Structure of an Inventory Adapter
Each inventory adapter is a set of reader instructions for the compliance importer. The permitted structure depends on the origin and operational mode for this adapter.
- "Connected mode", where the adapter has simultaneous access to both the source
and target databases (for example, when the source database is accessible from
the server running the operations database for IT Asset Management).Note: For security reasons, connected mode is not available when you are using IT Asset Management as a cloud service.
- "Disconnected mode", where you need to install an inventory beacon, either because the source database and target database are on separate networks, or because you are using IT Asset Management as a cloud service. For more information see Disconnected Mode.
- "Disconnected mode (Tier 1)", where the same operational conditions apply with the adapter running on an inventory beacon, but because the adapter is factory-supplied, security provisions take a different form, discussed below.
Type of operation | Description | Available in modes |
---|---|---|
Target to source | Executes a database query on the IT Asset Management database and copies the result to a table in the source database. This data is to provide context for a subsequent query on the source database. | Connected |
Source to target |
Executes a database query on the source database and copies the result to a table in the IT Asset Management database. Restriction: For fast transfers, the Compliance Importer
uses SQL bulk copy operations to move data from one database to
another. This means that the query on the source and the table
on the target must match exactly in column order and data
type.
For disconnected (tier 1) operations, a source to target step is modified so that data is saved to intermediate packages before upload. |
Connected |
Source to object |
Replaces 'source to target' for use in disconnected mode with custom adapters. Instead of writing source data directly to the target database, it is written into an intermediate package format and saved on the inventory beacon. The intermediate packages are uploaded asynchronously to the cloud server, and processed (by default overnight) for import into the operations database. Restriction: Since you cannot modify the internal
processing, the data in the intermediate packages must map
correctly to a standard set of objects and their attributes (see
Inventory Adapter Object Model).
|
Disconnected |
Execute on source | Executes an SQL script on the source database. |
Connected |
Execute on target | Executes an SQL script on the IT Asset Management database. |
Connected |
- Connected mode applies only for on-premises installations where the security of both databases is entirely in your control.
- Disconnected mode for custom adapters protects the central operations database in the cloud service by disallowing any custom SQL on the target side. This also limits the permissible imports to the standard set of objects and attributes available in the Inventory Adapter Studio running on an inventory beacon. You can also find an XML file defining those objects and attributes on your inventory beacon at C:\ProgramData\Flexera Software\Compliance\ImportProcedures\ObjectAdapters\InventoryObjectModel.xml.
- In disconnected mode, Tier 1 (factory-supplied) adapters are able to use factory-approved custom SQL on the target side. Security is provided by disallowing the slightest revision of any kind to these adapters. If you change anything on Tier 1 inventory adapters for disconnected mode, they will not run, and importing your inventory will completely fail.

IT Asset Management (Cloud)
Current