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Summary

This article addresses whether Unix or Mac Agents can gather logged on user information.

Question

Is there a way to configure the Unix or Mac Agents to gather logged on user information?

Answer

From version 17, the FlexNet inventory agent now collects information on macOS for the currently logged-in user including their domain. This is required with Mac software licensing when using Named User licenses. However, note that macOS does not track the last logged-in user, so that if no one is logged in when FlexNet inventory agent runs, macOS returns system. Therefore, if you want the user name to appear in inventory, carefully review your inventory collection schedules for alignment with user working hours; or instead, use allocations of license entitlements to the user(s) in question. Relying on inventory from macOS may mean that the user name record bounces between the real user name and system, depending on whether the user was logged in at each day's inventory time.

 

Reference: https://docs.flexera.com/FlexNetManagerSuite2020R2/EN/InvAgentChg/index.html#AgentChangeLog/ACL_TheLog.html#fiaChg_16.0.1__16-0-1-macOSuserinfo

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bmaudlin
By Level 9 Champion
Level 9 Champion

@amann - is there any update on where this activity is at?

amann
By
Flexera Alumni

Hi @bmaudlin, as of agent version 17, we can collect the current logged-in user:

 

"macOS FlexNet inventory agent now collects user information including domain for the currently logged-in user

On macOS, the FlexNet inventory agent now collects information for the currently logged-in user including their domain. This is required with Mac software licensing when using Named User licenses. However, note that macOS does not track the last logged-in user, so that if no one is logged in when FlexNet inventory agent runs, macOS returns system. Therefore, if you want the user name to appear in inventory, carefully review your inventory collection schedules for alignment with user working hours; or instead, use allocations of license entitlements to the user(s) in question. Relying on inventory from macOS may mean that the user name record bounces between the real user name and system, depending on whether the user was logged in at each day's inventory time."

 

Reference: https://docs.flexera.com/fnms/EN/InvAgentChg/index.html?_gl=1*bq6wj*_gcl_aw*R0NMLjE2Mjc5NDY5NjQuQ2p3S0NBandyNTZJQmhBdkVpd0ExZnVxR2dTNHlXdWJoZ19ucXcxbDZiZHpER0I5aThCX2hoZzBYSkNKMjRxZ082VEdTLWR4ZmRnSHV4b0N1YVlRQXZEX0J3RQ..#AgentChangeLog/ACL_TheLog.html#fiaChg_17.0.0__16-0-1-macOSuserinfohttps://docs....

 

I will amend this KB shortly to reflect above.

 

Hope this helps,

Alex 

mag00_75
By Level 8 Champion
Level 8 Champion

Hi

We never got it to work on our MacOS with the 16.0.1 agents. I don't remember if it was in a forum thread or in a support case where I got notified that under certain situation it will not work and that was fixed in version 2020R2.1 and onwards.

kclausen
By
Flexera Alumni

@mag00_75 - You are correct.  You will need the 17.x Mac Agent release in July as part of 2021 R1.  The logic of capturing User Information on OS X was updated in this new version as documented here:

https://docs.flexera.com/fnms/EN/InvAgentChg/index.html

 

Version history
Last update:
‎Sep 03, 2021 10:12 AM
Updated by: