Collecting Inventory and

Software Metering

Overview

Introduction to Inventory Collection Collecting Inventory Information Extending Inventory Collection Configuring Software Metering

Introduction to Inventory Collection

What Is Inventory Collection? Uses of Hardware and Software Inventory The Key Components of Inventory

Collection The Inventory Collection Process

Inventory collection is:

Types of data collected:

What Is Inventory Collection?

The process of gathering inventory data from clients in an SMS siteConfigured on a per-site basis

Software Inventory DataSoftware Inventory Data

Hardware Inventory DataHardware Inventory Data

Hardware Inventory DataSoftware Inventory Data

Uses of hardware inventory data:

Uses of Hardware and Software Inventory Information

Creating queries and reportsTroubleshooting client problemsMaintaining corporate standardsLocating computersTarget software distribution

Uses of software inventory data:

Creating queries and reportsCollect filesTroubleshoot client problemsDistribute software

The Key Components in Inventory Collection

Component Description

ClientContains client inventory agent components that collect data from clients

Site Server

Stores and passes inventory settings to CAPs and Management Points through SQL ServerProcesses inventory data and sends it to site database

Management Point

Passes Advanced Client policies to Advanced ClientsCollects and passes inventory data from Advanced Clients to site server

CAP

Passes inventory settings to Legacy Clients Collects and passes inventory data from Legacy Clients to site server

Site Database Stores inventory data

The Inventory Collection Process

Site Database Server

CAP or MP Management Point

Site Server

Check for setting updatesCheck for setting updates11

Collect inventoryCollect inventory22

Deliver data to CAP and MPDeliver data to CAP and MP33

Deliver data to site serverDeliver data to site server44

Update site databaseUpdate site database55

Update parent sites and central serverUpdate parent sites and central server77

View inventory dataView inventory data66

Collecting Inventory Information How to Enable the Hardware and Software

Inventory Client Agents How to Force Inventory Collection How to View the Results of Inventory Collection

Using the Resource Explorer How to Configure Software Inventory Rules How to Configure File Collection Demonstration: How to Collect Hardware

Inventory Information

How to Enable the Hardware and Software Inventory Client Agents

Select Enable hardware inventory on clients

Specify the inventory schedule

Select Enable hardware inventory on clients

Specify the inventory schedule

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To enable the hardware or software Inventory Client Agent:

To force a file collection on an Advanced Client:To force a file collection on an Advanced Client:

Click File Collection Cycle

Click Initiate Action

Click File Collection Cycle

Click Initiate Action

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How to Force Inventory Collection

To force hardware or software inventory on an Advanced Client:To force hardware or software inventory on an Advanced Client:

Select the appropriate inventory cycle

Click Initiate Action to start the cycle

Select the appropriate inventory cycle

Click Initiate Action to start the cycle

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How to View the Results of Inventory Collection Using the Resource Explorer

To view inventory collection results using Resource Explorer:To view inventory collection results using Resource Explorer:

Navigate to a collection in the SMS Administrator console

Right-click the client you want to view

In Resource Explorer, select the folder containingthe type of information you want to view

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To configure software inventory rules:To configure software inventory rules:

How to Configure Software Inventory Rules

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Navigate to the Inventoried File Properties dialog

Type the name (or wildcard value) of the file you want to inventory

Specify the path to the file to inventory

Specify whether to inventory encrypted and compressed files

Set the level of file and product details to collect

To configure file collection:To configure file collection:

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Navigate to the Collected File Properties dialog

Type the name (or wildcard value) of the file you want to collect

Specify the path to the file to collect

Specify whether to collect encrypted and compressed files

Set the maximum size for the files to be collected

How to Configure File Collection

Demo: How to Collect Hardware Inventory Information

The SMS_def.mof file contains rules for inventory that consist of:

What Is the SMS_def.mof File?

