Symantec Altiris Barcode Solution 7.0 User manual

Altiris™ Barcode Solution

from Symantec™ User's

Guide

Version 7.0

Barcode Solution User's Guide

The software described in this book is furnished under a license agreement and may be used

only in accordance with the terms of the agreement.

Documentation version: 7.0

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Technical Support ............................................................................................... 4

Chapter 1 Introducing Symantec Barcode Solution ....................... 11

About Symantec Barcode Solution ................................................... 11

Symantec Barcode Solution features and benefits .............................. 12

Components of Barcode Solution ..................................................... 12

How Barcode Solution works .......................................................... 13

Chapter 2 Using Barcode Solution ...................................................... 15

Using Barcode Solution ................................................................. 15

Creating a synchronization profile .................................................. 16

Installing Barcode Manager ........................................................... 17

Synchronizing data ...................................................................... 18

Scanning assets ........................................................................... 18

Uploading data from the barcode device ........................................... 19

Verifying asset data ...................................................................... 19

About ownership and editing associations ........................................ 20

Resolving conflicts ....................................................................... 20

Viewing Barcode Solution reports ................................................... 21

Chapter 3 Using Barcode Solution's User Interface ........................ 23

Barcode Solution Home page Web-parts ........................................... 24

Barcode Solution home page: Assets without a Barcode

Web-part .............................................................................. 25

Barcode Solution home page: Profile Summary Web-part .................... 25

Barcode Solution home page: Quick Links Web-part ........................... 26

Barcode Solution home page: Summary of Assets Scanned

Web-part .............................................................................. 27

Barcode Solution home page: Summary of Verification Batches

Web-part .............................................................................. 28

Batch Uploads page ...................................................................... 28

Batch Details page ........................................................................ 29

Unresolved Conflicts page ............................................................. 29

Resource Details page ................................................................... 30

Contents

Barcode Solution: Scanning folder ................................................... 30

Assign Barcode page ..................................................................... 31

Quick Scan page ........................................................................... 32

Receiving page ............................................................................ 33

Receiving Warning page ................................................................ 34

Search page ................................................................................ 34

Resource Edit Details .................................................................... 35

Barcode License Count Exceeded page .............................................. 36

Install Symantec Barcode Manager page ........................................... 36

Synchronization Profile page ......................................................... 36

Synchronization Profile page: Resources tab ..................................... 37

Synchronization Profiles page: Select Data Classes and Associations

tab ...................................................................................... 38

Synchronization Profiles page: Permissions tab ................................. 39

Synchronization Profiles page: Synchronization tab ........................... 40

License Usage page ....................................................................... 40

Merge Settings page ..................................................................... 41

Add to Barcode Export List page ..................................................... 42

Barcode Solution Reports folder ...................................................... 42

Chapter 4 Using Barcoder .................................................................... 43

About barcoder and the barcode device ............................................ 43

Starting barcoder ......................................................................... 44

Synchronizing barcoder ................................................................ 44

Searching for a barcode value in barcoder ......................................... 44

Adding a Barcode Value to an existing asset with barcoder .................. 45

Adding a new asset with the barcode device ...................................... 46

Using barcoder to inventory assets .................................................. 47

About barcode sheets .................................................................... 48

Chapter 5 Using the Barcoder menu .................................................. 49

Search template options ................................................................ 49

About the Asset scan template ........................................................ 51

Quick Scan template options .......................................................... 51

About the Location Scan template ................................................... 52

About the Owner Scan template ..................................................... 52

About the Assign Barcode template ................................................ 53

About the Receiving template ......................................................... 53

About the New Asset template ........................................................ 54

About the Inventory Browse template .............................................. 54

About the Location Audit template ................................................. 54

About RFID Audit template ............................................................ 54

Contents8

Index .................................................................................................................... 57

9Contents

Contents10

Introducing Symantec

Barcode Solution

This chapter includes the following topics:

■ About Symantec Barcode Solution

■ Symantec Barcode Solution features and benefits

■ Components of Barcode Solution

■ How Barcode Solution works

About Symantec Barcode Solution

Barcode Solution provides your organization with a simpler, more accurate way

of gathering and verifying asset information in the field. This solution integrates

information directly into asset management Solution and CMDB Solution so that

data input errors, accounting irregularities, and redundancies are eliminated.

