How to configure hardware inventory in Configuration Manager
Applies to: Configuration Manager (current branch)
This procedure configures the default client settings for hardware inventory and will apply to all the clients in your hierarchy. If you want these settings to apply to only some clients, create a custom device client setting and assign it to a collection that contains the devices that you want to use hardware inventory. See How to configure client settings.
Note
If a client device receives hardware inventory settings from multiple sets of client settings, then the hardware inventory classes from each set of settings will be merged when the client reports hardware inventory. Additionally, not checking a class in a custom client setting with a higher priority doesn't disable the client from inventorying that class.
To disable a specific hardware inventory class on a majority of systems except a few, the class needs to be unchecked in the default client settings. Then create a custom client setting to enable the class, and deploy it to the target systems.
To configure hardware inventory
In the Configuration Manager console, choose Administration > Client Settings > Default Client Settings.
On the Home tab, in the Properties group, choose Properties.
In the Default Settings dialog box, choose Hardware Inventory.
In the Device Settings list, configure the following:
Enable hardware inventory on clients - Select Yes.
Hardware inventory schedule - Click Schedule to specify the interval at which clients collect hardware inventory.
Configure other hardware inventory client settings that you require.
Client devices will be configured with these settings when they next download client policy. To initiate policy retrieval for a single client, see How to manage clients.