The Inventory Tool for Microsoft Updates in Configuration Manager 2007 provides backward compatibility for Systems Management Server (SMS) 2003 clients to scan for software updates compliance using the Microsoft Update catalog. During the SMS 2003 site upgrade to Configuration Manager 2007, Setup detects whether a previous version of the Inventory Tool for Microsoft Updates is installed on the site and verifies that another installation of the tool is not installed on a site higher in the hierarchy. If both are true, Setup initiates an upgrade for the inventory tool on the site server. During the installation, you can specify whether to download the latest Microsoft Update catalog from the Internet or from a local location.

Note
When a site server is upgraded in silent mode (using the /UPGRADE, /HIDDEN, and /NOUSERINPUT command-line options), the Inventory Tool for Microsoft Updates Setup also runs in silent mode. During the inventory tool upgrade, Setup will automatically download the latest Microsoft Update catalog from the Internet. If the site server cannot access the Internet, the Inventory Tool for Microsoft Updates upgrade fails. For more information, see Troubleshooting Inventory Tool for Microsoft Updates Issues.

After the Inventory Tool for Microsoft Updates is upgraded on the site, the catalog is synchronized with the Microsoft Updates catalog, the new scan package is updated, and client computers upgrade the scan tool following their next Machine Policy Retrieval & Evaluation Cycle. Software updates will be scanned for compliance using the Microsoft Update catalog and will continue to work on SMS 2003 and Configuration Manager 2007 client computers.

After the site server synchronizes with the software update point and Configuration Manager client computers scan for software updates compliance, the Inventory Tool for Microsoft Updates is no longer required for Configuration Manager client computers, and it is recommended that the Microsoft Update Tool advertisement no longer targets these client computers. When all client computers in the hierarchy have been upgraded to Configuration Manager 2007, the Inventory Tool for Microsoft Updates can be removed from the site server.

Product Documentation

The Deployment Guide for the Configuration Manager Inventory Tool for Microsoft Updates is available in the help file for the tool. The help file includes introductory topics, such as overviews of features and concepts, as well as procedures and technical reference information.

You can access the help file using one of the following methods:

  • If you have not installed the Inventory Tool for Microsoft Updates yet, you can locate the file ITMU_CM07.chm under the Configuration Manager 2007 product DVD, in SMSSETUP\HELP. You can also copy the ITMU_CM07.chm file to any convenient location and run it locally, without installing the tool.

  • If you have installed the Inventory Tool for Microsoft Updates, you can access the help file in %windir%\Help.

See Also