FlexNet Manager Installed Inventory Agent vs Agentless Inventory

[AamerSharif]

What is the difference between installed inventory agent vs agentless inventory?

Installed inventory agent and agentless inventory collection, collect the same inventory data but there are differences what agentless cannot do. The aim of this post is to provide clarity that will help in decision making.  

Installed Inventory Agent

1. Collects complete inventory data
2. Software usage data 
3. Required for IBM sub-capacity reporting to track assigned resources
4. Easy to manage, once inventory agent is installed it will keep on collecting and uploading data 

Agentless Inventory 

1. Collects complete inventory data
2. No application usage tracking (required installed agent on a device)
3. More management required
   1. Inventory beacon requires consistent/reliable access to the remote device/s to connect to collect inventory data
   2. Inventory beacon requires credentials to connect to the remote device
   3. Assignment of target remote device to beacon for remote execution

Standalone/Disconnected Inventory Agent

Standalone/Disconnected Flexera inventory agent can be used on appliance where additional software installation is not allowed by the vendors. Standalone inventory agent (ndtrack.sh) can be put on a disk and schedule to run using crone job with the specified frequency. It will automatically keep on uploading collected inventory data to specified inventory beacon.

1. As name indicates, no inventory agent package installation required
2. Collects complete inventory data
3. Recommended to use on software appliances where additional software installation are not allowed by the vendor
4. Required on appliance running IBM software for sub-capacity reporting
5. Recommended to use on Oracle Exadata (Collects complete Oracle products data required by Oracle)
6. Automatically upload inventory data to Flexera inventory beacon (No manual upload required)