Gathering Inventory on a Remote Server from the Express Console 4.x - 5.x Machine
Technical Note 1242
Last Reviewed 07-Jan-2002
Applies To
Express Software Manager version 4.x through 5.x
Summary
Typically, the Express Inventory client is deployed on computers via a login script, however, this login script may not be used by remote servers. This technical note describes how to run the Express Inventory client on a remote server from the workstation where Express Console version 4.x though 5.x is installed.
Running the Express Inventory Client
There are two ways you can run the Express Inventory client from the machine where Express Console is installed:
- Option 1: Install the Express Inventory client on the Express Console machine and scan the remote server using this Express client. For instructions on remote server scanning, see your Express documentation or online help.
- Option 2: From the Express Console machine, enter a command to scan the remote server using the Express Inventory client installed on the library server. This option is described in detail below.
Running the Express Inventory Client from the Library Server
If you do not want to install the Express Inventory client on the Express Console machine, you can run the Express Inventory client directly from the server where the Express library resides.
If you are using Express 4.0.x, you first need to create an Hdc.ini file in the Clients folder in the library folder on the library server. If you are using Express 4.5 or higher, the Hdc.ini file already resides in the Clients folder on the library server, so you can proceed to the Running the Express Inventory Client section below.
Creating an Hdc.ini File (Express 4.0.x)
From the workstation where Express Console is installed, use Windows Explorer to navigate to the Clients folder in the preferred library folder on the library server. Create a text file named Hdc.ini that contains these lines:
[Express Meter]
Applib.ini=\\<server name>\<share and library path>
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In the example above, replace <server name> with the name of the library server and <share and library path> with the share where the library resides and path name of the library.
Running the Express Inventory Client
To scan a remote server or share, run the Express Inventory client that resides on the library server using the -A switch. The -A switch tells the Express Inventory client to only gather data from the files on the server or share. No other hardware information is collected. Inventory options specified in the Library Properties dialog box are ignored.
In Express 4.0.x, other switches are ignored when the -A switch is used. If you have Express 4.5 or higher, you can use the -A switch in conjunction with the -O switch to gather second pass data immediately after the first pass is complete. For more information about the inventory process in Express, see Technical Note 1298.
To gather inventory from a remote server:
On the Express Console machine, enter the following command:
<library server>\Clients\Exinv16.exe -A\\<server name>\<folder name>
Replace <library server> with the UNC path name of the server where the Express library is installed. Replace <server name> with the UNC path name of the server you want to inventory and replace <folder name> with the names of specific drives or folders you want to scan. Note that there is no space between the -A switch and the server path.
The Express Inventory client runs and gathers inventory data from the location you specified. The data collected is sent to the library specified in the Hdc.ini file on the library server.
To gather inventory from multiple drives on the same server:
If you are using Express 4.0.x, you can list multiple drives after the -A switch and the first drive, using a space and two backslashes (\\) to distinguish separate drives. For example:
<library server>\Clients\Exinv16.exe -A\\pubserv\common \\pubserv\docs \\pubserv\system
If you are using Express 4.5 or higher, precede each drive with an -A switch. For example:
<library server>\Clients\Exinv16.exe -A\\pubserv\common -A\\pubserv\docs -A\\pubserv\system
To use the -O switch in conjunction with the -A switch:
If you are using Express 4.5 or higher, you can use the -O switch in conjunction with the -A switch to gather both first and second pass inventory data from a remote server. For example:
<library server>\Clients\Exinv16.exe -0 -A\\<server name>\<folder name>
Note that using the -O switch significantly increases the amount of time it takes for the Express Inventory client to run. If you do not use the -O switch, then the Express Inventory client only gathers first pass data. For more information about the Express inventory process, see Technical Note 1298.
Related Technical Notes
| 1298 |
Understanding the Inventory Process in Express Software Manager 4.x through 5.x |
| 1559 |
Gathering Inventory on a Remote Server from the Administrative Console 6.0 Machine |
| 9991 |
Express Software Manager Technical Notes (5.x or lower) |
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