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PDQ Inventory stores all of its data—collections/reports, computer inventory information, Active Directory information, preferences settings, etc.—in the PDQ Inventory database. This SQLite database is required for the program to function.
By default, the database file, database.db, is stored in the %ProgramData%\Admin Arsenal\PDQ Inventory folder.
NOTE: %ProgramData%, was introduced in Windows Vista and used in subsequent Operating Systems (Windows 7, 8.x, 10, etc), and is a folder designed to hold application-specific (that is, not user-specific) data. By default, Windows marks this folder as hidden. Its default location is %SYSTEMDRIVE%\ProgramData. If you are running PDQ Inventory on Windows XP or 2003 (no longer supported), the default location is %SYSTEMDRIVE%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data.
The PDQ Inventory database is made up of the following files:
File |
Description |
Database.db |
This is the main SQLite database file that holds all of the computers, inventory, collections, reports, etc. |
Database.db-shm Database.db-wal |
These files are used by SQLite while accessing the database. They can be deleted without affecting the system as long as no applications or services are accessing the database. If you move PDQ Inventory to another computer, they don't need to be copied to the new computer with the database file, but it won't hurt if they are. However, if you restore a database backup file, you must delete these files; otherwise, PDQ Inventory will think the restored database file is corrupted. |
The database file, database.db, is not removed on uninstall in case the software is reinstalled. If you move PDQ Inventory to another computer, the PDQ Inventory database must be duplicated on the new computer in order to maintain your PDQ Inventory settings and system data. For detailed information on this procedure, see Moving PDQ Inventory to a New Computer.
•Restoring Database Backup Files
•Maintaining the PDQ Inventory Database
Security is very important to Admin Arsenal. To that end, we encrypt 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.
Our support staff may ask you to upload your database to us in order to troubleshoot a problem. No sensitive data (for example, passwords or encryption keys stored in the registry) will be sent to Admin Arsenal and all data is transmitted over a secure SSL connection, so you can be sure that your passwords are kept secure.
If you need to move your database from one computer to another you should include the encryption key in the registry. (For detailed information on this procedure, see Moving PDQ Inventory to a New Computer.) If the key is lost, then all passwords stored in the database will need to be re-entered. No other data is lost.
Each time you install a new version of the PDQ Inventory software, a database backup file is created in the %ProgramData%\Admin Arsenal\PDQ Inventory\Backups folder. The backup file is compressed and is named after the version of the database. For example, Database.6.2.0.0.db.
NOTE: The database version numbers represent the exact version of PDQ Inventory at the time of backup. For example, when upgrading Inventory 6.2.0.0 to 7.1, the existing database is copied to a file called Database.6.2.0.0.db and then, after a small interval, it is archived in the .cab format.
Older backup files can be safely deleted, but you may want to keep the most recent backups in case you need to restore the database.
In the event that your database is deleted or corrupted, you can restore a database backup file. To restore from a database backup file:
1.Stop the PDQ Inventory service either through services.msc or from in the console click Preferences > Background Service, click Stop Inventory Service, then close PDQ Inventory.
2.Decompress the database backup file from the location %ProgramData%\Admin Arsenal\PDQ Inventory\Backups.
Most compression utilities, such as WinZip and 7-Zip, can decompress it.
3.Rename the file to Database.db.
4.Overwrite the existing database file in folder %ProgramData%\Admin Arsenal\PDQ Inventory.
5.Delete the Database.db-shm and Database.db-wal temporary files.
If you do not delete these files, PDQ Inventory will think the restored Database.db file is corrupt.
6.Open PDQ Inventory or start the PDQ Inventory service then open the program.
PDQ Inventory stores all of its data—collections/reports, computer inventory information, Active Directory information, preferences settings, etc.—in an SQLite database file. The PDQ Inventory database is essential to run PDQ Inventory; therefore, it is recommended that you perform the following regular maintenance procedures to ensure optimal database performance:
•Location of the PDQ Inventory Database
•Backing Up the PDQ Inventory Database
PDQ Inventory stores its database locally (on the PDQ Inventory console computer) in %ProgramData%\Admin Arsenal\PDQ Inventory.
NOTE: %ProgramData%, was introduced in Windows Vista and used in subsequent Operating Systems (Windows 7, 8.x, 10, etc), and is a folder designed to hold application-specific (that is, not user-specific) data. By default, Windows marks this folder as hidden. Its default location is %SYSTEMDRIVE%\ProgramData. If you are running PDQ Inventory on Windows XP or 2003 (no longer supported), the default location is %SYSTEMDRIVE%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data.
If your console performance is lagging during scans, you may consider moving the PDQ Inventory database to a faster disk. For information on this procedure, visit the Admin Arsenal Support page at http://support.adminarsenal.com/home and click Submit a Request or email your request directly to support@adminarsenal.com, or click Help > Submit Feedback. You can also browse the Admin Arsenal forums for FAQs.
Because the PDQ Inventory database stores all collections, reports, and computer inventory information, it is highly recommended that you regularly backup the PDQ Inventory database. Since the SQLite database is a single file, this is easy to accomplish.
By default, the PDQ Inventory database is located at %ProgramData%\Admin Arsenal\PDQ Inventory\Database.db. To protect your system data, configure your backup software to regularly back up this file.
NOTE: To determine the location of the PDQ Inventory database, click File > Preferences or press Ctrl+Comma, then select Database. The Database field displays the path and filename for the PDQ Inventory database.
When PDQ Inventory deletes information from the PDQ Inventory database, it leaves empty space in the database file which takes up a few bytes. Over time, this space adds up and may impact database performance. Therefore, it is recommended that, on average, you optimize the PDQ Inventory database once a month. Optimizing the database frees up the empty space and gets rid of fragmentation.
NOTE: Optimizing the database stops the background service. Any outstanding scans will be aborted so take care to only optimize the database at appropriate times.
NOTE: PDQ Inventory automatically optimizes the database when the application is upgraded.
To optimize the PDQ Inventory database:
1.Click File > Preferences or press Ctrl+Comma.
2.In the Preferences menu, click Database.
3.Click Optimize Database.
PDQ Inventory warns that the console and background service will be stopped, which will abort any running scans.
4.Click OK to continue.
PDQ Inventory opens a command line window to run the optimization command.
5.When the optimization completes, press Enter to close the command line window.
PDQ Inventory automatically restarts and opens the Preferences window.
6.Click Close.
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Help Version: 8.1.0.0