Installation guide

When you use the script-based filter in a collection, the VCM Agent calls a script engine to run the script,
parse the results to return the collected data to the VCM database, and display the results in the VCM
Console. During the collection process, the VCM Agent starts PowerShell, which runs the script and
generates the XML result file. The Agent parses the XML result into a format that VCM can use to check
for changes and returns the changes to the Collector.
CAUTION Do not limit collections to deltas when you select a data type in the Collect wizard. If you
limit collections to deltas, VCM purges all existing WCIdata from the managed machine's master file
and from the VCM database, and replaces the WCIdata with newly collected data. You must select
the option in the Collect wizard so that VCMdoes not purge WCI data during collections.
Prerequisites
See "Prerequisites to Collect Windows Custom Information" on page 87.
Procedure
1. On your VCM Collector, click Administration.
2. Select Collection Filters > Filters and click Add Filter.
3. On the Name and Description page, type a name and description for the filter and click Next.
4. On the Data Type page, select Windows.
5. Select the Custom Information (Win) data type and click Next.
6. On the Windows Custom Information Filter page, select the options to add and configure the filter and
click Next.
Option Description
Script Type Set the format of your PowerShell script to PowerShell v2.0 Text Output.
Output Type Set the resulting output for your PowerShell script to Element Normal XML.
Timeout Retain the default setting of 300 seconds to specify the amount of time the
Agent allows a PowerShell script to run before it attempts to end the process. If
the script takes more than 300 seconds to run on the VCM managed machine,
increase the setting to 900.
Script Paste the content of your PowerShell script into the Script text pane. Your
script contains statements that are specific to the data type to collect.
Duplicate
Handling
Set the method to handle duplicates to Increment to resolve duplicate
violations of duplicate path attributes in the PowerShell script.
7. On the Important page, review the summary information and click Finish.
What to do next
Run a script-based collection filter to collect WCIdata using from VCM managed Windows machines. See
"Run the Script-Based Collection Filter" on page 101.
Run the Script-Based Collection Filter
Use a collection filter and your PowerShell script to collect Windows Custom Information (WCI) from
VCM managed Windows machines.
Configuring Windows Machines
VMware, Inc.
101