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Title
Hardware Inventory Process -
Description
This article addresses the process in which Desktop Authority uniquely identifies machines for hardware inventory purposes.
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Resolution
When Desktop Authority 7.x runs for the first time, it "tattoos" the PC with a Machine GUID.This GUID is not based on anything related to the hardware or software other than the fact that the GUID did not previously exist in the registry.Inventory records that are collected include:· Machine GUID· Machine Name and Domain (as a pair).Here is how the Computer Identification entries are then handled in the database when an Inventory record is received via the data collection process:
· New Record (\pair) AND New :
Insert a new Computer Identification record in table.
This is a new computer.
· Existing Record (\pair) AND Existing :
No new record in the Computer Identification table.
No change to the existing record.
· New Record (\pair) XOR New (ONE BUT NOT BOTH NEW):
Update the existing Computer Identification record in table to include new (\pair).
This is not a new computer but it's now identified using different values.
As a result, the canned inventory reports will reflect changes as follows:
· If the admin later changes the computer name
It will show up as the same PC.
· If the admin moves the computer to a different domain:
It will show up as the same PC.
· If the admin re-images the machine but uses the same Computer Name/Domain Name pair:
It will show up as the same PC (assuming the master image did not have a Machine GUID stamped on it).
· If the admin moves the drive to a different box:
The different box’s HW components will show up as changes in the hardware change history.