Collecting Inventory and Software Metering

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Collecting Inventory and Software Metering
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Overview

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

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Introduction to Inventory Collection

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

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What Is Inventory Collection?

• Inventory collection is
• Types of data collected

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

• Hardware Inventory Data
• Software Inventory Data

Hardware Inventory Data
Software Inventory Data
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Uses of Hardware and Software Inventory
Information

• Creating queries and reports
• Troubleshooting client problems
• Maintaining corporate standards
• Locating computers
• Target software distribution

• Uses of hardware inventory data

• Creating queries and reports
• Collect files
• Troubleshoot client problems
• Distribute software

• Uses of software inventory data

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The Key Components in Inventory Collection
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The Inventory Collection Process


Site Database Server
Site Server
CAP or MP
Management Point
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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

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How to Enable the Hardware and Software Inventory
Client Agents
To enable the hardware or software Inventory
Client Agent
Select Enable hardware inventory on clients
Specify the inventory schedule
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How to Force Inventory Collection
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How to View the Results of Inventory Collection
Using the 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
  containing
• the type of information you want to view

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How to Configure Software Inventory Rules
To configure software inventory rules
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
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How to Configure File Collection
To configure file collection
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
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Demo How to Collect Hardware Inventory
Information
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What Is the SMS_def.mof File?
The SMS_def.mof file contains rules for inventory
that consist of

• Classes
• Attributes
• Boolean 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
Example
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How to Modify the SMS_def.mof File
Edit SMS_def.mof
InventoryRules and Settings
CAP
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Legacy Client
Site Server
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Advanced Client
SMS_def. mof
Management Point
InventoryPolicy
Edit SMS_def.mof Replicate changes to CAPs and
Management Points Replicate changes to clients
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How SMS Uses WMI in Hardware Inventory Collection
SMS uses WMI to collect hardware inventory data
SMS Inventory Client Agent
Queries SMS_def.mof and retrieves specific
inventory data from WMI
WMI
Collects computer management data from a variety
of sources and sends to SMS Inventory Client Agent
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What Are MIF Files?

• MIF files
• Provide supplemental inventory data
• Provide detailed software distribution status
  data

• MIF file types
• NOIDMIF
• IDMIF

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How to Create MIF Files
To create a MIF file
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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How to Submit a NOIDMIF File to the Client
To submit a NOIDMIF file to the client

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

• For Advanced Clients, use Windir\System32\CCM\In
  ventory\Noidmifs
• For Legacy Clients, use Windir\MS\SMS\Noidmifs

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What Is Software Metering?
Software Metering is the process of gathering
detailed data on program usage from client
computers in an SMS site
Types of data collected

• Program usage information
• File information
• Program information

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The Components of Software Metering
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How Software Metering Works

• Software
• Metering
• Client Agent

Monitored program
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Monitored program
Monitored program
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The Software Metering process
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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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How to Create a Software Metering Rule
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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How to Configure the Software Metering Client
Agent
To use 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
To verify installation and operation
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• 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

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Demo Using Software Metering