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What's new/Todo for OCS Inventory

 

NewAnim.gif (26402 octets) What's new

10 june 2002 Version 2.00 Beta 3 is available.

The OCS Inventory Version 2.00 Beta 3 does not include the Web Manager.

Features added in the V 2.00 Beta 3 of OCS Inventory.

  • Added a pure CSV agent, called "OCSInventoryCSV.exe", without DAO support for those who encounter errors with DAO support.
  • Agent retrieve the screen resolution of each computer.
  • Agent retrieve the Computer Description field as shown in the Identification Tab of the Network Settings dialog box.
  • Agent now include WinIO driver or BiosInfo tool to retrieve informations extracted from a DMI compliant BIOS.
    • System manufacturer, model and serial number.
    • BIOS manufacturer, date and version.
    • Detected laptop, notebook or portable computers.
    • Retrieve processor(s) informations as shown by the BIOS (only with WinIO driver). 


    If the driver is not setup on the client computer, Agent retreive BIOS manufacturer, date and version from the registry. Others informations are not available from the registry. Processor(s) informations are collected through the old method using SysInfo.dll.

  • Added to the Agent a more powerfull debug feature using the /debug or -debug command line switch. The file created now as the computer name and resides in the same directory as the Agent. 
  • On the License Compliance screen, double click on one of the listed applications display a list of all computers that the application is installed on.
  • You can directly add a license from License Compliance screen by using the context menu.
  • Clicking on the column headers of a list view window sort items ascending by the selected column. 
  • You can now manually add devices in the manager.
    • Novell Servers.
    • MacOS workstations, notebooks and servers.
    • Unix workstations, notebook and servers.
    • Handheld devices.
    • Network printers.
    • Network hubs, switches and routers.
    • iPBX or PABX, IP Phones.
    • User workgroup.
  • You can create a map of your network by selecting for each device the up linked device. The All Computers tree can display flat view of all devices, or the network map. 
  • You can configure in the manager settings the default command to a terminal emulation like VNC or PC Anywhere.
  • You can configure to auto import CSV results at startup of the manager, or to manually do it.
  • Fix somes bugs of the 2.0 beta 2.

 

5 march 2002 Version 2.00 Beta 2 is available.

The OCS Inventory Version 2.00 Beta 2 does not include the Web Manager.

Features added in the V 2.00 Beta 2 of OCS Inventory.