Classes AttributesBoolean values set to True or False

Data is collected when a value is set to True

Class SMS_Logical Disk : SMS_Class_Template{ [SMS_Report (TRUE) ] uint16 Access; [SMS_Report (FALSE) ] uint16 Availability;

Class SMS_Logical Disk : SMS_Class_Template{ [SMS_Report (TRUE) ] uint16 Access; [SMS_Report (FALSE) ] uint16 Availability;

ExampleExample

How to Modify the SMS_def.mof File

Management Point

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Site Server

CAP

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Advanced Client

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Legacy Client

33

Edit SMS_def.mof

Replicate changes to CAPs and Management Points

Replicate changes to clients

Edit SMS_def.mof

Replicate changes to CAPs and Management Points

Replicate changes to clients

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InventoryPolicy

SMS_def.mof

InventoryRules and Settings

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Edit SMS_def.mofEdit SMS_def.mof

How SMS Uses WMI in Hardware Inventory Collection

Collects computer management data from a variety of sources and sends to SMS Inventory Client Agent

Collects computer management data from a variety of sources and sends to SMS Inventory Client Agent

Queries SMS_def.mof and retrieves specific inventory data from WMIQueries SMS_def.mof and retrieves specific inventory data from WMI

SMS uses WMI to collect hardware inventory data

WMIWMI

SMS_def.mof

SMS Inventory Client Agent

SMS Inventory Client Agent

What Are MIF Files?

MIF files:

Provide supplemental inventory data

Provide detailed software distribution status data

MIF files:

Provide supplemental inventory data

Provide detailed software distribution status data

MIF file types:

NOIDMIF

IDMIF

MIF file types:

NOIDMIF

IDMIF

To create a MIF file:To create a MIF file:

How to Create MIF Files

Use a text editor to create the MIF file

Add the component and then name it

Name the group class

Assign a group ID number to the class

Add class information

Add the key property and additional property data

Save the text file with the extension .MIF

Use a text editor to create the MIF file

Add the component and then name it

Name the group class

Assign a group ID number to the class

Add class information

Add the key property and additional property data

Save the text file with the extension .MIF

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Place the MIF file in the appropriate folder for the client type:Place the MIF file in the appropriate folder for the client type:

How to Submit a NOIDMIF File to the Client

For Advanced Clients, use %Windir%\System32\CCM\Inventory\Noidmifs

For Legacy Clients, use %Windir%\MS\SMS\Noidmifs

To submit a NOIDMIF file to the client:

Types of data collected:

What Is Software Metering?

Program usage information

File informationProgram information

Software Metering is the process of gathering detailed data on program usage from client computers in an SMS site

The Components of Software Metering

Component Description

Software Metering RulesConfiguration rules provide data to monitor program usage

Software Metering Client AgentUses software metering rule to collect and report metered data

Client Access Points (CAPs)

Receive legacy client metering reports Provide software metering rules to Legacy

clients

Management Points

Receive Advanced client metering reports Provide software metering rules to

Advanced Clients

Software Metering Processes on the Site Server

Processes client reports and passes data to the site database

Creates/prepares software metering rules

Queries and Reports Displays summarized data

How Software Metering Works

SoftwareMetering

Client Agent

SoftwareMetering

Client Agent

Agent examines each program running on a client

Agent collects usage data each time a monitored program runs

Agent uploads the data to the client access point or management point on a scheduled basis

Data is forwarded to the site server and then to the site database

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Monitored program

Monitored programMonitored

programMonitored programMonitored

programMonitored program

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The Software Metering process:

To create a software metering rule:To create a software metering rule:

How to Create a Software Metering Rule

Navigate to the Software Metering Rules node

Create a new software metering rule

Select the correct version of the file that you want to meter

Apply the rule to the child sites if applicable

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To use the Software Metering Client Agent:To use the Software Metering Client Agent:

How to Configure the Software Metering Client Agent

Navigate to the Software Metering Client Agent Properties dialog box

Enable software metering on the clients

Specify how frequently you want to collect metered data and download software metering rules

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How to Verify the Installation and Operation of Software Metering

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To verify installation and operation:

On the Advanced client, verify the following: The SWMTRReportGen log The metering rules are correct

On the Legacy Client, monitor the smagent log file

On the site server, verify the following: Client agent is enabled and that metering rules are defined The SMS_SOFTWARE_METERING_PROCESSOR is running The SMS_SQL_MONITOR process is running

Demo: Using Software Metering