7 SCCM Hardware Inventory Best Practices
SCCM hardware inventory is a powerful tool that can be used to inventory a wide variety of hardware information. Here are 7 best practices to follow.
System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) is a powerful tool for managing hardware inventory. It allows you to track and manage hardware assets, as well as deploy software and updates.
However, SCCM can be complex and difficult to configure. To ensure that you get the most out of SCCM, it’s important to follow best practices for hardware inventory. In this article, we’ll discuss 7 SCCM hardware inventory best practices that you should follow.
1. Enable Hardware Inventory
Hardware inventory is a powerful tool that allows you to collect detailed information about the hardware components of your computers. This data can be used for troubleshooting, asset management, and software deployment.
Enabling hardware inventory in SCCM is easy. All you need to do is go into the Configuration Manager console, select the “Hardware Inventory” node, and then enable it. Once enabled, you can configure which classes of hardware should be inventoried, as well as how often the inventory should run.
By enabling hardware inventory in SCCM, you will have access to valuable data that can help you better manage your IT environment.
2. Configure the Client Settings for Hardware Inventory
The client settings for hardware inventory allow you to specify which types of hardware and software information should be collected from the clients. This helps ensure that all relevant data is being gathered, so you can make informed decisions about your IT infrastructure. Additionally, it allows you to customize the collection process to meet specific needs or requirements.
By configuring the client settings for hardware inventory, you can also set up automated processes to collect the data on a regular basis. This ensures that the data is always up-to-date and accurate, allowing you to quickly identify any potential issues with your hardware or software.
3. Create a Custom MOF File to Extend Hardware Inventory
The MOF file is the main configuration file for SCCM hardware inventory. It contains all of the information about what data to collect from each device, and how it should be collected. By creating a custom MOF file, you can ensure that your hardware inventory is collecting only the most relevant data for your organization. This will help reduce clutter in your reports and make it easier to find the information you need.
Creating a custom MOF file also allows you to add additional classes or properties to the existing ones. This means you can extend the scope of your hardware inventory beyond the default settings, giving you more insight into the devices on your network.
4. Add New Classes and Properties to Hardware Inventory
By adding new classes and properties to hardware inventory, you can gain more insight into the hardware that is connected to your network. This allows you to better manage and maintain your hardware assets, as well as identify any potential issues or vulnerabilities before they become a problem.
Adding new classes and properties also helps with troubleshooting and diagnostics. By having more information about the hardware on your network, you can quickly pinpoint where an issue may be occurring and take steps to resolve it. Additionally, by tracking changes in hardware over time, you can ensure that all of your devices are up-to-date and running optimally.
5. Use PowerShell Scripts to Collect Data
PowerShell scripts are more efficient than using the SCCM console to collect data. They can be used to automate tasks, such as collecting hardware information from multiple computers at once.
PowerShell scripts also allow you to customize your inventory collection process. You can create custom scripts that target specific hardware components or software applications and then use them to collect detailed information about those items. This allows you to get a better understanding of what is installed on each computer in your network.
Finally, PowerShell scripts are easy to maintain and update. If you need to make changes to your inventory collection process, you can simply edit the script instead of having to manually configure settings in the SCCM console.
6. Deploying the Custom MOF Files
MOF files are the configuration files that tell SCCM what hardware and software to inventory. Without them, you won’t be able to collect any data from your clients.
To deploy custom MOF files, you’ll need to create a package in SCCM with the MOF file as its content. Then, you can use the Deployment Wizard to assign it to the appropriate collections of computers. Once deployed, the MOF files will be copied to each computer’s C:\Windows\System32\wbem folder.
By deploying custom MOF files, you can ensure that all of your clients have the same set of hardware and software information being collected by SCCM. This makes it easier to compare different machines and identify potential issues or discrepancies.
7. Verify the Collection of Hardware Inventory
Hardware inventory is a critical component of SCCM, as it allows you to track the hardware and software assets in your environment. Without accurate hardware inventory data, you won’t be able to accurately assess the health of your IT infrastructure or make informed decisions about future investments.
To ensure that your hardware inventory is being collected correctly, regularly review the reports generated by SCCM. This will help you identify any discrepancies between what’s reported and what’s actually present in your environment. Additionally, you should periodically audit your hardware inventory to verify its accuracy.