Mounting shared folders to automatically transfer scan results (disconnected scenario)

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You can configure a file service, such as NFS, to transfer disconnected scan results and ensure their daily import to the License Metric Tool server.

Before you begin

  • The following procedure provides an example of how file sharing can be set up. You can use a different approach depending on your needs.
  • Ensure that the computer on which the file server exists has enough disk space to store the scan results. 1 MB of disk space is required per disconnected computer.
  • The file server should not restart when any of the disconnected scanners is running scans.
  • An indication of whether the transfer of scan results is set correctly is the status of computers on the Dashboard. Monitor the widgets and troubleshoot any arising issues to ensure environment health. For more information, see: Computer statuses.
Important: It is your responsibility to ensure that scan results from the disconnected computers are imported to the License Metric Tool server daily. Otherwise, reports generated in License Metric Tool might not be accurate which might impact your license compliance position. Ensuring that scan results are imported daily is not subject to IBM Support.

About this task

You can configure the file service on the computer where the License Metric Tool server is installed or on a separate computer.

When the file service is on the same computer as the License Metric Tool server, the folder that is defined as the disconnected data source is mounted on the disconnected computers. Scan results are generated to the mounted shared file folder and are automatically available in the disconnected data source.

File service on the same computer as the License Metric Tool server.

When the file service is on a computer other than the License Metric Tool server, the shared file folder must also be mounted on the computer where the License Metric Tool server is installed. Then, you specify this folder as the disconnected data source. Scan results from the disconnected computers are generated to the mounted shared file folders and are available in the disconnected data source.

File service on a computer other than the License Metric Tool server.

In both cases, scan results are imported from the disconnected data source to the License Metric Tool server during the daily import.

Procedure

  1. Install or configure a file service, such as NFS, on the file server or on the computer where the License Metric Tool server is installed.
  2. Create a shared folder to which disconnected scan results will be generated and allow clients read-write access.
    The License Metric Tool server does not require write access to the shared file system. However, without the write access, the License Metric Tool server cannot remove scan results packages after they were imported. Packages that are no longer required occupy disk space and lengthen the time of consecutive imports. If you do not want to allow the write access, you can implement a different mechanism of removing processed packages from the disconnected computers.
  3. If the shared folder is located on a computer other than the License Metric Tool server, mount that folder on the License Metric Tool server.
  4. On every computer on which the disconnected scanner is installed, mount the shared folder that you created in step 2 on the local file system.
    Windows On Windows, every folder is mounted in the context of the user session and is not available for other users. Thus, the shared folder must be mounted for the user that is configured to run disconnected scans (SYSTEM by default). You can achieve it by configuring a scheduled task that maps the shared folder on system startup as the SYSTEM user.
  5. On every computer on which the disconnected scanner is installed, specify the shared folder that you configured in step 2 as the output directory of the disconnected scanner.
    1. Open the setup_config.ini file. By default, the file is in the following location.
      • UNIX <disconnected_scanner_install_dir>/config
      • Windows <disconnected_scanner_install_dir>\config
    2. In the PACKAGE_OUTPUT_DIR parameter, provide the path to the shared folder.
  6. Specify the shared folder that you created in step 2 as the disconnected data source.
    1. Log in to License Metric Tool, and go to Management > Data Sources.
    2. Select the disconnected data source, and provide the path to the shared folder.
      Note: You can create a new disconnected data source instead of editing the existing one.