Enterprise User Manual

PC-Duo Enterprise User Manual

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Using the Inventory, Software Distribution, and Software Metering modules of PC-Duo Enterprise version 2.3

Copyright © Vector Networks Limited and MetaQuest Software Inc.

The information in this document is subject to change without notice and should not be construed as a commitment by Vector Networks Limited, Vector Networks Inc. or MetaQuest Software Inc.

Vector Networks Limited, Vector Networks Inc. and MetaQuest Software Inc. assume no responsibility for errors in this document.

The software described in this document is supplied under a license and may be used or copied only in accordance with the terms of such license.

PC-Duo, and its logos, are trademarks of Vector Networks Limited. MetaQuest is a trademark of MetaQuest Software Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

PART NUMBER: DE230/00

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Contents

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Chapter 1

Introducing PC-Duo Enterprise 1

System Requirements 2

Architecture 2

Benefits of the Architecture 3

Chapter 2

Creating Sites 5

Creating a Site using Default Options 5

Creating Site Databases 7

Creating a Site Using Custom Options 9

Populating Site Databases 14

Chapter 3

Managing Sites 17

Displaying Site Details 17

Viewing Offline Paths 17

Changing the Global Site Settings 18

Changing the Database Logon Settings 18

Deleting Sites 18

Configuring the Offline Scanner 19

Assigning Schedulers to a Site Database 19

Maintaining Microsoft Access Databases 20

Understanding the Site Database Tables 20

Chapter 4

Installing the Client Application 25

Controlling Client Behavior 25

User Prompt Questions 26

Testing the Client Rollout 27

Deploying the Client Kit to Windows NT, 2000, XP and 2003 27

Deploying the Client Kit using Active Directory 31

Deploying the Client Kit to Windows 95, 98 and Me 31

Completing a Client Installation 32

Client Kit Configuration 33

Reconfiguring Clients after Installation 33

Chapter 5

Managing Clients 39

Viewing Clients in the Console 39

Viewing Client Properties 39

Populating the Database with Clients 40

Deleting Clients 40

Removing Disk Information 41

Performing Operations on Clients 41

Organizing Clients into Groups 41

Using SQLWizard 43

Importing and Exporting Groups 45

Chapter 6

Working with Operations 47

Performing Operations 47

Operations and Clients 47

Creating and Customizing Operations 47

Importing and Exporting Operations 48

Deleting Operations 48

Schedulers 49

Scheduling Operations 51

Monitoring Schedulers 53

Monitoring Jobs 53

Job Logs 54

Chapter 7

Hardware Inventory 55

Viewing Hardware Inventory Results 55

Printing Hardware Details 57

Customizing Hardware Inventory Operations 57

Exporting Hardware Inventory Data 58

Selecting Clients for Inventory Operations 59

Hardware Inventory and Clients 59

Disabling Hardware Inventory Components on Clients 60

Chapter 8

User Prompting 63

The User Prompt Editor 63

Using the Prompt Editor 65

Collecting System Variables 65

Distributing Prompt Files 66

User Prompt Files and Clients 67

Working with User Prompt Data 67

Chapter 9

Software Inventory 69

Customizing Software Inventory Operations 69

Collecting Software Inventory Data 70

Software Identification Manager 71

The Applications Library 74

Software Inventory Data 85

Software Reports 86

Chapter 10

Software Asset Management 87

Package Policy Manager 87

Software Metering 91

Chapter 11

Assets Database 95

Using the Assets Database 95

Asset Types 96

Assets 97

Importing and Exporting 97

Chapter 12

Reports and Database Views 99

Customizing Reports 99

Database Views 99

Printing Database Views 100

Saving Database Views in HTML format 101

Database Viewer Command Syntax 102

Chapter 13

Software Distribution 105

The Software Distribution Process 105

Preparing Installation Kits 105

Configuring Package Definitions 108

Using the Software Distribution Wizard 117

The Software Distribution Agent 120

Monitoring Distribution Jobs 121

Chapter 14

Patch Management 125

The Patch Management Process 125

Specifying the SUS Server 126

Configuring the SUS Server 127

Synchronizing the SUS Server 128

Approving Updates 128

Installing the Automatic Updates Client 129

Configuring Automatic Updates Clients 130

Patch Management Jobs 131

Patch Management Reports 132

Chapter 15

Other Operations 133

Using Tokens in Command Launch Operations 133

PC Remote Control 134

The Browse Clients Operation 135

Free Disk Space Scans 135

Waking Clients 137

Creating Database Operations 137

Chapter 16

Online Clients 139

Installing Clients in Online Mode 139

Adding Online Clients to the Site Database 140

Specifying Shares 142

Converting Online Clients to Offline Mode 143

Chapter 17

Audit Clients 145

Understanding the Audit Architecture 145

Configuring the Audit Procedure 146

Performing Audits 149

Loading Audit Data 150

Appendix A

Error Messages 153

Progress and Error Log Messages 153

Error Messages on Client PCs 155

Appendix B

Installation Commands 157

InstallShield Command Line Parameters 157

Microsoft Setup Parameters 158

Windows Installer Service SETUP Command Options 158

Appendix C

Upgrading to PC-Duo Enterprise Version 2.3 161

Appendix D

Technical Support 163

Index 165

Vector Networks http://www.vector-networks.com Voice: +44 (0) 1827 67333 Fax: +44 (0) 1827 67068 info@vector-networks.co.uk