5.6

Prerequisites
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Collect the Accounts and Groups data types from the primary domain controller (PDC) in each domain
to increase the performance of initial collections that require a SID lookup.
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To collect data from Windows XP SP2 or Vista machines that use DCOM communication, you must
enable ICMP pings in the firewall settings or disable ICMP pings in VCM.
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Verify that DCOM is enabled on the managed machine. Run dcomcnfg and select Enable Distributed
COM on this computer.
Procedure
1. On the VCM toolbar, click Collect.
2. On the Collection Type page, select Machine Data and click OK.
3. On the Machines page, select the Windows machines from which to collect data and click Next.
To move all visible Windows machines to the selection window, 500 at a time, use the double arrow.
4. On the Data Types page, select the Select All checkbox.
5. Select Use default filters and click Next.
6. On the Important page, resolve any conflicts and click Finish.
What to do next
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Verify that jobs have finished running. Click Administration and select Job Manager > History >
Other Jobs > Past 24 Hours.
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Review the collection results. See "Windows Collection Results" on page 98.
Windows Collection Results
Continuous Windows machine management is based on the latest data that you collect from target
machines. You can view data and run actions, such as reports or compliance, based on the collected data.
Windows data appears in VCM and is available for several management actions, including Console
dashboards and reports, Compliance views, and VCMPatching. The displayed data is only as current as
the last time you collected the data.
After the initial discovery is finished, perform a weekly discovery to update the list of available Windows
machines. To schedule a VCM discovery job, click Administration, select Job Manager > Scheduled, and
follow the wizard.
Option Description
Console Displays dashboards and reports based on collected data. Use the Console to view
data that is relevant to day-to-day operations, troubleshooting, and analysis.
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To view the dashboards, click Console and select Dashboards > Windows >
Operating Systems.
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To view the summary reports, click Console and select Windows > Operating
System > Machines. You can view the data in a summary report or data grid
format.
Compliance Determines if the data collected from VCM managed Windows machines meets
specified compliance values, and allows you to run compliance remediation
actions.
vCenter Configuration Manager Administration Guide
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VMware, Inc.