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Run Audit

Audit > Run Audit

Agents can be scheduled to automatically audit the hardware and software configurations of their managed machines on a recurring basis. Agents report the information back to the KServer so you can access it using the VSA even when managed machines are powered down. Audits enable you to examine configurations before they develop into serious problems. The system maintains three types of audits for each machine ID:

  • Baseline audit - The configuration of the system in its original state. Typically a baseline audit is performed when a system is first set up.
  • Latest audit - The configuration of the system as of the last audit. Once per day is recommended.
  • System Info - All DMI / SMBIOS data of the system as of the last system info audit. This data seldom changes and typically only needs to be run once.

The VSA detects changes in a machines's configuration by comparing the latest audit to the baseline audit. The latest audit record is stored for as many days as you specify.

Most of the agent and managed machine data displayed by function pages and Reports are based on the latest audit. The Machine Changes report compares a machine ID's latest audit to a baseline audit. Two alert types specifically address changes between a baseline audit and the latest audit: Application Changes and Hardware Changes.

Latest Audit

Runs the Latest Audit of all selected machine IDs when Schedule is clicked. Captures the state of machines on a frequent basis, such as daily.

Baseline Audit

Runs a Baseline Audit of all selected machine IDs when Schedule is clicked. Run a baseline audit to capture the state of machines in a known working state.

System Info

Collects System Info of all selected machines IDs when Schedule is clicked. System Info displays all DMI / SMBIOS data collected for each managed machine. This data virtually never changes and typically only needs to be run once.

Schedule

Click Schedule to schedule this task on selected machine IDs using the schedule options previously selected.

Date/Time

Enter the year, month, day, hour, and minute to schedule this task.

Run Now

Click Run Now to run this task on selected machine IDs immediately.

Cancel

Click Cancel to cancel execution of this task on selected managed machines.

Run recurring every <N> <periods>

Check the box to make this task a recurring task. Enter the number of times to run this task each time period.

Stagger by

You can distribute the load on your network by staggering this task. If you set this parameter to 5 minutes, then the task on each machine ID is staggered by 5 minutes. For example, machine 1 runs at 10:00, machine 2 runs at 10:05, machine 3 runs at 10:10, ...

Skip if Machine Offline

Check to perform this task only at the scheduled time, within a 15 minute window. If the machine is offline, skip and run the next scheduled period and time. Uncheck to perform this task as soon as the machine connects after the scheduled time.

Remind me when accounts need audit scheduled

If checked, displays a pop up warning message if audits have not been scheduled for one or more machine IDs. The warning displays each time you select Run Audit.

PCI & Disk Audit

Enables/disables the hardware audit driver for an agent. Only disable the driver if you suspect a driver conflict on the managed machine. The agent can not audit PCI hardware cards if this driver is disabled.

Check-in status

These icons indicate the agent check-in status of each managed machine:

Agent has checked in

Agent has checked in and user is logged on. Tool tip lists the logon name.

Agent has not recently checked in

Agent has never checked in

Online but waiting for first audit to complete

The agent is online but remote control is disabled

The agent has been suspended

Machine.Group ID/System Info

The top line shows the machine ID. The bottom line displays the last time a System Info audit was performed. If a System Info audit is pending, the time displays as red text with yellow highlight.

Latest Audit/Baseline Audit

The top line displays when the Latest Audit data was performed. The bottom line displays the last time a Baseline Audit was performed. If the baseline audit is pending, the time displays as red text with yellow highlight.

Next Audit/Recurring Interval

Displays the time of the next scheduled Latest Audit. The bottom line displays the recurring interval for latest audits. If the latest audit is pending, the time displays as red text with yellow highlight.