Hi,

Just wanted to know the behavior of Software inventory in CM 2012. How does it determine the installed software in a computer? Does it rely from the Add/Programs in the control panel or does it base on whatever .exe file or extension file type I have set in the client settings?

Thanks in advance.

"Software inventory" as a term in ConfigMgr relies on the .exe or other file types you've configured from the client settings. You also get "Add/Remove Programs" through "Hardware inventory" (yes, confusing I know), you can check these by right clicking a device in the ConfigMgr console and open Resource Explorer. You also get reports of both of these from the Monitoring -> Reports.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/gg682049.aspx

• Proposed as answer by narcoticoo 7 hours 45 minutes ago
• Marked as answer by Mark.delrosario 6 hours 7 minutes ago

Thank you for the inputs.

"Software inventory" as a term in ConfigMgr relies on the .exe or other file types you've configured from the client settings. You also get "Add/Remove Programs" through "Hardware inventory" (yes, confusing I know), you can check these by right clicking a device in the ConfigMgr console and open Resource Explorer. You also get reports of both of these from the Monitoring -> Reports.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/gg682049.aspx

• Proposed as answer by Narcoticoo Friday, February 14, 2014 4:34 AM
• Marked as answer by Mark.delrosario Friday, February 14, 2014 6:12 AM

"Software inventory" as a term in ConfigMgr relies on the .exe or other file types you've configured from the client settings. You also get "Add/Remove Programs" through "Hardware inventory" (yes, confusing I know), you can check these by right clicking a device in the ConfigMgr console and open Resource Explorer. You also get reports of both of these from the Monitoring -> Reports.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/gg682049.aspx

• Proposed as answer by narcoticoo Friday, February 14, 2014 4:34 AM
• Marked as answer by Mark.delrosario Friday, February 14, 2014 6:12 AM

There's also a third way that builds upon Add/Remove Programs and other evidence on the system. This is done using Asset Intelligence which must be enabled; it adds additional items to (hardware) inventory and as its name implies also a layer of intelligence on top of the data collected by (Hardware) Inventory via reports including being able to detect suites of prod

You need to configure the .exe or other file extension for software inventory at server side so that client side software details are scanned and return back to server. Add Remove Program(ARP) related details are sent to server by Hardware Inventory from client.