Use software inventory in Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2012 to collect information about files contained on client devices in your organization. Additionally, software inventory can collect files from client devices and store these on the site server. Software inventory is collected when the Enable software inventory on clients setting is enabled in client settings.
After the software inventory option is enables and a software inventory cycle is run by the clients, the client sends the inventory information to a management point in the client’s site. The management point then forwards the inventory information to the Configuration Manager site server, which stores the inventory information in the site database. Software inventory runs on clients according to the schedule that you specify in the client settings.
You can use a number of methods to view the software inventory data that is collected by Configuration Manager 2012. These include the following:
- Create queries that return devices that are
based on specific files found. For more information, see Queries in
Configuration Manager 2012.
- Create query-based collections that are based
on specific files found. Query-based collection memberships
automatically update on a schedule. You can use collections for a
number of tasks including software deployment. For more
information, see Collections in Configuration Manager 2012.
- Run reports that display specific details
about files on devices in your organization. For more information,
see Reporting in Configuration Manager 2012.
- Use Resource Explorer to examine detailed
information about the files inventoried and collected from client
devices. For more information, see How to Use
Resource Explorer in Configuration Manager 2012.
When software inventory runs on a client device, the first inventory report returned will always be a full inventory. Subsequent inventory reports will contain only delta, inventory information. The site server processes delta inventory information in the order in which it is received. If delta inventory information for a client is missing, the site server rejects further delta inventory information and instructs the client to run a full inventory cycle.
Configuration Manager 2012 provides limited support for dual-boot computers. Configuration Manager 2012 can discover dual-boot computers but will only return inventory information from the operating system that was active at the time of inventory.