Installing and configuring the scanner (disconnected scenario)

Collecting basic software and capacity data

Basic software and capacity data is collected by the disconnected scanner. The disconnected scanner is an independent, well-defined component that is used by License Metric Tool. Software and capacity scans collect data that is later on displayed on the License Metric Tool reports.

Collecting the data by using automation technology of your choice

To install and configure disconnected scanners, download the disconnected scanner package from the computer where the License Metric Tool server is installed and distribute it to the target computers. Then, run scripts that install the disconnected scanner and schedule software and capacity scans. Finally, transfer packages with disconnected scan results to the disconnected data source directory from which the data is imported to License Metric Tool. You can automate these tasks, especially the transfer of scan data, by the automation technology of your choice.

You can transfer the scan results by using a mechanism that is delivered with License Metric Tool or some other automation technology that is already implemented in your company. In the latter case, problems with the transfer of scan results are not subject to IBM support.

Choose the mechanism of transferring scan results before you start the deployment as it will impact the steps that you perform during the installation and configuration.

Table 1. Mechanisms of transferring scan results

Mechanism	Subject to IBM support
Upload of scan results directly to the License Metric Tool server	Yes
Upload of scan results through the Scans Relay	Yes
An automation script based on REST API	REST API is subject to IBM support Your custom script is not subject to IBM support
Shared folder defined as a disconnected data source	No
An automation software of your choice	No

For more information, see: Installing and configuring disconnected scanners for Lite.

Collecting the data by using Ansible playbooks

You can automate installation, configuration, and management of disconnected scans by using Ansible playbooks that are delivered with License Metric Tool. To do this, install the Ansible platform, create an inventory of computers on which you want to manage scans with Ansible, and run playbooks that are delivered with License Metric Tool.

For more information, see: Installing and configuring disconnected scanners with Ansible (Ansible scenario).

Collecting capacity data from virtual machines and public clouds