What is an inventory?
An inventory is a collection of systems that receive patches and updates from Patch Manager. The application creates an inventory using an inventory task that pulls system data from the WSUS server and managed systems using a WMI connection or an agent. This information is collected and stored in the Patch Manager SQL Server database.
When you generate a report or open a console (such as the Patch Manager Administrator Console or SolarWinds Platform Web Console), the application queries the Patch Manager SQL Server database and retrieves the latest system information. Patch Manager collects and displays the data in the consoles and reports. This information can help you identify systems that require patches and updates. After you generate the initial inventory, schedule daily inventory tasks to keep the console and report data up-to-date.
When you configure the managed systems for the first time, Patch Manager installs SolarWinds Client Components on each computer to establish a connection (if possible). Initially, Patch Manager uses Microsoft WMI Providers to establish a connection with systems that do not require an agent. If the managed systems are running an agent, Patch Manager connects to port 4092 on the system to establish a connection.
To collect the latest information about your deployment, inventory your WSUS server and managed systems before you generate a report.
To inventory your deployment:
- Generate a managed systems inventory to create a list of hardware and software resources from targeted systems in the organizational units (such as domain and work groups).
- Generate a WSUS server inventory to collects Microsoft® and third-party update status information that was reported to the WSUS server by each managed system.