Barcode Solution lets you do the following:

■ Speed-up asset data entry and reduce errors

Manual data collection is slow and error prone. Example: A well-trained data

entry operator makes a data entry error once every 300 keystrokes. Barcode

Solution saves you time and money by increasing the input speed and accuracy.

A barcode system is significantly faster (about 15 times faster) and more

accurate (about 10,000 times) than manual data entry systems.

■ Track and audit assets

Assets that cannot be automatically discovered through network connections

can be easily tracked within the enterprise application with Barcode Solution.

Your asset data can be downloaded to a barcode device that is taken to the

asset location and then is verified. New asset data can also be collected while

1

Chapter

in the field. Barcode Solution makes it easy to synchronize data with the

enterprise application.

■ Manage inventory

The barcode system makes the inventory in the field visible to the warehouse

regardless of where your assets are located. Your warehouse can prepare

accurate replacements and orders by using an up-to-the-minute inventory of

your stock availability.

Symantec Barcode Solution features and benefits

Barcode Solution provides many features including the following:

■ When data is synchronized with a barcode device (either downloading or

uploading), only new or changed data is uploaded, unless you do an initial

download.

■ Quickly and accurately input asset information

■ Download data to barcode devices

■ Track assets within an enterprise application

■ Inventory at field locations is visible to the warehouse for efficient inventory

management

■ Works with RFID dot point tracking

■ Integrates with other IT tools, including Altiris Asset Management Suite and

Altiris CMDB Solution

■ Supports Code 39, Code 128, Interleaved 2 of 5, and UPC barcode symbologies

formats

■ Supports numerous barcode devices.

Components of Barcode Solution

The following Barcode Solution components.

■ Barcode device

The barcode device is a handheld device or another piece of equipment that

can scan barcode information and runs on the Pocket PC operating system.

■ Barcode solution elements

The Barcode Solution elements are installed on and work with Symantec

Management Platform. They include reports and code to create the output

files for the Barcode Manager.

Introducing Symantec Barcode Solution

Symantec Barcode Solution features and benefits

12

■ Barcoder

Barcoder runs on the barcode device. Barcoder helps you perform a physical

inventory of all assets, add information to an asset, and add new assets to your

database.

A host computer can be used to synchronize data with barcode devices,

although wireless features eliminate the need for a host computer. In many

cases, the host computer is connected to a cradle, into which the barcode device

is placed for synchronization.

How Barcode Solution works

The Barcode Solution elements are installed on and work with Notification Server.

They include reports and code to create output files for the Barcode Manager.

The number of features and details available to you depend on the rights of your

profile. Profiles are created and are modified in the Symantec Management Console

, and you must use your Symantec Management Console credentials when

operating a barcode device.

From the barcode device, you specify what asset data to import from Notification

Server Database. You can filter the data that you import according to any

combination of cost center, location, and status. After the first initial download,

on subsequent synchronizations only the new or the changed data is uploaded.

Limiting this data improves the performance on the barcode device.

After the data is downloaded to the barcode devices, the barcode devices are ready

to scan bar-codes. Barcoder can help you to perform a physical inventory of all

assets. You can add associated information to an asset, and you can add new assets

into your database.

After you collect data with the barcode device, you can upload it to the

Configuration Management Database . The data is then merged with the asset

data that is in the Configuration Management Database . Profiles determine how

data is uploaded. If a profile is set to upload automatically, then the data is

immediately entered into the database. If the profile is not configured to upload

automatically ,then it is loaded into a verification queue. The data remains pending

administrator or manager approval through the Upload Verification page in the

Symantec Management Console .

Conflicting data is resolved in the Conflict Management page in the Symantec

Management Console. You can manage and resolve conflicting data in batches,

or for individual resources.

