Inventory Management

Web Reporting Portal
Vector's reporting portal is a powerful web-based solution that gives users click-through access from anywhere to IT asset management reports. Users can access information and reports on current and historical system configurations, software utilization, license compliance, and the site information needed to plan for software deployments and migrations.

Comprehensive Inventory Database
Using multiple interrogation techniques to ensure unrivaled accuracy, Vector Inventory collects over 600 items of hardware inventory and system configuration information from today's Windows platforms - and still supports DOS and Windows 3 for those hidden away legacy systems! This rich and reliable data is highly structured and easily accessed from Vector's database tables.

The Software Inventory component is equally sophisticated. The Application Library recognizes many common applications, while proprietary discovery utilities make provisional identifications on other software using data extracted from application files. Recognition rules for i n-house and specialized applications can be defined simply and quickly using the Software Identification Wizard.

Flexible Reporting
Vector Inventory uses Crystal Runtime to provide over 30 reports covering key aspects of PC configuration and installed software. All reports are exportable into Word, Excel, HTML, CSV and several other formats.

Using Vector's Database Viewer, custom selections of data items can also be combined into convenient tabular views. Scheduled HTML output from Database Viewer provides easy updates to your company's intranet site, giving browser-based access to PC management information for non-technical staff.

The Enterprise Portal gives access to drill-down reports to any authorized user anywhere on the Internet.

Package Policy ManagerT
Package Policy ManagerT (PPM) is a powerful tool that allows you to define the software required by user type. PPM Compliance Views compare your policies with actual PC inventory data. The result is instantly accessible management information that highlights missing packages, incorrect versions, unauthorized software, and unused software. PC Groups are created from inside Compliance Views for subsequent corrective action.

Recognizing the pressures that system and asset managers work under, Vector's Package Policy method allows you to introduce your policies incrementally, but with immediate benefit. Key applications can be quickly brought under control, generating immediate Return-on-Investment.

Assets Database
Assets other than PCs can be stored in customizable tables with the Asset Database extension module. Over 50 types of IT asset are offered - but you can also customize your own as well. Vector Inventory's software recognition is equally tailorable to your needs. Using RuleMakerT, recognition rules for in- house or specialized applications can be defined simply and quickly.

Change History
Vector Inventory provides a further 20+ Crystal-driven Change History reports that focus on key aspects of configuration change such as new disks, memory upgrades, change of ownership, change of applications software, including version changes and de-installs, and many other key events. Change Histories for individual PCs are also provided at summary and detail levels.

Multiple Audit Modes
For complete flexibility, Vector Inventory gives you several methods of collecting inventory information from networked PCs.

• Regular scheduled updates automatically keep information up-to-date.
• Real-time interactive audits enable you to respond to ad-hoc demands for instant fresh information.
• One-shot Audit and diskette audits enable you to include stand-alone PCs or computers where it is not appropriate to install the Enterprise Client.

The complex task of analysis is performed by the Console and Scheduler components of Enterprise making regular, frequent audits easy to administer while having zero impact on end users.

User Prompting
With Vector Inventory, you can automate the collection of additional user-related information such as location, department and telephone number. The information is requested through fully customizable user prompts, and you can use different prompt files to collect different information from different types of users. Validity is maximized through a safety-net of sample responses, pick-lists and validation checks. Comprehensive information coverage is further ensured by the ability to collect system data, such as environment and network variables directly from PCs without user intervention.