SMS allows you to specify files to collect from clients during the software inventory cycle. You can use wildcard characters when you specify files to collect, so that you can collect all .ini files or multiple revisions of a file (for example, status*.doc). You can even collect files without gathering software inventory by merely deleting all file types to inventory.
When Software Inventory Agent gathers software inventory, it appends a copy of all versions of the collected files it finds to the inventory file. SMS stores the collected files on the site server on SMS\Inboxes\Sinv.box\Filecol\ResourceID, where ResourceID is the client's resource ID. In the SMS site database, SMS stores the paths to those files. Administrators who have Read and View Collected File permissions for one or more collection security objects can then use Resource Explorer to view files collected from clients in those collections. (Collected files are not directly accessible on the site server's hard drive.)
Note SMS will re-collect a file only if its date, size, or location changed between software inventory cycles. SMS keeps up to five versions of a file that is collected from a specific location on a client.
Related Topics
Configure File Collection for a Site
View Files Collected from a Client
About Performance Issues with Collected Files
How SMS Collects Software Inventory
Running Software Inventory When Disk Space Is Low
About Inventory on Multi-Site Clients
About Disabling Software Inventory
Specifying Files to Collect Overview