Key elements of Audit Reports
Audit reports share certain key elements and characteristics.
- Report generation—Each Audit report is automatically generated at midnight, and can also be generated on demand (through a Generate Report Database or Generate at the top of each Audit Report screen.) When a report is generated, a small database of information is created, overwriting any existing data for the report. Then, report viewers can selectively view the report data.
- Report viewers—Each Audit report can contain zero or more report viewers. The system comes pre-configured with various viewers for each type of report, and the operator can modify these viewers or add new viewers (through Add New at the top of each Audit Report screen.) Report viewers selectively view columns and data items created by the Report Generation function. That is, when the report is generated, it updates all report viewers for the report.
- Types of downloadable reports—Each report viewer views the report information, and also provide download links to download the report in a special format. Report formats include HTML, CSV, and Text formats. Other formats (such as PDF format) might be available from BMC Support.
- Advanced configuration functions—Each type of report has specific configuration items that can be used to tailor the report data. This advanced configuration is available via Advanced on each Audit report. The Advanced function can be used to set Span Days, ODBC Output, and other items specific to each report. Generally, the BMC Defender Server system comes pre-configured with correct settings, and most users do not have to modify the advanced settings.
- Report distribution methods—Audit reports can be distributed to end-users using a variety of techniques. Audit reports can be e-mailed to end-users with the Reports > E-Mail function.
- ODBC (Database) output—Each Audit report can be output to a relational database. The ODBC connection is configured on the Reports > ODBC screen, and the details of the database (such as the ODBC DSN and table name) are configured via Advanced on the report screen. This furnishes a simple way of extending the BMC Defender Server reporting function to support third-party report writers.
Report generation function
Each report is either generated at midnight or be manually generated by clicking Generate Report Database at the top of the screen. When a report is run at midnight, the report data is collected across the number of days specified in Advanced screen (by default 1-Day, but potentially some other value.)
This behavior is slightly modified if you select the Generate Report Database or Generate that appears on most reporting screens. In this case, the reporting interval spans the previous day, as well as the data for the current day up to and including the current time. (This behavior can be adjusted via the Start Date value on the Generate Report Database screen, as described.)
When the report is manually executed via the Generate Report Database or Generate, the start date of the report is the current date and time, and the data spans at least one full day. This can be modified (to acquire a report on historical data) using the Start Time drop-down menu when launching the report, that permits you to specify a different reporting interval in the past.
Report Viewers
Specifically, each report viewer permits the operator to select specific data items (via a Visible checkbox) that appear as columns in the report, and each report viewer permits the operator to select specific match patterns that apply to the data items.
Report viewers depict a range of data AFTER the report database generates. You can then modify the report viewer without re-running the report unless the report data itself has changed. This provides an easy way to experiment with different report viewers; you simply created or modifies a report to see that the report data depicts across the desired range, with the desired columns.