Configuring the FlexNet Manager Suite Inventory Beacon
An inventory beacon is a computer located within your enterprise that gathers software inventory and other information that you specify, and uploads the data to FlexNet Manager Suite.
You download the software to install on an inventory beacon server from FlexNet Manager Suite. After installation, you use the inventory beacon software to download a configuration file that has been customized for this beacon (do not share these files between beacons) and load it into the beacon.
To configure the FlexNet Manager Suite environment, perform the following steps:
To configure the FlexNet Manager Suite inventory beacon:
| 1. | Obtain your Service Account details (URL, account name, password, FlexNet Manager Suite Cloud access token) for an instance of FlexNet Manager Suite Cloud. |
Important:Record your FlexNet Manager Suite Cloud access token in a secure location. This token cannot be obtained again for an existing service account; a new service account would have to be created.
| 2. | On the machine where you want to install the inventory beacon software, launch FlexNet Manager Suite and log in. |
The FlexNet Manager Suite Home page is displayed.
| 3. | On the Discovery & Inventory tab, click Beacons in the Network group. |
The Beacons page opens.
| 4. | Click the Deploy a beacon button. The Deploy a Beacon page opens. |
| 5. | Click the Download a beacon button. The inventory beacon software is downloaded. |
| 6. | Run the inventory beacon installer using the default settings. |
Important:Make sure that you connect to the cloud instance and download the inventory beacon software on the machine where you intend to install it.
| 7. | Once installed, launch the Inventory Beacon executable and click on Parent connection under Beacon configuration. The Parent Connection details are displayed. |
| 8. | Select the Enable parent connection option. The Download configuration and Import configuration buttons under Configure inventory beacon connection are enabled. |
| 9. | Click the Download configuration button. The Configure a Beacon page of FlexNet Manager Suite Cloud opens, displaying a Unique ID number. |
| 10. | In the Name field, enter a name to identify this inventory beacon instance. |
| 11. | Click the Download configuration button. |
| 12. | Return to the Parent Connection view of the Inventory Beacon software. |
| 13. | Click on the Import configuration button. You will be prompted to upload a configuration file. |
| 14. | Upload the flxconfig configuration file that you downloaded from the Configure Beacon page of FlexNet Manager Suite Cloud. |
| 15. | Click the Test connection button. Progress messages are displayed. |
| 16. | Click Save and Exit, and then relaunch the Inventory Beacon software. |
| 17. | Under Data collection, click on Inventory systems and configure your System Center Configuration Manager instances. |
Tip:If you face issues configuring with Windows Authentication and Windows (Specific Account), then try using SQL Authentication. To do this, this you need to set the Authentication mode to SQL and Windows Authentication mode on your SQL server hosting the System Center Configuration Manager database.
| 18. | Save the inventory system settings. The new inventory system settings will be listed on the Inventory Systems view. |
| 19. | Select the connection and click Execute Now. |
| 20. | Return to FlexNet Manager Suite Cloud. |
| 21. | On the Discovery & Inventory tab, click Beacons in the Network group. The Beacons page opens and lists the newly installed inventory beacon. |
| 22. | On the License Compliance tab, click Reconcile. |
The Reconcile page opens.
| 23. | Select the Update inventory for reconciliation option and then click the Reconcile button. |
After about 15 to 20 minutes, your System Center Configuration Manager inventory should be listed in the FlexNet Manager Suite Cloud user interface.