13Introducing Symantec Barcode Solution

How Barcode Solution works

Introducing Symantec Barcode Solution

How Barcode Solution works

14

Using Barcode Solution

This chapter includes the following topics:

■ Using Barcode Solution

■ Creating a synchronization profile

■ Installing Barcode Manager

■ Synchronizing data

■ Scanning assets

■ Uploading data from the barcode device

■ Verifying asset data

■ About ownership and editing associations

■ Resolving conflicts

■ Viewing Barcode Solution reports

Using Barcode Solution

This process walks you through the steps that you need to complete to set up and

using Barcode Solution. To proceed, you must have successfully installed Barcode

Solution on the Notification Server computer.

The following workflow is a recommended method to set up Barcode Solution,

scan assets, and upload the changes to the Configuration Management Database:

2

Chapter

Using Barcode Solution

1

Create a Synchronization profile.

See “Creating a synchronization profile” on page 16.

2

Install Barcode Manager.

See “Installing Barcode Manager” on page 17.

3

Synchronize existing data.

See “Synchronizing data” on page 18.

4

Scan assets.

See “Scanning assets” on page 18.

5

Upload data from the Barcode Device.

See “Uploading data from the barcode device” on page 19.

6

Verify the asset data.

See “Verifying asset data” on page 19.

7

Resolve conflicts.

See “Resolving conflicts” on page 20.

8

Run reports.

See “Viewing Barcode Solution reports” on page 21.

Creating a synchronization profile

Before you can download asset data to the barcode device, you need to configure

synchronization profiles for the users that scan assets. You do this task from the

Synchronization Profiles page.

See “Using Barcode Solution” on page 15.

To create a synchronization profile

1

In the Symantec Management Console, on the Home menu, click Service and

Asset Management > Barcode.

2

In the left pane, right-click Barcode Solution > Synchronization Profiles.

3

Click New > Synchronization Profile.

In the Resources tab, select the supporting resources that are sent to the

synchronization profile. This section lets you narrow the amount of data that

is sent to the synchronization profile. We recommend that you select only

the data that this synchronization profile needs when it performs scans.

Using Barcode Solution

Creating a synchronization profile

16

4

In Users click Select a Department and select the user resource (by

department) to be sent to the barcode device.

5

In Departments, click Select a Department and select the department

resources to be sent to the barcode device.

6

In Cost Centers, click Select aCostCenter and select the cost center resources

to be sent to the barcode device.

7

In Location, click Select a Location and select the location to be sent to the

barcode device.

8

In the Data Classes and Associations tab, select the data classes and

associations that you want included in the download to the barcode device.

9

In the Permissions tab select the available templates that are accessible on

the barcode scanner. Various templates are available. To save time and

bandwidth select only the templates that the users of the synchronization

profile require.

10

Under User Specific Resources, check Allow user specific resources if you

want users to be able to add more resources as needed.

11

Click Save Changes.

Installing Barcode Manager

To install Barcode Manager on a barcode device, you must first access the Symantec

Management Console from the host computer. You need to use the Notification

Server credentials of the barcode device user. Barcode Manager is then installed

to be installed on the host computer and from there, Barcoder is installed on the

barcode device. Once Barcode Manager is installed on the host computer in this

initial stage, it is no longer needed for further interaction. From then on, the

barcode device communicates directly with the Notification Server.

See “Using Barcode Solution” on page 15.

To install Barcode Manager

1

Log on using an account that has access to the Barcode Solution Home page

on the Symantec Management Console. The account must also have the

authority to install the Barcode Manager on the host computer.

2

Close all Windows applications that are running.

3

Initialize the barcode device. Align the screen, set the time, and create a

Device ID and Owner ID.

4

Open the Symantec Management Console.

17Using Barcode Solution

Installing Barcode Manager

5

In the Symantec Management Console, on the Home menu, click Service and

Asset Management > Barcode.

6

On the Barcode Solution home page in the Quick Links Web-part, click Install

Barcode Manager.

Synchronizing data

Any data that is specified in the user profile and the Manage handheld device

page is uploaded to the barcode device in the initial synchronization. It may involve

the transfer of a significant amount of data. Ensure a good connection (either

wireless or through a cradle) with the Notification Server computer .

