If there is a change to the client's user inventory information, the user can report the change to the managing server at any time from the Software Distribution - Update User Information dialog box.

When user inventory information is reported, the system information (system information and registry information) is also reported to the managing server. The information that is reported from the Software Distribution - Update User Information dialog box is the same as when a Get system information from client job is executed.

Note that Software Distribution Workstation (relay system) of a version earlier than 03-00 does not manage user inventory information. Report files might accumulate on the disk, resulting in a space shortage. Therefore, if you use the Software Distribution - Update User Information dialog box to report inventory information to Software Distribution Workstation, make sure that the Software Distribution Workstation version in use is 03-00 or later.

For details about how to report inventory information from the Software Distribution - Update User Information dialog box, see 11.6.1 Using the Software Distribution - Update User Information dialog box to report inventory information in the manual Administrator's Guide Volume 1.

If user software information changes, you can report the inventory information from the Installed Software window of Package Setup Manager.

The software information reported by Package Setup Manager includes all software information collected from the clients regardless of the software displayed in the Installed Software window.

For details about how to report software information from Package Setup Manager, see 11.6.2 Using Package Setup Manager to report inventory information in the manual Administrator's Guide Volume 1.

If specific inventory information is updated (such as information about the installation of new software and application of patches), the inventory information can be reported automatically to the managing server when connection is established with the managing server by job execution or polling.

You can use this facility when the version of both the managing server and the client is 07-50 or later. If you are using a relay system, use one of version 07-00 or later.

For details about the settings for reporting updated inventory to the managing server, see 11.6.3 Automatic reporting of updated inventory information in the manual Administrator's Guide Volume 1.

(a) Inventory information to be reported

This facility monitors inventory information that is useful for security management, such as OS information, patch information, and information on anti-virus products.

When inventory information being monitored is updated, system and software information, including the updated inventory information, is reported.

The table shows the types of inventory information that are monitored for updates and the inventory information that is reported.

Table 2-39 Inventory information monitored for updates and the inventory information that is reported

Inventory information monitored for updates	Inventory information that is reported
Host name	System information Registry inventory information monitored for updates and inventory information that is reported Software information Software listed in Add/Remove Programs or in Add or Remove Programs. Hitachi program products Applied patches#2 Unapplied patches#2 Information about Microsoft Office products Information about anti-virus products Standard search list User inventory information
MAC address
The following OS information: OS version OS sub-version OS build number
The following IE information: Internet Explorer version IE patch information
The following security-related information: Guest account Days since password was last updated Time-unlimited password Automatic logon setting Shared folders Restriction on anonymous connections Screensaver Password protection for screensaver Power-on password Windows firewall setting Windows automatic updates Unnecessary services BitLocker-based encryption information HIBUN FDE-based encryption information	System information Registry inventory information monitored for updates and inventory information that is reported
Programs listed in Add/Remove Programs	Programs listed in Add/Remove Programs Hitachi program products Installed patches#2 Uninstalled patches#2
Hitachi program products#1
Applied patches
Database files for WUA
Database files for MBSA 1.2.1
Information about Microsoft Office products#3	Information about Microsoft Office products
Information about anti-virus products#3	Information about anti-virus products

#1

If a Hitachi program product is uninstalled, inventory information is not automatically reported. To check for uninstallation of Hitachi program products from a managing server, you must execute a job for collecting software information.

#2

To automatically report information about installed and uninstalled patches, various settings must be specified so that the clients can detect the patch information. For details about the settings for detecting patch information, see 7.2.2 Distributing the files necessary for detection using WUA or 7.2.3 Distributing the files necessary for detection using MBSA 1.2.1 in the manual Administrator's Guide Volume 1.

#3

If the client's OS is Windows NT 4.0 or Windows 98, Windows Scripting Host must be installed on the client. If it is not installed, you can download Windows Script 5.6 from Microsoft Corporation's web site and install it.

Inventory information is also reported to the managing server whenever any of the following events occur. In this case, inventory information, including all of the inventory information listed on the right side of Table 2-39, in addition to the software information distributed by JP1/Software Distribution, is reported.

• A new client is installed.
• The connection destination is changed in client setup.
• A higher system switches from operation that is not based on host IDs to one that is based on host IDs.

(b) Notes

Note the following about automatic inventory information reporting:

• If inventory information is reported automatically, information is reported every time a client's inventory information is updated, and might place irregular burdens on the server or network environment. Therefore, if it is necessary to avoid irregular burdens on the server or network environment, do not select automatic reporting of inventory information. Instead, execute a job for collecting inventory information.
• If inventory information is reported automatically and JP1/Software Distribution SubManager for UNIX that is earlier than version 07-00 is used as a relay manager, unnecessary files might accumulate in JP1/Software Distribution SubManager for UNIX and might cause a disk space shortage.
• Software information about Hitachi program products collected and managed using a software search list might be different from the software information that is reported automatically. Therefore, to collect and manage software information about Hitachi program products, use either a software search list or automatic reporting of inventory information, but not both.
• If the version of a higher system is changed, execute both Search for Microsoft Office products and Search for anti-virus products in a Get software information from client job for the client from which inventory information is automatically reported. If you do not execute this job, information might not be correctly reported.
• If a client's connection destination was changed to another higher system and then switched back to the original connection destination, information about the software that was uninstalled while the client was connected to the other higher system might not be reported when the original connection is restored.
• If WUA is used to detect patch information, WUA checks for any change to the patch information when connection is established with the managing server. Because it might take some time for this detection by WUA, note the following:
  
  • If polling is enabled and the polling interval is set during client setup to be short, an excessive workload might affect the client. To avoid this, specify as large a value as possible for the polling interval on the Default Running Status/Polling page during client setup.
  • If polling is enabled and the first time polling is to be performed is set during client setup to Before the client starts, it might take some time to start the programs registered in the Software Distribution Client Startup folder.
  • If WUA is used to detect patch information, we recommend that you use a PC with high CPU performance, such as a PC with a processor having a clock speed of at least 2.0 GHz or a PC with multiple processors.

Whenever clients are added to the JP1/Software Distribution system by adding machines, installing new clients, or moving clients within the network, the inventory information can be reported automatically to the managing server.

For details about the settings for reporting inventory information to the managing server when clients are added, see 11.6.4 Reporting inventory information at automatic registration of system configuration in the manual Administrator's Guide Volume 1.

(a) Reporting timing

Inventory information is reported to the managing server at the following times:

• When a new client is installed.
• When the connection destination is changed in client setup.
• When the higher system switches from operation that is not based on host IDs to one that is based on host IDs.

(b) Inventory information that is reported

The following inventory information is reported:

• System information (system information and registry information)
• Software information listed in Add/Remove Programs

Note that Software Distribution Workstation (relay system) of a version earlier than 05-21 does not manage registry information. Due to reporting of registry information, unneeded files might accumulate on disk, resulting in a space shortage. Therefore, if you report inventory information to Software Distribution Workstation when the system configuration is registered, make sure that the Software Distribution Workstation version in use is 05-21 or later.