Glossary

Audit mode

Audit mode is used to collect data from PCs where it is not appropriate to install the Vector Asset Management Client, or that are not connected to your network.

Audit data is collected and saved to a share or removable storage medium by the Client Audit utility, and then loaded into the offline area using the Load Audit Data operation. The data can then be saved in the Site database and accessed from the Console as normal. For more information on audit processing, see the User Manual and the Audit mode README file.

Client Kit

The components used to install the Vector AM Client on the PCs you want to manage from the Vector AM Console. When you create a new Site, a default kit is automatically copied to \Kit subdirectory of the offline area. It can then be customized and distributed across the network.

Clients

Clients are PCs that are managed from the Vector AM Console:

    In Offline mode, Clients transfer data and receive instructions through a shared offline area located on a server.

    In Audit mode, the Client collects inventory data and user prompts from PCs and then uninstalls itself. This enables Console users to view information from PCs where it is not appropriate to install the Client software, or that are not connected to a network.

Clients can be accessed and managed centrally from any Vector AM Console. You can perform an operation on any mix of Clients.

Console

A Console is a Windows-based workstation running the Vector AM Console software. It enables users to view and manage the information collected by Vector AM, to run and schedule operations, and to install software across the network.

Data Source

see Data Source Name (DSN).

Data Source Name (DSN)

A DSN is a unique name that provides connectivity to a Site database through an ODBC driver. The DSN contains database name, location, database driver, UserID, password, and other information.

Data source names are specific to individual PCs. This means that if you set up a second Console to access a Site database located on another PC, you must define a DSN which refers to the existing database on the new Console.

Database

The Site database stores all the information for a Site. This information can then be displayed through the Console, or through reports and views. In Vector AM, you can use Microsoft Access, SQL Server, SQL Server Express or Oracle to store your Site data.

Dynamic Groups

Dynamic groups contain Client PCs that meet the criteria specified in a SQL filter expression. Because the SQL expression is evaluated when the group is opened, or used in an operation, the contents of the group are automatically kept up-to-date.

Filter Expression

Filter expressions are used to create dynamic groups of Client PCs (see Creating SQL Filter Expressions) and views of the Site database.

Fixed Groups

Fixed groups contain Clients that have been selected by users. The contents of the group remain unchanged unless Clients are added or removed manually.

Global Site

The Global Site stores the Package Definitions used by the Distribute Software operation to control the installation of software on Clients. When you add or edit Package Definitions using the Edit Distribution Definitions operation, the modifications are made to the Global Site database. Use the Global Site dialog to specify which Site you want to use as the Global Site

Hardware Inventory Template

Inventory results can be stored as a template for comparison against future scans. Any changes are shown by Generate/REDDOT1.gif markers in the Hardware Inventory Results dialog.

Hidden Share

Hidden or Administrative Shares are Resources which are not visible in a Network Neighborhood browser. The share name ends in a dollar sign (such as C$). On Windows NT, 2000, XP and 2003, hidden shares are created automatically for all local hard drives and the WINNT directory tree. Local Administrator privileges are required to access hidden shares.

Host

Hosts are PCs on which the Vector AM Console or Scheduler is running.

Job

Jobs are operations that Console users have scheduled for execution at a future time and date. To schedule an operation, right-click the operation icon, and choose Submit Job from the shortcut menu. Jobs can be scheduled to execute only once, or to repeat at set intervals.

Nodes

Nodes are PCs or servers connected to your network. Nodes managed by Vector AM are referred to as Clients.

ODBC (Open Database Connectivity)

ODBC is a standard database access method that enables you to access data, regardless of which database management system (DBMS) is handling the data.

Offline Areas

Offline areas are shared directories used to store the raw data collected from and to relay instructions to Clients. This allows Console users to perform operations on Client PCs even when they are not currently available.

You can create multiple offline areas for each Site to spread the workload across the network. You can also access offline areas from any Vector AM Console. The location of an offline area is specified in the Offline Area and Client Kit dialog when you create a new Site. You can add or modify offline areas by right-clicking the Offline Areas folder and choosing Modify Offline Paths or from the Offline Area Manager.

Offline Paths

Offline Paths are the locations of the offline areas. They are specified in UNC format.

Operations

Operations enable you to perform Find Clients, Browse, Database Reports, External Commands, Hardware Inventory, Remote Control, Software Inventory and Package Policy tasks. To customize an operation, right-click its icon in the Console and choose Customize from the shortcut menu. Many operations can be performed as scheduled jobs.

Package Definitions

Package Definitions contain details about how an application is to be distributed and installed by Vector AM. Package Definitions files (.PD) are created using the Edit Distribution Definitions operation.

Package Policies

Package Policy Manager enables you to plan, control and monitor the rollout of software to your organization’s users. You can use it to help manage software requirements across the network, to control your organization’s spending by monitoring license usage, and to identify the use of prohibited or illegal software.

Remote Control

PC Remote Control products, such as PC-Duo, can be integrated with Vector AM so that users can view and interact with Clients from the Console PC. A remote control program can also access inventory information on a selected Client.

Resource

A resource is a disk or share located on a Client PC.

Schedulers

Schedulers automate the execution of operations that have been defined and scheduled using the Console. This enables you to run operations when network activity is low, and to automate regular tasks, such as the collection of inventory data. Schedulers can run as a conventional application, or as a service. To spread the inventory workload and minimize network traffic in segmented networks, Schedulers can be deployed on any PC where the Vector AM Console is installed.

Share

A disk or directory that can be accessed by other PCs on a network. A PC's shares are those drives or directories which have been shared by a user or an administrator, or any special shares created by the system. Vector AM uses a shared offline area to access Clients.

Sites

Sites enable you to organize your Client PCs into logical and business groupings. For example, you can create a Site for each business unit, each network, each domain, or any other method of organization that suits the way you want to work. Each Site contains the data collected from Clients, and information on the hardware and software installed on Clients, on jobs and operations and package installation instructions.

Site database

Site databases store data collected from Clients on your network. They also contain jobs, operations, application definitions and job logs. Because Consoles and Schedulers can access multiple Site databases, you can spread your workload across multiple PCs.

SQL (Structured Query Language)

SQL is an industry-standard language for creating powerful database views and dynamic groups.

Standard Path

The Standard Path is a form of UNC Path, which can contain an embedded username and password, following the \\server\resource path. If present, the username is prefixed by a percent ( % ) character, the domain name is prefixed by a ( @ ) character and the password is prefixed by a colon ( : ) character. Any additional resource-relative path follows after a trailing backslash. For example:

\\AXP\LUTDB%GUEST@DOMAIN:PASSWORD\BACKUP

UNC Path

Uniform Naming Convention is used to specify network server and resource paths in the format \\server\resource\directory. For example, if SITE01.MDB is located in \Vector Data\Databases on the C drive of SRV3, enter:

\\SRV3\C\Vector Data\Databases\SITE01.MDB

Views

Views provide direct access to the information stored in Site databases. Use them to display the contents of the Site database, to create and print custom reports, and to export your data in HTML or CSV format. They are displayed using the Database Viewer.

Web Client

The Vector AM Web Client uses the Internet to access a Site's Offline Area to return inventory data.

Windows Networking

Windows Networking is a Microsoft networking protocol used by Windows applications, such as Explorer.