I've now tried Crystal Info, Impromptu, and Access, and they are all aggravating as can be. If I could make a nice clean report on software or hardware inventory for a particular PC, I would be oh so happy. Has anybody found anything that works well for reports, e.g. something that is easy to use, easy to understand, fast, etc.? X-)
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don't you hate trying to SMS reports? 1
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Schoenberg
Programmer
If you are looking for a free (no cost) resource, then the Web Reporting tool from Microsoft is an excellent start. The out-of-the-box experience is good, and you can customize quite a bit of the report output.
However, if you want a bunch more functionality, then there are several products available to do everything from administration to reporting. Check here for one of the more popular tools:
However, if you want a bunch more functionality, then there are several products available to do everything from administration to reporting. Check here for one of the more popular tools:
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Schoenberg
Programmer
Yeah, the Web Reports is great even if you don't want to use the built-in web site code!
You see, it will create all of the needed SQL stored procedures, views and such, which would allow you to create your own HTML (or whatever) solution entirely!
This, obviously requires extra knowledge and technical ability (not to mention TIME), but once you have the SQL views created, then most of the tough work is done.
You see, it will create all of the needed SQL stored procedures, views and such, which would allow you to create your own HTML (or whatever) solution entirely!
This, obviously requires extra knowledge and technical ability (not to mention TIME), but once you have the SQL views created, then most of the tough work is done.
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- #5
The web reports seem really nice, but I can't for the life of me figure out why some users can access the pages on the web and some can't. The users who can't are receiving a login box with the name of the SMS server at the top. Is it SQL security, or IIS security, or what?
Schoenberg
Programmer
When you install Web Reports, it creates an SQL Login and an SQL Role for you, named 'smsschm_user' and 'smsschm_users'.
Meanwhile, IIS is configured to use integrated security to allow access to the Web Reports site.
Therefore, in SQL just run the "Create Login Wizard" to create a new SQL Login associated to the NT userID you wish to grant access. Then you must add this SQL Login to the smsschm_users role.
In a less secure environment, you could theoretically enable "Anonymous Access" to the web site in IIS, but I haven't tried this one yet!
Meanwhile, IIS is configured to use integrated security to allow access to the Web Reports site.
Therefore, in SQL just run the "Create Login Wizard" to create a new SQL Login associated to the NT userID you wish to grant access. Then you must add this SQL Login to the smsschm_users role.
In a less secure environment, you could theoretically enable "Anonymous Access" to the web site in IIS, but I haven't tried this one yet!
Influent - I agree, Microsoft did a horse %@*$ job on Inventory of Software and getting good reports. I will give them a B+ on the Inventory of Hardware. Getting good reliable data/reports from SMS 2.0 is almost impossible - unless you have TIME(1 month for one report). Please call Microsoft and complain - we have done this and issues have been taken back to the Microsoft Software Compliancy group and they have provided funding for SMS 2.0 enhancements. They claim to have great things in the new version of SMS - I think it's called Topaz - release Q1 or Q2 2002.
Question: Has anyone developed Crystal reports they would like to sell? I don't want a product like Altiris or Tally's PowerCensus that creates a MIF for SMS to pickup. With this direction - Why even use SMS 2.0 ???? I don't get it? Where's the value?
Thanks!
Question: Has anyone developed Crystal reports they would like to sell? I don't want a product like Altiris or Tally's PowerCensus that creates a MIF for SMS to pickup. With this direction - Why even use SMS 2.0 ???? I don't get it? Where's the value?
Thanks!
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- #8
Security seems to be a nightmare with the web reports. I have no idea what I did, but now I get a message saying "Login failed for user 'smsschm_user'. [-2147217843]". I deleted the password and made it blank(probably not too smart) for smsschm_user hoping that all people would then have access to the web reports, though I believe it was already blank (doesn't it just use the sa password?). I feel like I understand where all the security is (SQL, IIS) but I can't get anything to work now, i.e. nobody has access including the administrator!
Schoenberg
Programmer
Actually, contrary to JPMackl's opinion, creating a query to use for reporting is pretty simple and easy, assuming you have some experience with SQL.
If you know how to write SQL queries, then simply use the SMS MMC to create a query that displays the data you want. I suggest using Left Joins and Aliases to make the output look correct.
The key to reporting in SMS 2 is your ability to write accurate queries. Some people, such as JPMackl, view this as a serious limitation of SMS, since not everybody knows how to write SQL queries. Remember, however, that ANY tool you use to generate reports in SMS will simply be performing SQL queries for you. You can get the same functionality as these custom tools (Crystal Reports et. al.) by learning and coding your own SQL queries.
