You use the file collection facility to collect client files at the central server. This is called (remote collection), and is used for tasks like the following:

• Collecting client job data in a batch, and then using it for a job.
• Collecting error and log information from client applications and analyzing it to facilitate troubleshooting.

To collect files, you create and execute a job from the managing server in the same way that you create a job to distribute software. You can place relay systems between the managing server and the clients to drive file collection and to transfer the collected files. The following figure shows an overview of the file collection facility.

Figure 1-14 File collection facility

Files are collected after being compressed or archived. Because remotely collected files that have been compressed or archived cannot be read directly, you must restore them to their original format by using the unarchiver facility of JP1/Software Distribution Manager or JP1/Software Distribution Client (relay system).

For details about the file collection facility, see 2.4 Collecting files (by remote collection).