  • Search for all files (exe,com by default) added as a setting in the Manager.
  • Exclude some folders from the search added as a setting in the Manager.
  • Add license compliance for OS.
  • Directly add application from unknown detected one using the context menu.
  • Add a "browse" button to select the new application and retreive filename, filesize...
  • A new "Manage/Update DB with newly added apps" command update the inventory listing to show the right version when you add a new vendor and or application.
  • Show the percentage of free space for logical drives.
  • Force inventory now also working for CSV connected computers.
  • Extra fields added in the manager for waranty informations (buy date, waranty provider, waranty length and comments).
  • Extra field added in the manager for optional informations (owner of the computer, location, comments).
  • Add /CSV or -CSV parameter to Agent to force the use of CSV instead of DAO.
  • Multiple selection in the ListView of the Windows Manager to delete multiple items at the same time, or to force inventory on computers.
  • The ability to import/export vendors and software apps so that the user community could contribute to a central list which could then be used by everyone
  • Manager is now auto importing CSV results at startup. The command "File/CSV Support/Import check results from CSV" is now able to import check results from any folder of the network.
  • Show the network mapped folder attached to a network drive instead of the volum name.
19 november 2001 Version 1.97 Release 2 is available (patch for original release 1.97 is available for smaller download).
  • Fix printer detection failing in some case.
  • Fix graphic adapter detection showing N/A in some cases.
  • Fix the Visible option not operating.
  • Fix CSV support crashing on some computers.
  • Fix CSV import bug when importing more than one computer results.
  • Some users have reported bug in processor/speed detection. This will be fixed in next release of Paul Wendt SysInfo.dll available at the Code Project Web Site (http://www.codeproject.com).
28 september 2001 Version 1.97 has been released !
  • Fix a bug for different version of an application checking. Some times, agent was reporting an unknown application version, even if you set the right informations in the database.
  • Agent is now able to reconize Windows NT Workstation, Windows NT Server, Windows NT Terminal Server, Windows NT Enterprise Server, Windows 2000/XP Professional, Windows 2000/XP Server and Windows 2000/XP Advanced Server. Windows and Web Management GUI display different icons for servers and workstations.
  • Agent is now able to detect real processor name (Penitum, Pentium with MMX, Pentium II, Pentium III, Celeron, Athlon...). Many thanks to Paul Wendt for his SysInfo Dll which includes required routines.
  • Agent is now able to detect all network adapters on a computer, not only the primary one. Informations collected include adapter type (dialup, Ehternet, Token Ring, ATM and others adapters), description, MAC Address, IP address, IP network mask and adapter status. This feature require Winsock 2 compatible TCP/IP stack.
    NB: Windows 9X MIB has a bug which causes dialup adapter to appears to be Ehternet adapter, but the description is OK (PPP Adapter).
  • Agent is now able to search for graphical adapters and stores Manufacturer description, chipset and memory.
  • Agent is now able to search for printers and stores Manufacturer description, driver and connection port.
  • Agent can now store version informations for found applications. This includes filesize and version information to help you configure your searched softwares. Thanks to Manuel Laflamme for his "CFileVersion" C++ class.
  • Fix a bug in the Windows Mangement GUI which requires Active Desktop to be installed on Windows 95 and NT 4.0. Now, Windows Management GUI can run without Active Desktop.
  • Windows and Web Management GUI display the count of Operating System versions in the "All Softwares" menu.
  • Database can now stores informations about computer Manufacturer, Model and Serial Number. This informations can be entered by the Administrator through the Windows or Web Management GUI.
  • New agent customization check options has been added:
    • CheckFileVersion for extracting version informations from searched applications (use with care, this option may slow the agent more than 2 times),
    • CheckGraphics to specify if you want the agent to store informations about graphic adapters.
    • CheckPrinters to specifiy if you want the agent to store informations about printers.
16 june 2001 Version 1.96 has been released !
  • CSV support has been added.
  • Agent now can store every people using computers, and check for some running processes at the user logon.
  • Agent now can be completed stealth (no splash screen if you don't want it).
  • New agent customization check options has been added:
    • CheckIP for checking network card properties,
    • Error to specify if you want errors encountered to be displayed on the client computer.
    • DisplayStatus (splash screen) option has been renamed to Visible.
    • LogAccess to store people using computers.
    • Processes to check for some running processes at startup.
  • Microsoft Access graphical user interface has been replaced by a Windows GUI called OCS Inventory Manager which allows you to:
    • import your old configuration to the new database,
    • exports agent settings to CSV files,
    • import inventory check results from CSV files to the database.
  • Database managment is now really multi-users with 3 different access level (Operators can only view the database content, Managers can do everthing except manage OCS operators and remove computers from database, and Administrators).
29 dec. 2000 Version 1.90 has been released !
  • Licence compliance check has been added.
  • Agent now checks for:
    • processor speed,
    • network card description, network card speed, MAC address if Winsock 2 available (i.e. computer run Windows 98/Me/NT4/2000 or 95 with Winsock 2 update).
      Thanks to David LAWLER for this code.
15 nov. 2000 Version 1.80 has a bug ! The option name for the delay between 2 computer's checks is not Delay, but Frequency. Because of this, Inventory Agent runs evreryday.
For those who have downloaded v1.80, just open OCSInventory.mdb with MS Access, open Config table and rename Delay option to Frequency.
Current version 1.81 includes the fix.

Sorry.

 

Todo

If you want some new functionnality, tell me (if you can send me C++ code, that's better !).

 

1) CSV support implies that Web Manager uses CGI or ISAPI extension to export and import files. Planned in 2.00 final release.
2) Some others suggestions received:
  • A search per user.
  • The ability to run reports based on diffrent criteria such as the number of PC's with Outlook installed or a list of PC's with only 64mb of memory installed.
  • Together with such an improved administration a user based license tracking could be useful
  • A simple sound adapter recognition could be helpful
  • When you change the computer name and rescan this system it puts a duped record of the same system with a different name in the database.
    One way to clear the old system is find it and delete it. Is there anyway that the program can update the old info or just change the computer name?
  • etc...