Inventory Discovery Deployment Overview
There are several different types of deployment scenarios for Inventory Discovery. These diagrams illustrate the basic flow of scan files from each major component of Universal Discovery.
Scenario 1: Complete, Fully-Automated (Recommended)
- Scenario: You want a complete inventory discovery solution that takes full advantage of automated activities that schedule and run jobs. Universal Discovery Agents are deployed that are used as shell clients for communication with nodes, and as managers of Scanners for discovery.
- Type of discovery: Agent-based inventory discovery.
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Deployment Methods:
- The Infrastructure Activity is used to trigger deployment of the Universal Discovery Agents to discovery nodes. Alternatively, deployment can be performed manually using third party tools. Scanners are copied to nodes by Universal Discovery Agents.
- The Inventory Discovery Activity is used to trigger deployment of the Scanner.
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Discovery Methods:
- The Infrastructure Activity is used to manage the Universal Discovery Agent lifecycle.
- The Inventory Discovery Activity is used to schedule, manage, and run scanner-based inventory discovery.
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Links to Tasks:
Scenario 2: Scanner Testing
- Scenario: You want to test the functionality of the Scanner, or to analyze scan file data or file structure.
- Type of Discovery: Agentless inventory discovery
- Deployment Methods: Generate a Scanner using the Scanner Generator Wizard, then copy the Scanner file to the node using any remote access technology.
- Discovery Methods: Remote access technologies are used to connect to the discovery node and execute the Scanner. Scanners can also be executed interactively at the console of the discovery node. Scan files are uploaded to the Data Flow Probe via FTP or HTTP, or they can be manually copied directly to the Data Flow Probe using any remote access technology.
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Links to Tasks:
Alternatively, you are looking for a manually-initiated discovery process only.
Scenario 3: Routed, Complex
- Scenario: You have a complex environment that requires a routed solution for scan files to reach the Data Flow Probe. You also change Scanner versions or configuration files frequently and need an automated solution to deploy them.
- Type of Discovery: Agentless inventory discovery
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Deployment Methods:
- Scanners are manually deployed to the discovery node.
- Scanner Scheduler and Store and Forward are installed using any remote access technology.
- Discovery Methods: Scanner Scheduler schedules and runs inventory discovery.
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Links to Tasks:
Scenario 4: Partially-Automated
- Scenario: You want a partially-automated solution for inventory discovery, but do not require any shell communication to the node.
- Type of Discovery: Agentless inventory discovery
- Deployment Methods: The Inventory Discovery Activity is used to deploy the Scanner.
- Discovery Methods:The Inventory Discovery Activity is used to trigger inventory discovery. The Data Flow Probe uses NTCMD or SSH to communicate with the discovery node.
- Links to Tasks: