CMDB:

1. Data Integration: A MultiSource CMDB is designed to integrate and consolidate configuration data from various sources within an organization. These sources can include discovery tools, asset management systems, IT service management platforms like ServiceNow, virtualization management tools, and more.

2. Data Normalization: Data from different sources often come in various formats and structures. A MultiSource CMDB includes mechanisms for normalizing and standardizing data to ensure consistency and accuracy. This normalization process is crucial for effective configuration management.

3. Automated Data Collection: MultiSource CMDBs typically support automated data collection through discovery and agent-based methods. This reduces manual data entry and ensures that the CMDB is constantly updated with the latest configuration information.

4. Relationship Mapping: A key feature of MultiSource CMDBs is the ability to map relationships between configuration items (CIs) across different sources. This helps in understanding the impact of changes or incidents and identifying dependencies between CIs.

5. Federated Architecture: MultiSource CMDBs often use a federated architecture, allowing each data source to retain control over its data while providing a centralized view and control point. This approach respects data ownership and security concerns.

6. Change Tracking: MultiSource CMDBs track changes to CIs over time, providing a historical record of configuration changes. This is essential for audit trails, compliance, and troubleshooting.

7. Impact Analysis: With data from various sources and comprehensive relationship mapping, MultiSource CMDBs enable organizations to perform impact analysis when changes or incidents occur. This helps in assessing the potential consequences of actions before implementation.

8. Service Mapping: Service mapping capabilities are often included in MultiSource CMDBs, allowing organizations to map IT services to the underlying infrastructure and understand how service delivery is affected by changes or incidents.

9. Automation and Orchestration: MultiSource CMDBs can integrate with automation and orchestration tools to automate tasks related to configuration management, such as provisioning, decommissioning, and updating CIs.

10. Reporting and Analytics: MultiSource CMDBs provide robust reporting and analytics features, allowing organizations to gain insights into configuration data, compliance, and performance.

11. Security and Access Control: Security measures are put in place to ensure that sensitive configuration data is protected, and access control is enforced to restrict who can view or modify configuration information.