Audit Overview

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 Info Center > 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. Collected audit information includes:

All hardware, including CPUs, RAM, PCI cards, and disk drives.
All installed software, including licenses, version numbers, full path, and description.
System Information from DMI and SMBIOS including PC make, model, serial number, mother board type, and over 40 other pieces of information describing the PC and its configuration.
OS info with version number and service pack build.
Current network settings including local IP address, gateway IP address, DNS, WINS, DHCP, and MAC address.

Functions	Description
Run Audit	Schedules latest, system, and baseline audits of machine IDs.
Audit Summary	Displays data returned by audits of machines
Configure Column Sets	Configures columns sets for the Audit Summary page.
Machine Summary	Displays detailed information about a single managed machine.
System Information	Shows DMI / SMBIOS data collected.
Installed Applications	Shows a list of executable (.exe) files on selected managed machines.
Add/Remove	Shows the Add or Remove Programs list from a managed machine.
Software Licenses	Shows a list of vendor license codes found on selected managed machines.
Documents	Stores files associated with a machine ID.

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