The hardware inventory cycle forces a full hardware inventory when you use the Patch Installation Agent to deploy software updates in SMS 2.0 (895401)

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Systems Management Server 2.0

SYMPTOMS

You use the Patch Installation Agent (Patchinstall.exe) to deploy software updates in Microsoft Systems Management Server (SMS) 2.0. However, the next hardware inventory cycle forces a full hardware inventory instead of a delta hardware inventory. This behavior may cause backlogs and unnecessary network traffic.

CAUSE

This problem occurs because the Patch Installation Agent modifies the Run Schedule registry entry under the following registry subkey:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\SMS\Client\Configuration\Client Application Launchers\Hardware Inventory Agent

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, use the /s switch with the Patchinstall.exe command. The /s switch is used to disable the hardware inventory scan that is performed by the Patchinstall.exe command. After the updates are installed, you can use the Cliutils.exe tool or an expedited security scan to force a hardware inventory.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information about the Cliutils.exe tool, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

272436 SMS: Support utilities updated in Service Pack 2

To obtain the Cliutils.exe tool, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/smserver/downloads/20/tools/reskit.mspx

Modification Type:	Major	Last Reviewed:	10/3/2005
Keywords:	kbtshoot kbprb KB895401 kbAudITPRO