Overview

Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM), formerly Systems Management Server (SMS), is a systems management software product. Configuration Manager provides remote control, patch management, software distribution, operating system deployment, and hardware and software inventory.

The SCCM Connector enables data synchronization from Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager for the Asset and the Software Asset Management application. In Efecte Service Management, the synchronized data can be used flexibly with other Efecte Service Management applications, as well as through the powerful reporting capabilities.

For the Asset application, the SCCM Connector provides automatic software and hardware information of workstations and servers managed in System Center Configuration Manager. For the Software Asset Management application, the SCCM Connector provides detailed information over software installations, including software usage information.

Functionality

With the SCCM Connector you can:

• Utilize the workstation, server and software information from SCCM site.
  • Combine technical asset information with financial and administrative information.
  • Take advantage of detailed software information for software asset management purposes.
• Have the data imported from SCCM at desired intervals.
• Allow Efecte Service Management users to seamlessly navigate from asset data card to SCCM Reporting Point for detailed technical information.

Deployment Architecture

The SCCM Connector queries Microsoft SCCM’s SQL database. The results are imported to Efecte application server as XML data, and saved to Efecte’s database at desired intervals. This allows the Efecte Service Management users to easily view the data originated from SCCM through Efecte Service Management, and combine it flexibly with other data. Optionally, the users can navigate from Efecte Service Management user interface directly to the SCCM reporting point.

The SCCM Connector will be installed in Efecte Service Management application server.

Deployment Architecture with Multiple SCCM Databases

Starting with the SCCM Connector version 2.0, the connector supports multiple SCCM databases as an information source. Note that software usage data collection is not supported with multiple databases.

Data Content

The data content is dependent on the data available in System Center Configuration Manager as well as on the chosen Efecte applications.

With Efecte Service Management - Asset application:

• Computer type
• System type
• System manufacturer
• Operating system
• Service Pack level
• CPU type
• CPU manufacturer
• CPU count
• CPU speed
• Total memory
• Memory module sizes
• Used memory slots
• Host name
• Motherboard serial number
• BIOS version
• BIOS date
• Operating system installation date
• Operating system version
• SCCM client version
• Windows services
• Environment variables
• Users who have logged on
• Local printers
• Status in SCCM
•   Windows domain name
• Fully qualified domain name
• Network information
  • IP address
  • Subnet
  • Default gateway
  • MAC address
  • IP type
  • Adapter manufacturer
  • Adapter type
  • Adapter description
• Drives
  • Drive letter
  • Description
  • Volume name
  • File system
  • Size
  • Free space
  • Serial number
• Total hard drive capacity
• Total free hard drive capacity
• Display adapters
• Latest login name
• Previous scan

With Efecte Service Management - Software Asset Management application:

• Software usage level
  • Monthly usage count (number of times opened)
  • Monthly usage hours
• Software name
• Software version
• Software publisher
• Software installation location
• Software installation source
• Software uninstall string
• Software category
• Software family

Source Views in SCCM

The following views in SCCM contain data Efecte Service Management uses:

• v_R_System
• v_GS_COMPUTER_SYSTEM
• v_GS_WORKSTATION_STATUS
• v_GS_PC_BIOS
• v_GS_PROCESSOR
• v_GS_VIDEO_CONTROLLER
• v_GS_PHYSICAL_MEMORY
  v_GS_LOGICAL_DISK
• v_GS_OPERATING_SYSTEM
• v_RA_System_ResourceNames
• v_GS_SYSTEM
• v_Add_Remove_Programs
• v_gs_service
• v_GS_ENVIRONMENT
• v_GS_SYSTEM_CONSOLE_USER
• v_gs_printer_configuration
• v_GS_NETWORK_ADAPTER
• v_Network_DATA_Serialized
• v_GS_INSTALLED_SOFTWARE_CATEGORIZED
• v_MeteredProductRule
• v_SystemInventoryChanges
• v_MonthlyUsageSummary
• v_MeteredFiles

ESM 2015.3 onwards also:

• v_GS_APPV_CLIENT_APPLICATION
• V_GS_APPV_CLIENT_PACKAGE
• v_HS_APPV_CLIENT_APPLICATION
• v_HS_APPV_CLIENT_PACKAGE
• v_GS_VIRTUAL_APPLICATION_PACKAGES
• v_GS_VIRTUAL_APPLICATIONS
• v_HS_VIRTUAL_APPLICATIONS
• v_HS_VIRTUAL_APPLICATION_PACKAGES

Microsoft SCCM Requirements

One the following versions of Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager must be installed and deployed:

• Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007 SP1
• Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007 R2
• Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007 SP2
• Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007 R3
• Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2012
• Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2012 R2
• Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2012 SP2