2.1 Configuring an Inventory Scan

An inventory scan allows you to collect data from managed devices in your Management Zone. By default, the inventory settings are preconfigured.

You can define the scan settings at three levels:

2.1.1 Configuring a Scan for the Management Zone

  1. In ZENworks Control Center, click Configuration, then in the Management Zone Settings panel, click Inventory.

  2. Click Inventory in the category list.

  3. In the Scan Now panel, configure how to run an on-demand inventory scan by using a Quick Task, device task, or by using the ZENworks Icon menu.

    For more information on running an on-demand inventory scan, see Section 2.3, Running an Inventory Scan.

    Collect Software Applications: Select this option if you want to scan for software applications. This setting is selected by default.

    Collect Software File Information: Select this option if you want to scan for software file information that can be used to identify software products that aren’t recognized by the ZENworks Knowledgebase. If you plan to create Local Software Products and add them to the knowledgebase, this option must be selected. For more information, see Section 6.0, Creating Local Software Products.

    Collect Hardware: Select this option if you want to scan for hardware data. This setting is selected by default.

    Launch Collection Data Form: Select this option if you want to send out the Collection Data Form, which is used to collect demographic data. For more information, see Section 4.0, Scanning Demographic Data.

    Run DMTF Translator: Select this option if you want to run the DMTF (Desktop Management Task Force) Translator. The DMTF translator converts the inventory data to formats that can be used by other tools and puts it on the local machine.

    User Can Initiate Scan: Select this option if you want to allow the workstation user to initiate a scan by using the ZENworks Icon.

  4. In the First Scan panel, configure how you want to run an initial inventory scan on a device.

    Collect Software Applications: Select this option if you want to scan for software applications. This setting is selected by default.

    Collect Software File Information: Select this option if you want to scan for software file information that can be used to identify software products that aren’t recognized by the ZENworks Knowledgebase. If you plan to create Local Software Products and add them to the knowledgebase, this option must be selected. For more information, see Section 6.0, Creating Local Software Products.

    Collect Hardware: Select this option if you want to scan for hardware data. This setting is selected by default.

    Launch Collection Data Form: Select this option if you want to send out the Collection Data Form, which is used to collect demographic data, when a scan is initiated. For more information, see Section 4.0, Scanning Demographic Data.

    Run DMTF Translator: Select this option if you want to run the DMTF (Desktop Management Task Force) Translator. The DMTF translator converts the inventory data to formats that can be used by other tools and puts it on the local machine.

  5. In the Recurring Scan panel, configure how you want to run scans based on a schedule.

    Collect Software Applications: Select this option if you want to scan for software applications. This setting is selected by default.

    Collect Software File Information: Select this option if you want to scan for software file information that can be used to identify software products that aren’t recognized by the ZENworks Knowledgebase. If you plan to create Local Software Products and add them to the knowledgebase, this option must be selected. For more information, see Section 6.0, Creating Local Software Products.

    Collect Hardware: Select this option if you want to scan for hardware data. This setting is selected by default.

    Launch Collection Data Form: Select this option if you want to send out the Collection Data Form, which is used to collect demographic data. For more information, see Section 4.0, Scanning Demographic Data.

    Run DMTF Translator: Select this option if you want to run the DMTF (Desktop Management Task Force) Translator. The DMTF translator converts the inventory data to formats that can be used by other tools and puts it on the local machine.

  6. In the Software Applications panel, configure which directories to skip.

    Skipping directories is useful in limiting the scope of the scan. Any entry added to the list skips that directory and all the subdirectories below it.

    • To add a directory, specify a directory in the Skip Directories field, then click Add.

    • To edit an existing directory, select the directory, click Edit, edit the directory, then click OK.

    • To delete an existing directory, select the directory, then click Remove.

  7. In the Software Files panel, configure which types of files to scan for.

    Software applications discovered in an inventory scan are identified by specific files associated with the product. These identifications are kept in the ZENworks Knowledgebase. To identify products that aren’t in the knowledgebase, you can search for files that are associated with an unrecognized product and use the file information to create a new product identification called a Local Software Product. This Local Software Product information can then be merged with the knowledgebase so that these new products are recognized in subsequent scans. For more information, see Section 6.0, Creating Local Software Products. To configure the file types, do the following:

    • To search for files with an .exe extension, select the Collect.EXE Files option.

    • To search for files with a different extension, specify the extension in the Additional Extensions field. Separate each extension with a + sign, for example, com+dll.

    • To scan for particular file types, select from the following:

      • System: Select this option to search for system files. This category is selected by default.

      • Ancillary Application: Select this option to search for files that are ancillary to, or associated with, a product that is recognized by the ZENworks Knowledgebase. This option is useful to create a comprehensive scan. This category is selected by default.

      • Other: Select this option to search for all other files. This category is selected by default.

    • To include directories with products that are recognized by the ZENworks Knowledgebase, select Include directories with recognized products. This is useful to create a comprehensive scan.

    • To limit the scope of the scan by including and excluding files and paths, configure which files and paths to include or exclude from the collection by using Add and Remove to specify which files and paths you want to include and exclude from the scan. You can edit the files and paths in the list by selecting the file or path and clicking Edit. If you specify a file or path in the Files and paths to include in collection field, the scan is limited to just that file or path. If a file or path is specified in the Files and paths to exclude from collection field, all files and paths are searched except the specified file or path. Paths specified in the Software Applications panel are also skipped.

  8. In the Advanced panel, configure diagnostic settings.

    WARNING:These options are intended for advanced diagnostics. Use them only under the guidance of a Novell Support representative.

  9. Click Apply or OK.

2.1.2 Configuring a Scan for Devices in a Folder

  1. In ZENworks Control Center, click the Devices tab, then click the Managed tab.

  2. Click Details next to the folder containing the devices you want to configure a scan for.

  3. Click the Settings tab.

  4. In the Settings panel, click Inventory.

  5. In the Catalog list, click Inventory.

  6. In the Inventory panel, click Override settings.

    This overrides the Management Zone settings for these devices.

  7. In the Scan Now panel, configure how to run an inventory scan.

    For configuring an inventory scan, perform steps from Step 7 through Step 9 listed in Section 2.1, Configuring an Inventory Scan.

2.1.3 Configuring an Inventory Scan for a Device

  1. In ZENworks Control Center, click Devices, then click the Managed tab.

  2. Click the folder containing the device you want to configure a scan for.

  3. Click the device.

  4. Click the Settings tab.

  5. In the Settings panel, click Inventory.

  6. In the Catalog list, click Inventory.

  7. In the Inventory panel, click Override settings.

    This overrides the Management Zone and folder settings for this device.

  8. In the Scan Now panel, configure how to run an inventory scan.

    For configuring an inventory scan, perform steps from Step 7 through Step 9 listed in Section 2.1, Configuring an Inventory Scan.