Abstract: A monitoring system includes a database storing configuration information about a plurality of objects in the data center; a first inventory instance that adds a first object to the database, where the first inventory instance classifies the first object based on a set of classification rules to select a set of monitoring rules for the first object based on its classification and add configuration information about the first object to the configuration database; and a first monitoring instance to monitor the first object, the monitoring instance monitoring status of the first object based on respective configuration information in the database; at least one of the first inventory instance and the first monitoring instance identifying a further object functionally connected to the first object, the further objects added to the database by the first or a second inventory instance and monitored by the first or a second monitoring instance.