Computer Asset Questions

Computer Asset Questions

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Computer Asset Questions - 9/11/2009 12:32:52 PM

msandona

Posts: 13
Joined: 3/3/2009
Status: offline

Three things:

1. We've been having a problem where new computer assets are coming in to the asset db with the IP address as the asset name. It used to use the machine name. What's the fix?

2. Is there a way to use data from an inventory field (bios serial number) to populate a field in the asset record?

3. I'm a little confused by the new "mapped inventory field (MIF)" and "Matching Asset Field (MAF)" items in the computer asset. I'm assuming that the MIF is used to check an inventory item against existing assets and confirm match. I'm not sure what the MAF field does.

thanks.

Matt

Post #: 1

RE: Computer Asset Questions - 9/14/2009 4:54:50 PM

jody

Posts: 5
Joined: 8/25/2009
Status: offline

1. Somehow the MIF and MAF you specified have been changed.

2. You could use the MIF (bios serial number) in this case to populate the MAF - there are specific items in the MIF list that can be used.

3. The MIF and MAF work together to eliminate duplicates. The MIF is checked against the MAF to see if this asset record already exists - if so, it's an update; otherwise, it's an insert. It's wise to have them be matching fields. For example, I don't want to use a MIF of MAC Address and MAF of System Name as those are apples and oranges (unless you name all your machines by their MAC...if so, carry on).

Hope this helps.

(in reply to msandona)

Post #: 2

RE: Computer Asset Questions - 10/8/2009 10:36:43 AM

msandona

Posts: 13
Joined: 3/3/2009
Status: offline

Thanks Jody. This is very helpful.

Matt

(in reply to jody)

Post #: 3

RE: Computer Asset Questions - 10/19/2009 1:12:44 PM

ewoodcock

Posts: 9
Joined: 10/19/2009
Status: offline

I might be missing how the inventory and asset are supposed to work together, but if I delete a computer in the inventory I lose all of the hardware, last user, etc info. As workstations are retired I would like to be able to remove them from inventory but still have a detailed record of what they were in the asset list. I realize they are two separate records w/a similar id of mif and maf. I want to keep both records but keep the inventory list current so is there a way to just change the inventory status to deleted or something so the record isn't lost and the relationship to the asset is maintained?

(in reply to msandona)

Post #: 4

RE: Computer Asset Questions - 10/20/2009 8:03:09 PM

kross

Posts: 17
Joined: 12/10/2008
Status: offline

One approach here could be to put your retired machines into a "retired" label rather than deleting them. Would that suffice?

(in reply to ewoodcock)

Post #: 5

RE: Computer Asset Questions - 10/21/2009 3:43:18 AM

RichB

Posts: 131
Joined: 6/29/2006
Status: online

Unfortunately all computer records count against the KBOX license limit so a "retired" label is not a solution. Those records would also get deleted when the MIA limit is reached (if enabled).

I would also like to see a way to archive the computer data in the asset record. When looking at an asset record for an existing computer there's lots of data but it appears to be only pointing to the computer record so gets deleted with the computer record. KACE has always accepted Feature Enhancement Requests and often they add them when feasible. It can't hurt to ask and everyone will benefit if it gets developed.

Since this board is moderated by KACE perhaps these kind of posts will be used for enhancement ideas?

(in reply to kross)

Post #: 6

RE: Computer Asset Questions - 10/21/2009 10:23:26 AM

kross

Posts: 17
Joined: 12/10/2008
Status: offline

RichB - yes we will look into this as a candidate for future enhancement - thanks for the background,

Ken

(in reply to RichB)

Post #: 7

RE: Computer Asset Questions - 10/22/2009 7:47:53 PM

lindsamw

Posts: 57
Joined: 11/16/2005
Status: offline

I would like this also. It was very frustrating when we replaced 2000 PC's and had to lose all record of them and what they had to stay within licensing.

(in reply to kross)

Post #: 8

RE: Computer Asset Questions - 11/20/2009 5:59:36 PM

JesseLara

Posts: 11
Joined: 11/10/2009
Status: offline

Let's see if I can get my additional question to this post phrased correctly.

I have inventory items that have already created assets. This is for an asset type of Computer.
The MIF is System Name ( the name we gave the computer, in this case a unique asset tag # )
The MAF is Name ( a custom asset field)

If I changed the MIF and the MAF to say BIOS S/N, will it update current asset items?, or create entirely new asset records?

I was hoping to use this method if possible to populate currently empty fields in the custom asset fields we created, by changing the MIF and MAF once it has updated the assets.

Or as an additional question, is it possible to have more than one set of MIF and MAF fields in future releases?

Thanks,

Jesse

(in reply to lindsamw)

Post #: 9

RE: Computer Asset Questions - 11/23/2009 9:35:28 AM

bgatech

Posts: 31
Joined: 11/12/2007
Status: offline

It will actually ignore it except for new assets. The easiest thing to do is delete the bad ones and let them be recreated correctly. That's what I did. You could try to export the correct information from inventory and import to assets. I tried that, but I don't think I could get the colums to match correctly.

(in reply to JesseLara)

Post #: 10