Techniques are for rule-based continuous drift and consistency management for target systems. In one embodiment, a set of rules is stored in volatile or non-volatile store. The set of rules may include one or more drift rules and/or one or more consistency rules. A rule may be applied to one or more associated targets to detect drift or inconsistency. A drift rule identifies a set of one or more attributes and a source and may be applied by comparing a first configuration of the set of one or more attributes on an associated target with a second configuration of the set of one or more attributes on the source. A consistency rule may be applied to a composite target by comparing member targets that are grouped by target type. Notification data may be output if target drift or inconsistency is detected to alert a user.
Please help me write a proper abstract based on the patent claims. CLAIM: 1. A method comprising: storing, in volatile or non-volatile storage, a composite template that includes a plurality of sub-templates; wherein the plurality of sub-templates includes a first sub-template for targets of a first target type and a second sub-template for targets of a second target type; for a composite target that includes a set of member targets of the first target type, comparing, based on the first sub-template, configurations of the set of member targets to determine whether the set of member targets is consistent; after said comparing, detecting at least one of an addition of a member target to the set of member targets and a removal of a member target from the set of member targets; in response to said detecting, determining that the set of member targets is not consistent based on at least re-comparing, based on the first sub-template, configurations of the set of member targets; in response to determining that the set of member targets is not consistent, outputting notification data that indicates that the composite target is not consistent. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein re-comparing, based on the first sub-template, configurations of the set of member target comprises comparing one or more configurations, of a set of attributes identified by the first sub-template, on one or more respective member targets in the set of member targets with a configuration, of the set of attributes identified by the first sub-template, on a first reference target from the set of member targets. 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising computing a compliance score for the composite target based, at least in part, on how many attributes in the set of member targets are consistent. 4. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising: comparing, based on the second sub-template, configurations of a second set of member targets of the second target type to determine whether the second set of member targets is consistent; wherein outputting, by the one or more computing devices, notification data that indicates that the composite target is inconsistent is further responsive to a determination that the second set of member targets is not consistent. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first target type is based on a type of function performed by the set of member targets and the second target type is based on a type of function performed by a second set of member targets of said second target type. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first target type and the second target type are at least one of a cluster and high availability service, a database service, a database machine, an application service, or a domain discovery service. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the composite template is part of a consistency rule that is associated with the composite target; wherein the consistency rule is applied to the composite target to determine whether the composite target is consistent; wherein applying the consistency rule to the composite target includes said comparing, based on the first sub-template, configurations of the set of member targets to determine whether the set of member targets is consistent. 8. The method of claim 7, further comprising detecting a change in the composite template; and in response to detecting the change to the composite template, re-applying the consistency rule to a set of composite targets that are associated with the consistency rule. 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of member targets is associated with a configuration profile, where the method further includes adding a new member to the set based on comparing the configuration profile to the new member. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein said detecting is based on least said adding said new member. 11. One or more non-transitory storage media storing sequences of instructions, which when executed by one or more processors, cause: storing, in volatile or non-volatile storage, a composite template that includes a plurality of sub-templates; wherein the plurality of sub-templates includes a first sub-template for targets of a first target type and a second sub-template for targets of a second target type; for a composite target that includes a set of member targets of the first target type, comparing, based on the first sub-template, configurations of the set of member targets to determine whether the set of member targets is consistent; after said comparing, detecting at least one of an addition of a member target to the set of member targets and a removal of a member target from the set of member targets; in response to said detecting, determining that the set of member targets is not consistent based on at least re-comparing, based on the first sub-template, configurations of the set of member targets; in response to determining that the set of member targets is not consistent, outputting notification data that indicates that the composite target is not consistent. 12. The one or more non-transitory storage media of claim 11, wherein re-comparing, based on the first sub-template, configurations of the set of member target comprises comparing one or more configurations, of a set of attributes identified by the first sub-template, on one or more respective member targets in the set of member targets with a configuration, of the set of attributes identified by the first sub-template, on a first reference target from the set of member targets. 13. The one or more non-transitory storage media of claim 11, wherein the sequences of instructions include instructions that, when executed said one or more processors, cause computing a compliance score for the composite target based, at least in part, on how many attributes in the set of member targets are consistent. 14. The one or more non-transitory storage media of claim 11, wherein the sequences of instructions include instructions that, when executed said one or more processors, cause: comparing, based on the second sub-template, configurations of a second set of member targets of the second target type to determine whether the second set of member targets is consistent; wherein outputting, by the one or more computing devices, notification data that indicates that the composite target is inconsistent is further responsive to a determination that the second set of member targets is not consistent. 15. The one or more non-transitory storage media of claim 11, wherein the first target type is based on a type of function performed by the set of member targets and the second target type is based on a type of function performed by a second set of member targets of said second target type. 16. The one or more non-transitory storage media of claim 11, wherein the first target type and the second target type are at least one of a cluster and high availability service, a database service, a database machine, an application service, or a domain discovery service. 17. The one or more non-transitory storage media of claim 11, wherein the composite template is part of a consistency rule that is associated with the composite target; wherein the consistency rule is applied to the composite target to determine whether the composite target is consistent; wherein applying the consistency rule to the composite target includes said comparing, based on the first sub-template, configurations of the set of member targets to determine whether the set of member targets is consistent. 18. The one or more non-transitory storage media of claim 17, wherein the sequences of instructions include instructions that, when executed said one or more processors, cause: detecting a change in the composite template; and in response to detecting the change to the composite template, re-applying the consistency rule to a set of composite targets that are associated with the consistency rule. 19. The one or more non-transitory storage media of claim 11, wherein the set of member targets is associated with a configuration profile, wherein the sequences of instructions include instructions that, when executed said one or more processors, cause adding a new member to the set based on comparing the configuration profile to the new member. 20. The one or more non-transitory storage media of claim 19, wherein said detecting is based on least said adding said new member.