Profile element types in SCM

File

The File element type in Server Configuration Monitor (SCM) is defined by a full path to a Linux file (applicable to Linux nodes only) or to a Windows node only (applicable to Windows nodes only). This path can use the wildcard character * for any part of the filename, and the recursive wildcard character ** for any subdirectory and system variables. File elements do not require credentials, but you can use credentials with them. To add credentials, see Specify element credentials.

Example of File type using Linux:

/etc/updatedb.conf
$MODULESHOME/*.xml

Example of File type using Windows:

%WINDIR%\Microsoft.NET\**\web.config
%WINDIR%\System32\inetsrv\config\schema\*.xml

The use of wild characters can have a negative impact on performance if used to monitor too many files, or very large files.

Important to note:

File elements using Linux are polled every minute.
File elements using Windows are polled in near real time. However, if the FIM driver is disabled, they are polled every minute.
Assigning an incompatible file to a node (such as a Linux file to a Windows node) will result in an error.
Linux file elements are set to ignore symbolic links.

Windows Registry

Registry elements are defined by a registry key path. No wild characters are allowed. All subtrees are monitored, which might affect performance if monitoring a large registry tree.

For example:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Installer\Features
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Component Based Servicing\Packages
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate

Windows registry elements are polled in near real time. However, if the FIM driver is disabled, they are polled every minute. Registry elements do not require credentials, but you can use credentials with them. To add credentials, see Specify element credentials.

Parsed File

This element type is only available as part of out-of-the-box profiles.

A file parser reads a particular type of file and finds more configuration elements to monitor based on that file's contents.

Parser	File parsed	Elements Parsed Out
IIS Web Config Parser	applicationHost.config	This parser reads an applicationHost.config file to find web.config files to monitor for all IIS sites, applications, and virtual directories within that applicationHost.config.

Internal Query

This element type is only available as part of out-of-the-box profiles.

Internal Query elements are queries to the SolarWinds Platform database.

PowerShell Script

You can create an SCM profile with the PowerShell script element and assign it to desired nodes. SCM collects the output of your custom PowerShell scripts and alerts you when it changes so that you can compare data outputs over time. PowerShell elements are polled every five minutes by default, but this interval frequency can be adjusted in settings. See Take advantage of PowerShell script support to learn more about using PowerShell in SCM.

Created by Microsoft, PowerShell is a task automation and configuration management framework that consists of a command-line shell and associated scripting language, built on the .NET Framework. PowerShell script elements do not require credentials, but you can use credentials with them. To add credentials, see Specify element credentials.

SolarWinds recommends that you avoid using credentials or other sensitive information in PowerShell or Linux script content, as this information may be viewable by non-administrator SCM users.

Linux Script

You can also create an SCM profile with the Linux script element and assign it to nodes. As with PowerShell scripts, SCM collects the output of your Linux scripts and alerts you when that output changes. You can adjust interval frequency settings if you want Linux elements to be polled more or less frequently than the default of every five minutes. See Leverage Linux scripts in SCM for more information about using Linux scripts in SCM. Linux script elements do not require credentials, but you can use credentials with them. To add credentials, see Specify element credentials.