See “Using Barcode Solution” on page 15.

To synchronize data

1

Make sure that the barcode device has a connection to the host computer,

either wireless or through a synchronization cradle.

2

On the barcode device, select Start >Programs> SymantecAltirisBarcoder.

3

Select Synchronize.

4

Enter your security credentials and click Login.

Your password and user name are cached for an hour on the handheld device.

If you do not use it for over an hour you must reenter your security credentials.

5

Select the synchronization profile to use and select Next.

Choose one of the synchronization options and select Sync.

Status bars on the handheld device display the upload and the download

progress.

Scanning assets

After the asset data has been synchronized with the barcode device, you can scan

your assets.

See “Using Barcode Solution” on page 15.

To scan assets

1

On the barcode device, select Start >Programs> SymantecAltirisBarcoder.

2

Select Quick Scan. Quick Scan is a convenient way to scan your assets or

assign details to assets such as owner, cost center, and status.

Using Barcode Solution

Synchronizing data

18

3

If you have a location barcode, scan it. Otherwise, select the location of the

asset, if desired. You can also assign other details, such as the owner, cost

center, and status.

4

Click Create new assetonunknown barcode if you want to create a new asset

when a barcode is not found on the barcode device.

5

Scan the barcode.

6

Repeat this procedure until all of the assets are scanned.

Uploading data from the barcode device

After you scan asset data, you can upload it from your barcode device to the

Configuration Management Database . Only new or changed data is synchronized.

Ensure that the synchronization processes are complete before you remove a

barcode device from its cradle, or terminate a wireless connection.

See “Using Barcode Solution” on page 15.

To upload data from the barcode device

1

On the barcode device, select Start >Programs> SymantecAltirisBarcoder.

2

Click Synchronization.

3

Enter the Notification Server computer login credentials and click Login.

4

Select Synchronization and click Sync.

If you select Bypass upload verification on the Permissions tab of your

Synchronization Profile console page, data is automatically uploaded to the

Configuration Management Database. If not, the data needs to be verified in

the Batch Uploads page.

Verifying asset data

By default, you need to verify your asset data before you load it into the

Configuration Management Database. You verify asset data from the Batch

Uploads page.

See “Using Barcode Solution” on page 15.

To verify asset data

1

In the Symantec Management Console, on the Home menu, click Service and

Asset Management > Barcode.

2

In the left pane, click Barcode Solution > Manage Changes > Batch Uploads.

19Using Barcode Solution

Uploading data from the barcode device

3

In the Batch uploads page, select the batch of uploaded data that you want

to verify.

4

Click View Batch Details.

The Batch Details page displays the resources with new or changed data.

5

Select a resource and click ViewResourceDetails to view its changed details.

The two sections in the Resource Details window display two sets of data for

the resource. One set of data is the list of batches conataining that resource.

If the resource already exists in the database, then it also contains a row for

the Notification Server version of the resource. The bottom section displays

the dataclass and association details of the resource that is selected in the

list. A blue box highlights any new data or changed data. A red dotted-line

hightlights any conflicts with other batches.

6

Select a resource from the list in the top section and click Accept.

This action returns you to the Batch Details page.

7

On the Batch Details page, after you accept changes to resource details, the

Conflicts column is updated.

8

Click Accept Batch to save your changes to the database.

About ownership and editing associations

When you download a resource to the barcode device, one level of associated

resources is downloaded. The filtered list of the associations that you specify in

the synchronization profile are also downloaded. Downloading a computer also

downloads a monitor that is directly associated with the computer. However any

resources that are associated with the monitor are not downloaded. However, the

monitor’s resource associations is downloaded. Any resources that are associated

with the monitor are displayed as unavailable.

If you attempt to edit the association, a dialog displays the following message:

"The [association name] association references resources that are not available

in the current profile and cannot be edited by the Barcoder. This change must

be performed using the console.”

Resolving conflicts

If Notification Server detects any conflicting data it is displayed in the Unresolved

Conflicts page. The table in the Unresolved Conflicts page lists all of the resources

that have conflicting data with other batches.

Using Barcode Solution

About ownership and editing associations

20

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