Suffice it to say that if you are not interested in delving into the complex aspects of SMS, and you wish to just have reports generated for you, then another product might be better for you.
If you know how to write SQL queries, then simply use the SMS MMC to create a query that displays the data you want. I suggest using Left Joins and Aliases to make the output look correct.
The key to reporting in SMS 2 is your ability to write accurate queries. Some people, such as JPMackl, view this as a serious limitation of SMS, since not everybody knows how to write SQL queries. Remember, however, that ANY tool you use to generate reports in SMS will simply be performing SQL queries for you. You can get the same functionality as these custom tools (Crystal Reports et. al.) by learning and coding your own SQL queries.
Suffice it to say that if you are not interested in delving into the complex aspects of SMS, and you wish to just have reports generated for you, then another product might be better for you.
Actually, I work for a very large corporation - We have over 15,000 pc's and we have had Microsoft onsite and they agree they have a Horse #$*@ product for Software Inventory. The issue is it collects several .exe's for every software product. Visio may have 7 .exe's or if you have a suite of products - you can't tell if the product is packaged or a stand alone. You need to look at each product to determine how it was loaded on the pc and if it has 7, 8, 9, or 10 .exe's. - Unless you assume and you know what that makes out of a person!
We were advised by Microsoft not to use SMS 2.0 software metering because of high overhead cost.
We have about 2,000+ software prodcuts in our company - I don't have 10 minutes to write SQL queries on each product.
I feel SMS 2.0 has great potential - but folks need to fire up Bill to get many improvements that are needed.
The president of Altiris left the Microsoft SMS group and started his own company - He was frustrated with direction SMS was headed.
Do a gap analisys on SMS 2.0, Altiris, and Tally TS.Census.
See who is at the bottom of the pile.
Look at Gartner or Meta groups rating's - guess who's at the bottom.
Schoenberg:
Your right - another product may be better for us - I have had many other's request on getting good reports from SMS
Iventory.
I thought someone would have written a front end to SMS just for reports. They would be rich$$$
No - I'm not interested in writing complex reports - I have enough work on my plate with other Asset Managment Activities....I like to go home by 6:00 pm at night.
I feel SMS Inventory needs alot of work to be a robust and accurate tool.
We were advised by Microsoft not to use SMS 2.0 software metering because of high overhead cost.
We have about 2,000+ software prodcuts in our company - I don't have 10 minutes to write SQL queries on each product.
I feel SMS 2.0 has great potential - but folks need to fire up Bill to get many improvements that are needed.
The president of Altiris left the Microsoft SMS group and started his own company - He was frustrated with direction SMS was headed.
Do a gap analisys on SMS 2.0, Altiris, and Tally TS.Census.
See who is at the bottom of the pile.
Look at Gartner or Meta groups rating's - guess who's at the bottom.
Schoenberg:
Your right - another product may be better for us - I have had many other's request on getting good reports from SMS
Iventory.
I thought someone would have written a front end to SMS just for reports. They would be rich$$$
No - I'm not interested in writing complex reports - I have enough work on my plate with other Asset Managment Activities....I like to go home by 6:00 pm at night.
I feel SMS Inventory needs alot of work to be a robust and accurate tool.
I came here looking for a canned list of reports as well. We are trying to "true" up our licenseseseses for our MS Select Agreement.
I have a good list of our MS Products but I am running into the same brick wall as all of you
For instance, Office is a relatively easy query, but then there we need numbers on 4.2 Standard, 4.2 Pro, 4.3 Standard, 4.3 Professional, 7.0 Standard, 7.0 Professional, 2000 Standard, pro, premium and small bidness.
It just barely beats walking around to 5000 machines and doing a manual inventory.
I have a good list of our MS Products but I am running into the same brick wall as all of you
For instance, Office is a relatively easy query, but then there we need numbers on 4.2 Standard, 4.2 Pro, 4.3 Standard, 4.3 Professional, 7.0 Standard, 7.0 Professional, 2000 Standard, pro, premium and small bidness.
It just barely beats walking around to 5000 machines and doing a manual inventory.
I'm looking for a report to run / create that will last all pc's & users that haven't run a particular appliation / exe file for a particular period of time.
Does anyone know of any queries that can provide this? Has anyone used access with WBEM source?
Thanks
Does anyone know of any queries that can provide this? Has anyone used access with WBEM source?
Thanks
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- #13
That's a good one, I've never thought about that. I suggest going to you can at least get a start there if nothing else.
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