Creating a New Scan Profile

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Creating a New Scan Profile

Scan profiles are created and edited in the Scan Profile window found in the Options menu. Scan profiles can be scheduled to run on a regular basis and target specific collections.

The new scan profile procedure includes the following parts:

Part 1: Adding Scan Profile Details

Part 2: Scheduling Automatic Scanning (Optional)

Part 3: Linking Specific Collections for Schedules (Optional)

For a demonstration of scheduling a scan, see the following video.

Video: Scheduling Scans in PDQ Inventory

Scheduling Scans in PDQ Inventory

(https://youtu.be/sHzbDY9uQ50)

Part 1: Adding Scan Profile Details

To create a new scan profile:

1.On the Main Console window, click Scan Profiles (or Options > Scan Profiles), then click New.

A New Scan Profile window opens on the Details tab.

2.Type a name for the scan profile.

Use a name that makes sense for its purpose.

3.(Optional) Include a description for the scan profile.

Like the name, it’s important to provide a description that clearly explains the purpose of the scan profile. For additional guidance, look at the descriptions of the prebuilt scan profiles.

4.(Optional) Change the Scan As setting.

Options

Description

Scan As

During a scan, a Windows service is created on the target. The Scan As setting determines how this service "logs on" after it is created.

NOTE: This setting is for all scanners contained in the Scan Profile.

 

Scan User

Executes scans on the target in a non-interactive session as the Scan User.

This is the default setting and is appropriate for the vast majority of scans.

Local System

Executes scans using the Local System account on the target. PDQ Inventory connects to the target using the Scan User credentials, creates the PDQInventoryRunner service, and then instructs the service to log on as Local System.

Logged on User

Attempts to execute scanners in Interactive mode as the user that is currently logged into the target machine.

NOTE: Logged on User may not run as expected on all scanners depending on your permissions.

5.To add a scanner to the profile, click Add and select one of the following scanner types. (For details about any scanner, click a link below.)

Active Directory

Applications

Computer Details

Disks

Displays

Environment Variables

Files & Directories

Hardware Devices

Hot Fixes

Memory Modules

Network Adapters

PowerShell

Printers (local)

Registry

Services

Shares

Users & Groups

Windows Features

Windows Task Schedules

WMI

The Files & Directories, Powershell, Registry, and WMI scanners are configurable. For configuration details, see File Scanner Settings, PowerShell Scanner Settings, Registry Scanner Settings, WMI Scanner Settings.

NOTE: Multiple PowerShell or WMI Scanners can be added to a single scan profile, but only one PowerShell or WMI scanner can be viewed at a time on the PowerShell page or WMI page of the Computer window.

6.(Optional) To schedule the new scan profile for automatic scanning, continue to Part 2: Scheduling Automatic Scanning.

Part 2: Scheduling Automatic Scanning

To select a scan schedule type and configure schedule triggers:

1.On the Triggers tab, click a Trigger Type, then define the scan schedule settings.

A scan profile can include one or more triggers. Be careful of creating conflicts when setting frequencies or using multiple triggers. If triggers overlap, only one scan will start. For example, having two triggers (one for every Monday at noon and one for every day at noon) will not start two scans every Monday. For additional tips on scheduling scans, see the table below.

The following table provides information on the scan trigger types and settings available on the Triggers tab.

Trigger

Icon

Details

Once
 

Runs once in the future.

Trigger Enabled: Enables the trigger for use (selected by default).

Trigger On: Date the trigger will run.

At: Time the trigger will run.

Description: (Optional) Description of the trigger.

Interval
 

Runs (and repeats) at a set time interval.

Trigger Enabled: Enables the trigger for use (selected by default).

Every: The interval by day, hour, and minute.

Only run during the following time frame (Optional) Enables a set time frame.

Between: The start of the time frame.

And: The end of the time frame.

Starting: Date the trigger starts.

At: Time the first trigger starts. If the optional time frame is selected, the first trigger will occur at the start of the next time frame.

Ending: (Optional) Date the trigger ends. Leaving this unchecked will allow the trigger to run indefinitely.

At: (Optional) Time the trigger ends.

Description: (Optional) Description of the trigger.

NOTE: Setting the 'Between' time later than the 'And' time will result in the trigger running overnight.

Daily
 

Runs every day at the same time.

Trigger Enabled: Enables the trigger for use (selected by default).

Every Day At:

Time the trigger will run.

Starting: Date the trigger starts.

Ending: (Optional) Date the trigger ends. Leaving this unchecked will allow the trigger to run indefinitely.

Description: (Optional) Description of the trigger.

Weekly
 

Runs every week at the same time on selected days of the week.

Trigger Enabled: Enables the trigger for use (selected by default).

Every Week On:

Day (or days) that the trigger runs.

At: Time the trigger will run.

Starting: Date the trigger starts.

Ending: (Optional) Date the trigger ends. Leaving this unchecked will allow the trigger to run indefinitely.

Description: (Optional) Description of the trigger.

Monthly
 

Runs every month at the same time on selected days.

Trigger Enabled: Enables the trigger for use (selected by default).

Every Month

Day of the Month: The actual day (or days) of the month (for example, 1, 12, 23, etc.). If you select the 29th, 30th, or 31st of the month, the trigger won't run in months without those days. Select Last to always run the trigger on the last day of the month.

Or

Day of the Week: The nth day of the month (for example, First Monday, Second Wednesday, Last, etc.). Different combinations of weeks and days require separate schedules (for example, the 1st Monday and the 2nd Friday). Selecting the 5th week won't run the trigger in a month without a fifth week. Select Last to always run the trigger on the last week of the month.

At: Time the trigger runs.

Starting: Date the trigger starts.

Ending: (Optional) Date that the trigger ends. Leaving this unchecked will allow the trigger to run indefinitely.

Description: (Optional) Description of the trigger.

Scan Age

Runs whenever the age of the last scan on the profile has been exceeded.

Trigger Enabled: Enables the trigger for use (selected by default).

Age: Select the age of the last scan in days, hours, and minutes (minimum time is 30 minutes).

Only At: (Optional) Time the trigger runs.

Description: (Optional) Description of the trigger.

Heartbeat

Runs when the computer status changes from Offline to Online. (Requires Enterprise mode.)

Trigger Enabled: Enables the scan trigger for use (selected by default).

Only run during the following time frame (Optional) Enables a set time frame.

Between: The start of the time frame.

And: The end of the time frame.

Starting: Date the trigger starts.

At: Time the first trigger starts. If the optional time frame is selected, the first trigger will occur at the start of the next time frame.

Ending: (Optional) Date the scan ends. Leaving this unchecked will allow the trigger to run indefinitely.

At: (Optional) Time the scan ends.

Description: (Optional) Description of the trigger.

NOTE: Setting the 'Between' time later than the 'And' time will result in the trigger running overnight.

2.(Optional) To delete a trigger, select it, then click Delete and accept the deletion.

Part 3: Linking Specific collections for Schedules

To specify the Collection(s) this profile will scan when the schedule runs:

1.On the Collections tab, click the Link to Collection(s) button.

This opens the Select Collections window.

2.Select one or more collections to add.

You can use the filter to sort the collection name and even select Display Hidden Library Collections to view any collections in the library that you may have hidden.

3.Click OK.

NOTE: The collections tab is only used for scheduled scans. When the schedule starts, only the computers that are members of these collections will be scanned. Manual scans disregard the collections listed in the scan profile and will only scan the computer(s) selected at that time.

3.When you are finished configuring the scan profile, click OK.

The new scan profile is now available for use in the scan menus.

 

 

 

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