Help for PDQ Inventory > Configuring PDQ Inventory > Setting up Options

Central Server addresses the need to share computer inventory, collections, reports, scan profiles, and even preferences between PDQ Deploy consoles by creating a server/client relationship. (Enterprise Mode required for Central Server.) In this model, the PDQ Inventory console running in Client Mode initiates all scans and reports using the Server’s background service and repository. The PDQ Inventory console in Server Mode may also initiate scans and all other tasks; however, they are initiated in the same way a standalone, locally-installed PDQ Inventory console would. Consoles in Client Mode can access the server through concurrent connections via client console or Command Line Interface (CLI). For information on how to migrate your existing packages to the Server console, click here.

NOTE: While the PDQ Inventory background service performs the majority of tasks initiated from the PDQ Inventory Client Mode consoles, certain limitations apply, such as running Remote Repair and local commands and local tools, both of which are performed by the local PDQ Inventory console.

Central Server requires that all users belong to the same Enterprise license and must not exceed the number of licensed users. You may receive a warning if the number of active sessions between the client consoles of the PDQ program exceeds the number of licenses that exist for the account. For more information on this warning, please see the Concurrent Sessions Exceeded The Licensed Limit article.

In the Server/Client relationship, only one server is possible, but there may be multiple client PDQ Inventory consoles. The server and all client consoles must have the same version of PDQ Inventory. Additionally, the server needs to be installed on a computer that consoles can connect to via TCP/IP.

To access the Central Server page, click Options > Central Server.

If the console is in Server Mode, this window will display the listening IP addresses as well as the TCP port used for the connection. If the console is in Client Mode, this window will display the server name or IP address as well as the TCP port used to connect to the server.

The following table provides a brief description of the steps used in configuring Server Mode. Click Server Mode or Switch to Server Mode to access the Server Network Configuration window.

Options		Description
TCP Port
	TCP Port	The dedicated TCP port used to establish the connection between server and clients. The port needs to be a non-standard port that is not currently in use. The default port number is 7337.
	Create exception in firewall for service executable	Creates the necessary firewall exception.
IP Addresses
	Listen on all IP addresses	Listen on all IP addresses assigned to the server's NIC(s).
	Server IP Addresses	IP address(es) used by the server to listen for incoming connections. Separate multiple IP addresses with commas.
Background Service User Credentials		The credentials do not appear when opening the window from the Switch to Server Mode link.
	Domain	The domain of the background service user. NOTE: This account needs to have the Log On as a Service privilege. If this privilege is not already granted for the specified credentials, then PDQ Inventory attempts to grant it. Make sure that any GPOs used in your organization do not remove this privilege.
	User Name	The user name of the background service user. NOTE: If supplying different credentials than those already established as the background service user, the background service user will be updated.
	Password	The password of the background service user. NOTE: PDQ encrypts all sensitive information (passwords) when they are stored in the PDQ Inventory database. We use industry standard AES encryption with three separate keys to keep your data safe. One key is built into the application, one key is stored in the database, and the third is stored in the registry. These last two keys are generated when the application is installed and are unique to your system.

The following table provides a brief description of the steps used in configuring Client Mode. Click Client Mode or Switch to Client Mode to access the Connect to Server window.

Option

Description

Server

Enter the name or IP address of an existing PDQ Inventory server that the console will connect to.

NOTE: While you can enter an IP address to connect to the server, this is not the ideal approach.

TCP Port

Enter the Port number the server is using for the connection.

Central Server Window

Central Server Window

See also