Deleting a Discovered Device

FlexNet Manager Suite 2019 R1 (On-Premises Edition)
You can delete a discovered device when it is no longer required in the system. You may delete a record if you find duplicate or erroneous discovery records.
Note: You may not need to manually delete a discovered device record. A discovered device record created from the inventory record is automatically deleted when the inventory is not reported for the associated device in the next inventory import. For example, you manually install FlexNet inventory agent on a device and the device inventory is reported to FlexNet Manager Suite. A discovery record is automatically created by using the inventory record details. If the device inventory is not reported in the next discovery and inventory import process (meaning that the record must be removed from the inventory database, such as by an updated Active Directory import for devices previous listed in AD), the discovered device record is deleted automatically.
It may help to understand some of the technical process that goes on behind the scenes, which may involve both discovered devices and inventory devices. When you manually delete a discovered device record:
  1. That record is removed from the web interface, disappearing from the listing of discovered devices
  2. The discovered device record is removed from the compliance database
  3. If the discovered device is also linked to an inventory device record created from FlexNet inventory, the linked inventory device is also removed from the inventory database (but not, at this time, from the compliance database, and therefore the inventory device remains visible in listings of inventory devices for the time being)
  4. At the next full inventory import, the fact that the inventory device is now missing (from the FlexNet inventory imported from the inventory database) causes the removal of the inventory device from the compliance database, and therefore the inventory device is also removed from the web interface.
This explains the timing of the device's disappearance from different listings when it is deleted from a list of discovered devices — its linked inventory device does not follow until the next full inventory import. However, there is a special case that occurs when all of the following are true:
  • FlexNet Manager Suite is in 'PVU mode', responsible for sub-capacity PVU points calculation
  • The discovered device record is linked to an inventory device record
  • That same inventory device is consuming from an IBM PVU license (in which case it is visible on the Consumption tab of the license properties), or has been consuming from an IBM PVU license within the data retention period (in which case it may no longer be visible, depending on your inventory imports).
In this case, the fourth step of the above process for deleting a discovered device is modified. To summarize the process:
  1. The discovered device record is removed from the web interface.
  2. The same record is removed from the compliance database.
  3. For a linked inventory device from FlexNet inventory, the linked inventory device is also removed from the inventory database.
  4. At the next full inventory import, the fact that the inventory device is now missing but that it is still required for historical calculations of PVU points earlier in the reporting period means that the inventory device is not deleted from the compliance database, but instead is given a status of Archived. This inventory device record in the compliance database is reassessed at each full inventory import; and once the record is no longer required for retrospective points calculations, it is automatically deleted.

An archived inventory device behaves much like a deleted one — it disappears from regular listings of inventory devices (remaining available only in the Archived Inventory page), and it takes no further part in license compliance calculations other than the special case of the historical recalculations for IBM PVU licenses. And an archived inventory device does not require a linked discovered device record, so that deleting from this listing behaves just as you expect: the discovered device disappears immediately from this listing.

To delete a discovered device:

  1. Select the discovery record that you wish to delete.
  2. Click Delete.
    FlexNet Manager Suite displays a warning message to confirm the deletion.
  3. Click OK to delete the inventory record.
    FlexNet Manager Suite displays the "The selected device record was deleted successfully" message.