Client Management Suite

we have a load of lenovo desktop and laptops. I noticed in the BIOS that there is an asset tag field but it wont let me add anything to it. Does anyone know if there is a way to update the bios field through altiris. Failing that - is there any way we can manually add an asset tag entry to the computer in altiris. (the hostname is different from the asset tag or serial) CMS 7.0.

cheers

Joe.

Manufacturers set this; from what I've always seen, there's not a way (unless the manufacturer provides a utility) to update this value.

Why not create a custom data class (Joe's Company Asset Tag) and populate it manually or through a custom inventory?  You can then use it in reports, filters, and the like -- anywhere where you would have used the Asset Tag field.

I phoned up lenovo support and asked how to change the BIOS asset tag and was told this couln't be done. TBH I didn't believe her. I found it strange they had an empty field called Asset tag that I could't change. Anywho. Looks like she was right. (and not just trying to get rid of me)
Do you know if theres any docs on creating a custom data class ?

Cheers - Joe.

usally requires CMDB\Asset Solution and there are some great docs on that. Sandy Fletcher also posted some videos on Connect to help with Asset 7.x functions.

Hopefully seeing Sandy today at the Twin Cities User Group meeting.. in about 20 minutes.  I better run!

This shows how to do a custom inventory and a data class, but you could create the data class but skip the custom inventory, populating the field manually:

http://www.symantec.com/business/support/index?page=content&id=HOWTO10487

After-thought: or use a vbscript or similar method to prompt for input, which is then harvested by the custom inventory.  ("Please input the asset tag number.  It is located on the front of the computer and branded with the company logo.")  Or place a file in a directory that contains the necessary information and parse that.

OK - I created a data class for the asset tag - I juts dont understand how to associate this with a computer or populate it.

I didn't know you could create the class without Asset, however you'll need to do a resource association. The connector solution (part of CMDB\Asset) gives you multiple ways of doing this. Can it be done by only using custom inventory? Not to sure.

Eh! I Have no idea what your talking about. i'll chalk this one upto "yet something else thats not easy to do" category. Its getting to be a popular category.

 :-) - Joe.

Is CMDB\Asset Solution another piece of software. If so - I dont have it - I only have CMS7.

How do you want to populate it, or how are you able?  Is the company asset tag recorded anywhere on the system?  If it isn't, without buying asset (which lets you do custom entry), I imagine you could use a custom inventory to populate this.  At its most simple, you could create a registry value whose data is manually set by your staff to the company asset tag.  The custom inventory queries the registry on a computer (how to associate with the computer) and then returns the registry value's data (which is the asset tag).

I think you're stuck with manual entry either way, and without buying asset, you'll have to put the data on the computer.

This article explains how to run through doing a custom inventory.  It uses NS6 in the example but many of the concepts are the same.  Does this help explain how you would accomplish what you want to do?

https://www-secure.symantec.com/connect/articles/readycustom-inventory-pulling-values-registry

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=lenovo&lndocid=MIGR-75237 . Just make it run prior to the imaging job so someone can input the tag and then walk away.

I know with the Panasonics they offered something like the app above, and when it wouldn't run in PE I just worked with support until they made one which worked in PE. Also, I believe on the newer BIOS firmware updates you might be able to input it in the BIOS settings directly.

I have found a solution for about every vendor except Lenovo I think (we don't use Lenovo). I find it hard to believe they do not offer something to do this.

I have created a custom data class and populated through a script. I can go Manage, Computers, right-click a computer name, Resource Manager, click View Inventory, and under the Data Classes/Inventory/Custom node, there is my nifty custom data class. It has two attributes, and they are populated correctly.

Hooray!

But how do I create a report that lists the attributes of that class for all managed computers? I have spent most of today in frustration trying to find ANYTHING that shows how to do this. On the Status tab of the Resource Manager, I can see the Guid for my custom class, its name, database table name (mine is Inv_DandS_Plugin_Version), etc. In SQL Management Studio, I can see that table and it looks great. But how do I surface this info in a custom report?