Applies To
Express Software Manager version 6.0 and higher

Summary
The Express Software Manager Inventory client gathers software and hardware information. Typically, the Express Inventory client is installed onto the workstations, but it can also be run directly from a server. This technical note describes how to run the Express Software Manager 6.x Inventory client from a server.

To scan a remote server from the Express Administrative Console machine, see Technical Note 1559.

Deciding Whether to Run the Client from a Server
The recommended method for deploying Express Software Manager is to use a login script that runs the client installation program, Exinst32.exe, from a library on a shared network drive. Exinst32 installs the Express Inventory client (and the Express Metering client) onto the workstation. The client then automatically inventories a user's workstation according to the Inventory settings in Library Properties.

An alternate method can be used: the Express Inventory client can be run directly from a server--without installing the client onto each user's workstation. Before you proceed, become familiar with the advantages and disadvantages of using this alternate method:

Advantages of Running the Inventory Client from a Server

• A single hidden file, Wrqexp.id, is written to each workstation. This file is used to identify the machine in the library. No application files are installed.

• The administrator has less control over when the inventory information is collected from the workstations. The inventory process only occurs when the client is called from the login script; therefore, the client cannot be started automatically or periodically restarted.

• The drive must remain mapped to the server to collect data from machines running Windows 95, or Windows 98.

Deploying the Inventory Client from a Server
Before you can run Express Inventory, you must install Express Administrative Console and create a library on the server. After securing the library files, run the Express Inventory client from the library. (For details on securing the library files, see Technical Note 1593, Verifying User Permissions on the Library.

Installing Express Administrative Console and Creating a Library
Run the Setup program to install Express Administrative Console and create a library on the server:

1. On the system administrator's workstation, run Setup.exe from the Express Software Manager CD. If you downloaded Express from the web, run Esm620.exe to start the setup program. Choose an Administrator Setup type (the default type) and proceed through the Setup dialog boxes. (Refer to the QuickStart Guide for New Customers for detailed installation procedures.)

2. Open Express Administrative Console. Use the Library Wizard to create a library on the server. If the Library Wizard does not open automatically when you start Express Administrative Console, click New Library from the File menu. When the wizard is finished, a library folder is created. (See the QuickStart Guide for New Customers for detailed instructions on creating a library.)

3. The default setting for a new library invokes the Express Inventory client to scan a machine completely, using high impact gathering. You will want to leave this setting at the default if you are running the Inventory client from a server. Change the default if you will be deploying the client to individual workstations. (See the online documentation for recommended settings when deploying the Express client to individual workstations.)

1. Modify the login script to point to the Express library location and invoke the Express Inventory client. You can append the command line with optional switches. For instance, if you want the Express Inventory client to do a high-impact scan for 60 seconds, add the –S60 switch. For example:

\\Archer\Express\MainLib\Clients\Exinv32.exe –S60 -L

See the Express Software Manager Online Reference for more information about using a login script and the optional switches.

2. After users log in and the Express Inventory client runs, you can view the information. In Express Administrative Console, open the Tools menu, point to Library, and click Update Database.

The Express client inventories the machine and creates a unique i*.inv file, which is stored in the library folder on the server. You must update the database to move the information from the i*.inv files into the database, where it can be viewed in Express Administrative Console or Express reports run from Express Reports Console.

At this point, the Express Inventory client has gathered preliminary information. The client is designed to gather inventory data incrementally to reduce network impact. Successive database updates are necessary to gather the information needed to identify the inventoried applications.

Note: The database updates can be automated by Express Library Manager, a Windows XP/2000/NT service that is available with Express Software Manager. See your Express documentation for details.

3. In Express Administrative Console, open the Add menu, and click High-confidence Applications.

Note: You can also run the Application Wizard by opening the Tools menu, choosing Application, and clicking Application Wizard. To configure all of the high-confidence applications at once, multi-select (hold the Shift key while clicking) the applications. Then click the Accept button.

4. In Express Administrative Console, open the Reporting menu and click Reports.

5. In Express Reports Console, the Inventory report you want to view.

Related Technical Notes

1294	Running Express Software Manager 4.x Inventory Client from a Server
9989	Express Software Manager 6.x Technical Notes