BTNInventory FAQ

Sections:

BTN Inventory:

What is PC Inventory?
A Personal Computer Inventory Application allows a company of any size to track and monitor its employees’ computers. Hardware and software data from each computer is routinely gathered and imported into a single database. This data can be used not only to assist a company in managing its PCs, but also as an invaluable tool for helpdesk and desktop support staff.

Why do I need a PC Inventory Product?
It saves your company both money and time. Knowing how many copies of software your users have installed and detecting illegal software on company PCs can avoid costly licensing penalties. You can quickly and easily see how many PC's need to be upgraded without physically examining each PC. Helpdesk and desktop support technicians can use the information in the database to diagnose their client’s problems. Technicians can also determine what software needs to be installed when doing new computers setups for existing employees.

Why is IP based software better?
Most PC Inventory programs require that the database be located on a network-shared drive that all employees can access. If your users are scattered across the country, this requirement can result in a drive-mapping nightmare and slow network access. Some companies minimize this problem by maintaining multiple databases, which are difficult to keep track of. Also, users who access their email but never log into their company’s network operating system are not accounted for.

Using an IP-based program avoids all of these problems. The database can be stored on any computer, and all employees with IP can access it directly without logging in. The data is stored in one central place, thus allowing you to see the “whole picture”.
You don't need to have the database on a network-shared drive and that everyone can access. If your users are scattered around the country, IP based inventory can prevent a drive mapping nightmare and slow network access. You will have slow access or multiple databases to review. You can also catch the users who access email but never log into the network OS.

The IP based database can be on any PC and all the users with IP can access it directly without logging in. Your data is in one central place where you can see the whole picture.

Why can't the client connect to the PC running the BTNDBW Data Listener server program?
1. Make sure both the client and server computers have IP properly configured and the BTNDBW program is running on the server PC.
2. Make sure the BTNIP.INI file has the correct IP address for the server.
3. On the server database PC disable the firewall or add the port you are using to the list of services for the firewall to allow. The client PC's firewall doesn't have to be changed.
4. Do you have TCP filtering enabled in the OS for your network card?

Can the SID be changed?
Yes, in the btnsid.ini in windows directory. If you want a different ID for a system you can also add an extra column to the database.

Can fields be added to the database?
Yes. You will need to modify any queries, forms or reports that you want to include the new fields. Or you will have to create new queries, forms or reports. You will have to manually enter the information in the fields that you add.

Why isn't BTNINV supported on Microsoft Windows ME?
It probably works but that OS is not a corporate OS so it wasn't tested.

Do I need to install the client? Do you support remote WMI?
The BTNINV Client program gathers more information than WMI provides so the client needs to be installed. Remote WMI is supported with the BTNINV Remote Server Product though some fields aren’t collected. Refer to the fields page for more information.

What version of MSWINSCK.OCX do I need?
You should have MSWINSCK.OCX file dated 12/6/2000. It can be in the program directory or replace the one in the windows directory.

Are you going to come out with a linux/unix or mac version?
No, though there is an SDK if you want to develop one.

Data seems to be missing in the database. Not all the data is getting sent. Why?
Increase the Delay setting in the BTNIP.INI file on the client.

License:

If I add another database do I need to buy more licenses?

The licenses are for the number of unique SID’s in the database. If you have 50 licenses you can have one database with 50 unique computers inventoried or 2 databases each with 25 unique computers inventoried. There is a query in the database to provide the number of unique SIDs.

If I don’t use the Data Listener or the database do I need to buy a license?

No. The inventory scanners don’t need a purchased license to be used. You must save the data to the .INV file. This makes it much harder to manage but for small numbers of systems it may work.

If you use the BTNINV Data Listener to import data manually or automatically then you need to license it. This includes using a non-BTNINV client and database.

If I remove a set of inventoried computers from the database can I legally inventory a different set?

No. Once you inventory a set of computers in the database then the license is assigned to those computers. If you want to inventory more systems you need to buy more licenses.

What if I replace a computer? Do I need to buy another license?

If you scrap the old computer and it leaves the company premises then you can reuse the license. If the computer remains on site then you will need another license.