Custom inventory

The BCM agent can also compile custom inventory objects of a remote client for inspection by the administrator. This is based on a periodically generated custom inventory list. In addition to the list objects and object instances can be added to the custom inventory locally through the console. If an object is added twice, once manually through the console and via the list, the entry defined by the list will take precedence.

The Custom Inventory list is an xml file which is editable by the administrator and can then be transferred to all clients in the network. The generation of the custom inventory list is based on a number of parameters which are set in its configuration file, CustomInventory.ini.

The Custom Inventory node of the console displays a list of all custom defined objects on the remote device. Contrary to the hardware and software inventory the custom inventory is generated via operational rule steps and their schedule. Any available inventory data is uploaded to the master once a day by default if not specified differently by a rule step. As with the other inventory information, all entries are stored in the database to be available even if the actual device is off-line. By default the custom inventory is not generated.

Custom inventory attributes

Custom inventory for a device shows a number of objects which should be applicable to all supported operating systems, that is, Windows, UNIX and Linux. Each of these objects will be displayed split up into object specific properties.

Each object property lists the different items it found and clicking one of these displays the type of the object plus some details on this item.

To add an object

To add a new object to the local custom inventory from the list of existing object types, proceed as follows:

1. With the Custom Inventory node selected in the left window pane select Edit > Add Object .
   The Add Inventory Object Type pop-up menu appears. The Available Object Types drop-down box appears all types of custom inventory objects available in the database and which have not yet been added to the local client.
2. Select the object to add to the local inventory.
3. Click OK to confirm the new object and close the window.