Topic last updated—March 2008
By default, in new installations of Configuration Manager 2007, Asset Intelligence information collection is not enabled. To enable the Asset Intelligence feature, at least one of the required hardware inventory reporting classes that Asset Intelligence reports rely on must be enabled.
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| When a Systems Management Server 2003 SP3 site with the Asset Intelligence feature already installed and enabled is upgraded to Configuration Manager 2007, Asset Intelligence data collection will remain enabled. Similarly, if a Configuration Manager 2007 site with the Asset Intelligence feature already enabled is upgraded to Configuration Manager 2007 SP1, Asset Intelligence data collection will remain enabled. |
The example scenarios in this topic describe the processes involved when enabling Asset Intelligence for both Configuration Manager 2007 and Configuration Manager 2007 SP1 sites.
Example Scenario for Enabling Asset Intelligence in Configuration Manager 2007
In this example, Ed Banti, the Configuration Manager 2007 administrator for Blue Yonder Airlines, has decided to enable the Asset Intelligence feature to take advantage of the available extended inventory and reporting capabilities. After reviewing the Asset Intelligence configuration checklist, Ed used the following steps to enable Asset Intelligence in Configuration Manager 2007.
For more information about the Asset Intelligence configuration checklist, see Asset Intelligence Configuration Checklist.
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Before enabling Asset Intelligence, Ed determines the Asset Intelligence reports that are required to fulfill his advanced inventory reporting requirements. After determining the reports he is most interested in, Ed reviews the hardware inventory reporting classes those reports relied on for information. By doing so, Ed plans to enable only the hardware inventory reporting classes necessary to avoid causing excessive resource usage for Configuration Manager 2007 clients in the site when performing hardware inventories. |
About Asset Intelligence Reports Hardware Inventory Reporting Classes Required for Asset Intelligence Reports |
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After determining the hardware inventory reporting classes to enable, Ed opens the SMS_def.mof hardware inventory configuration file stored on the primary site server for his site in the <ConfigMgrInstallDir>\inboxes\clifiles.src\hinv directory and makes the necessary changes. Ed knows that it will take some time for the new inventory policy to be compiled by clients and that he will need to wait until all clients have performed a hardware inventory cycle based on the new policy before viewing Asset Intelligence reports based on the new information. |
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When Ed is confident that all Configuration Manager clients have performed hardware inventory using the new inventory reporting policy created by editing the SMS_def.mof file, he reviews the applicable Asset Intelligence reports to view the newly inventoried information. |
Example Scenario for Enabling Asset Intelligence in Configuration Manager 2007 SP1
In this example, Ed Banti, the Configuration Manager 2007 administrator for Blue Yonder Airlines, has upgraded his Configuration Manager 2007 site to Configuration Manager 2007 SP1 and has decided to enable additional Asset Intelligence reporting functionality. The asset manager for Blue Yonder Airlines, April Meyer, has asked Ed to provide her with Client Access License (CAL) and additional software license usage in the environment. Because of this requirement, Ed will need to work with the Active Directory administrator for Blue Yonder Airlines, Marcus Loh, to configure the required Group Policy object (GPO) settings to collect the security event log information required for Asset Intelligence CAL reports.
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Ed first reviews the new Asset Intelligence reports available in Configuration Manager SP1 to determine whether any new hardware inventory reporting classes should be enabled or if any of the currently enabled reporting classes should be disabled to conserve client computer hardware resources during hardware inventory processes. |
About Asset Intelligence Reports Hardware Inventory Reporting Classes Required for Asset Intelligence Reports |
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After determining the hardware inventory reporting class changes required, Ed uses the Asset Intelligence Reporting Class Settings dialog to reconfigure the hardware inventory reporting class settings. To begin inventorying CAL license usage data, Ed researches the Configuration.mof hardware inventory configuration file changes required, opens the Configuration.mof file stored on the primary site server for his site in the <ConfigMgrInstallDir>\inboxes\clifiles.src\hinv directory, and makes the necessary changes. Ed knows that it will take some time for the new inventory policy to be compiled by clients and that he will need to wait until all clients have performed a hardware inventory cycle based on the new policy before viewing Asset Intelligence reports based on the new information. |
How to Enable Asset Intelligence Asset Intelligence Reporting Class Settings Dialog Prerequisites for Asset Intelligence How to Extend Hardware Inventory Using the Configuration.mof File Enabling Client Access License (CAL) Data Collection For Asset Intelligence |
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Ed then works with Marcus to coordinate the required Group Policy Object changes required to configure Configuration Manager clients to begin logging all Success logon events in the computer security event logs. |
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Because Blue Yonder Airlines does not have a Software Assurance Microsoft Volume Licensing agreement, Ed asks April to provide him with an .xml formatted licensing information file to import into the site database. |
How to Import Software License Information Importing Software Licenses Into the Asset Intelligence Catalog |
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When Ed is confident that all Configuration Manager clients have performed hardware inventory after all previous changes have been made, he reviews the applicable Asset Intelligence reports to view the newly inventoried information. |