How the Connector Works, and Prerequisites

FlexNet Manager Suite 2022 R2 (On-Premises)

There are two sides to configuring the connector and its interaction with BMC Discovery:

  • An optional set of patterns that can be deployed to each BMC Discovery instance to improve the initial level of inventory detail collected by BMC Discovery.
    Tip: The optional patterns are available for use with BMC Discovery, whether you use the connector or the adapter.
  • The connector itself, which is configured on an appropriate inventory beacon. A suitable inventory beacon meets the following requirements:
    • It has network access to your BMC Discovery instance
    • It connects to the application server for FlexNet Manager Suite (optionally, through a hierarchy of inventory beacons)
    • FlexNet Beacon is release 17.2.0 (available with FlexNet Manager Suite 2021 R1.2) or later
    • PowerShell 5.1 or later is installed
    • A web browser that can access the central application server for FlexNet Manager Suite is installed
    • You have the ability to log into the inventory beacon, and run FlexNet Beacon, using an account with administrator privileges.

Operation is straight-forward, and is summarized in this high-level diagram:

Figure: Process overview

The diagram shows:

  1. Optionally making use of additional patterns packaged with the connector, inventory details are collected by BMC Discovery.
  2. Configured on an appropriate inventory beacon (one with network access to BMC Discovery), the connector accesses the REST APIs provided by BMC Discovery to extract the required data. You determine the timing of this connection by setting an appropriate schedule as part of the connector configuration.
  3. Once the required information is collected, the connector uploads it to the central application server, where it is imported into the inventory database. In the final stage, the regular (default nightly) full inventory import transfers the information to the compliance database, where it is used for license consumption calculations to help determine license compliance.

FlexNet Manager Suite (On-Premises)

2022 R2