Creating an Inventory Connection
Important:
To enable correct interpretation of the inventory data being imported from a source database, the inventory beacon needs to know:
• | The type of database in which the data is stored, as well as the type of data itself |
• | The name of the database |
• | The location of the database |
• | The security permissions required to access the database |
• | When (if ever) the data from this database should be considered stale. |
All connections to third-party (non-Flexera One) inventory sources are made through the FlexNet Beacon interface, on the inventory beacon that is best positioned for high-speed network connection to the source database. The following process uses Microsoft SCCM as the inventory source in this example. For a list of supported inventory sources, see Inventory Data Sources Supported for IT Visibility.
To create a connection for importing inventory from Microsoft SCCM:
1. | Select the Inventory systems page in the FlexNet Beacon interface (in the Data collection group in the left navigation bar). |
2. | Click New... (toward the bottom right of this page). |
The Create SQL Source Connection dialog opens.
3. | Complete the values in this dialog, according to the following notes: |
Control |
Comments |
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Connection Name |
A descriptive name for this connection that you will recognize later in lists. The name may contain alphanumeric characters, underscores or spaces, but must start with either a letter or a number. |
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Source Type |
Choose SCCM (which includes imports from Microsoft SCCM, or from legacy Microsoft SMS, databases). Important:To collect data saved by Microsoft SCCM, the account on the inventory beacon that is running the connection to the SQL Server database requires membership in the SQL Server db_datareader role. For more information, refer to the Microsoft Database-level roles topic. |
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Server |
Type the server name or IP address. Use the special value (localhost) if the database is installed on this same inventory beacon server. If the database instance you need is not the default one on the server you identify, add the instance name, separated with a backslash character. Example: (localhost)\myInstance |
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Authentication |
Select one of:
Tip:The account used needs read-only privileges on the database. |
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Username |
The account name used for SQL authentication, or Windows (specific account). (Not required for Windows Authentication.) |
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Password |
The password for the account name required for SQL authentication, or Windows (specific account). (Not required for Windows Authentication.) |
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Database |
Enter the name of the database, or use the pull-down list to select from database names automatically detected on your specified server. |
4. | Click Test Connection. |
• | If the inventory beacon can successfully connect to the nominated database using the details supplied, a Database connection succeeded message displays. Click OK to close the message. Click Save to complete the addition. The connection is added to (or updated in) the list. |
• | If the inventory beacon cannot connect, a Database connection failed message is displayed, with information about why that connection could not be made. Click OK to close the message. Edit the connection details and retest the connection. |
You cannot save the connection details if the connection test fails. If you cannot get the connection test to succeed, click Cancel to cancel the addition of these connection details.
When your database connection is successfully tested, you have one set-up task remaining – to schedule when this connection is used to import data (see Scheduling Inventory Imports).