The SMS 2.0 software inventory feature collects software properties from every client within a site and stores these properties in the SMS site database to be used for queries, collections, and product compliance checking. You schedule software inventory for the entire site on the site server using the SMS Administrator console, but software inventory is run on each individual client.
The software inventory file (*.sic or *.sid) generated by the software inventory process is copied to the CAP, which forwards it to the site server. At the site server, the information contained in the *.sic or *.sid file is entered into the SMS site database by the software inventory processor and then propagated up the site hierarchy to the central site.
For more information about the site server part of the process, see Chapter 17, “Site Server Core Components Flowcharts.”