I need some advice on how to add a couple of custom data fields. I need to add custom fields from a previous database, and I need to add my own custom "Function" field. I only have the Management Suite 9.6 sp 0. No other addons like the Inventory or Analytics.
Custom Fields from Previous Database
I've been given from a previous inventory system a list of computer names, serial numbers, and custom fields. I can match it all up using serial number as a key, but I need to add the custom data fields. These are department and cost center. The list is for about 6,000 computers, most of which were manually collected. Because of the effort involved in collecting the data, I need to get these into the database, even if they aren't used much.
Custom "Function" field
I also found with my last large deployment that I need to classify computers based on it's function. A custom "Function" field. It's a hospital, so some computers are in the OR and others run a TV screen of advertisements. They have different deployment requirements then a secretary or patient room computer. Actually the rule list became quite complicated. That's fine, but all I had to categorize them is OU, subnet, name, model, and installed software. With no ability to use another query in a query, or a temporary table, my queries became very complicated and slow. A "function" field would help a lot if it gets close to 100% coverage.
I've got the custom field in the registry, and have inventory collecting it. It works nice, but I won't get full coverage with it. For example, I might not be allowed to write to a registry on some computers (ie Vendor owned that runs lab or surgery equipment). I've tried deploying a .bat file, but didn't get 100% success, and I'm starting to think 100% of any deployment is unrealistic.
I've played around with thecustom forms. That looks good. It could help with future collection of department, cost center, computer function fields. It could get some more coverage of the custom data if I have compliance from field support.
I've seen how I can manually add a field in the Inventory window for a specific computer. But wow that'd be slow. We have 12,000 objects in our inventory. Even if half are old, It'd take forever to do it that way. Having to even do 100 would be a cause for beer at lunch, I mean at 5.
I've access to the Database and the thought of sql insert/update queries has crossed my mind. But the database is big and would take some time to figure out. I have a lot of other work to do so holding that off as a last resort.
Any advice would be appreciated. I'd rather do this within the Console because I'm trying to avoid making this too difficult for someone else to step in and do. But if this has to be done using some programming or outside manipulation of the database then its something I definitely consider since both are very important. I'm functional in c#, powershell, and sql. I have a database admin who should be a sql master and a couple guys who know a bit of VB who could potentially help. Also I might be looking at it wrong, so if there is another process that can accomplish the division of computers besides the custom field that could work too.
Thanks
