Job Management Partner 1/Software Distribution Client Description and User's Guide

4.3.3 Reporting of inventory information from the distribution-destination system

To collect inventory information, you must execute a get inventory information job from the managing server. In a large system, however, executing such jobs results in a problematically large network load.

Therefore, instead of such managing server-led inventory information collection, a function is available for reporting inventory information to the managing server when the inventory information of the distribution-destination system is changed, for example. In distribution-destination system-led inventory information reporting, the necessary information only can be collected from the distribution-destination system at the necessary timing, thereby reducing the network load.

The following two kinds of methods are available for reporting inventory information from the distribution-destination system:

• Automatic reporting of updated inventory information
  When the inventory information of the distribution-destination system is updated, it can be automatically reported when the system connects to the managing server.
  
• Reporting at automatic registration of system configuration
  When a new distribution-destination system is added to the JP1/Software Distribution system, the inventory information can be reported when the system configuration is automatically registered.
  

Note that the inventory information is reported when the system checks with a higher-level system for a job. To automatically report the inventory information, you must set up the system such that it checks for jobs periodically. For details about the setting method, see the explanation of WatchTimeofOrders under (2) Details in the sections listed below.

• For a relay system
  See 6.4.2 Syntax of the relay system settings file in PART 2
  
• For an end workstation
  See 6.4.3 Syntax of the end workstation settings file in PART 2
  
• For a client workstation
  See 6.4.4 Syntax of the client workstation settings file PART 2
  

Organization of this subsection

(1) Automatic reporting of updated inventory information

(2) Reporting at automatic registration of system configuration

(1) Automatic reporting of updated inventory information

When certain inventory information is updated as a result of new software installation or patch application, for example, you can use job execution or polling to automatically report the inventory information to the managing server when the system connects to the managing server.

You can use this function when the managing server is Version 07-50 or later of JP1/Software Distribution Manager for Windows. When using a relay system or Windows version of relay manager, use Version 07-00 or a later version.

(a) Inventory information that is reported

This function monitors inventory information that can be utilized for security management, such as OS version and anti-virus products.

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

Table 4-1 shows the correspondence between inventory information monitored for updates and the inventory information to be reported.

Table 4-1 Correspondence between inventory information monitored for updates and the inventory information to be reported

Inventory information monitored for updates	Inventory information to be reported
Host name	System information Information on another company's software Software distributed by JP1/Software Distribution system Hitachi program products Applied patches
MAC address
IP address
OS version	System information
Client version
Hitachi program products	Information on another company's software Hitachi program products Applied patches
Applied patches

Inventory information is also reported to the managing server at the timings listed below. Table 4-2 shows the correspondence between events monitored for updates and the inventory information to be reported.

Table 4-2 Correspondence between events monitored for updates and the inventory information to be reported

Events monitored for updates	Inventory information to be reported
When a new distribution-destination system is installed	System information Information on another company's software Software distributed by JP1/Software Distribution system Hitachi program products Applied patches
When the higher-level system at the connection destination is changed
When the operation of the higher-level system is changed such that it now uses a host ID
When software is added or deleted	Information on another company's software Hitachi program products Applied patches

(b) Notes

Note the following when automatically reporting inventory information:

• When inventory information is automatically reported, it is reported every time the inventory information of the distribution-destination system is updated, and as a result the server or network environment may be subjected to an overload at irregular timings. If it is necessary to ensure that the server or network environment be not subjected to overload, disable the setting for automatically reporting inventory information, and manually collect the inventory information.
• When inventory information is automatically reported via Version 6i or earlier of JP1/Software Distribution SubManager for UNIX, unnecessary files might be accumulated in the UNIX version of JP1/Software Distribution SubManager, adversely impacting the disk space.
• If inventory information is reported to a managing server different from the one that is specified in the distribution-destination system settings, or if inventory information is reported via multiple routes, the inventory information is not displayed correctly on the managing server or relay system. In such a case, delete the inventory information on the managing server, and execute the jobs described below.
  
  • Get system information from client job
  • In the Get software information from client job (In the Options page, under Software to be searched, specify Search software listed in "Add/Remove Programs".)
• For Installation date/time in the software information, the date and time when the software information was acquired is reported. Therefore, when the Get software information from client job is executed on the managing server, the following types of information on the managing server are updated regardless of whether the software has been updated or reinstalled:
  
  • New version
  • New generation number
  • Older version
  • Installation date/time
• If the setting is disabled for regularly checking whether a job addressed to the local system is present at the higher-level system, inventory information is not reported when the distribution-destination system is started. Inventory information is reported when a job is executed from the managing server.
• If the connection destination of the distribution-destination system is switched to a different higher-level system and then switched back to the original connection destination, the information on the software that was uninstalled while the distribution-destination system was connected to another higher-level system might not be reported when the distribution-destination system returns to the original connection destination.

(2) Reporting at automatic registration of system configuration

Inventory information can be automatically reported to the managing server when a new distribution-destination system is added to the JP1/Software Distribution system through the addition of a machine to the network, the installation of a distribution-destination system, or a change in the connection destination of the distribution-destination system.

(a) Reporting timing

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

• When a new distribution-destination system is installed
• When the higher-level system at the connection destination is changed
• When the operation of the higher-level system is changed such that it now uses a host ID

(b) Inventory information to be reported

The following types of inventory information are reported:

• System information
• Information on another company's software

(c) Notes

Note the following when automatically reporting inventory information at automatic registration of system configuration:

• If the setting for regularly checking whether a job addressed to the local system is present at the higher-level system is disabled, inventory information is not reported when the distribution-destination system is started. Inventory information is reported when a job is executed from the managing server.

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