Reference Guide
2
CIM_Physical Element
CIM_PhysicalElement is a CIM-defined class. The CIM_PhysicalElement class contains the subclasses shown in Figure 
CIM_PhysicalElement Class Structure
CIM_PhysicalElement
Subclasses of the CIM_PhysicalElement class listed in Table below define any component of a system that has a distinct physical 
identity. Physical elements are tangible managed system elements (usually actual hardware items) that have a physical 
manifestation of some sort. By contrast, processes, files, and logical devices are not classified as physical elements. A managed 
system element is not necessarily a discrete component. A single card (which is a type of physical element) can host more than one 
logical device.
One card, for example, could implement both a modem and a local area network (LAN) adapter. In this case, the card would be 
represented by a single physical element associated with multiple logical devices.
Table 3. CIM_PhysicalElement Properties
Class Name: CIM_PhysicalElement
Parent Class: CIM_ManagedSystemElement
Property Description  Data Type
CreationClassName See Common Properties of 
Classes
Manufacturer See Common Properties of 
Classes
Model The name by which the 
physical element is generally 
known.
string
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