SMS: Hardware Inventory May Be Skipped

• Microsoft Systems Management Server version 1.2

SYMPTOMS

If the Software Scan Interval is set to something less than the Hardware Scan Interval, hardware inventory will never be performed. Every time software inventory is performed, both the LastSoftwareScan and LastHardwareScan times are updated, even when hardware inventory is not performed.

CAUSE

Software inventory depends on knowing what hard disk drives are present on the system. The hardware inventory normally provides this information. If it is not time to do a full hardware inventory, then only the hard disk drive's test portion of the hardware inventory is performed. However, because this section of the hardware inventory is performed, the LastHardwareScan time is updated. Because this time is updated every time software inventory is performed, enough time never elapses for the full hardware inventory to be done.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, set the HardwareScanInterval to the same or smaller interval as the SoftwareScanInterval; for example, perform hardware inventory as frequently as (or more frequently than) software inventory is performed.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Systems Management Server version 1.2. This problem was corrected in the latest Microsoft Systems Management Server version 1.2 U.S. Service Pack. For information on obtaining the service pack, query on the following word in the Microsoft Knowledge Base (without the spaces):

   S E R V P A C K