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Use the Collector

Licenseware recommends the Collector for every project, alongside an API integration. The API brings in your inventory. The Collector adds software metering, and covers any machines the API does not see.

Licenseware Collector is a free agent for servers and client PCs (laptops, desktops, VDI and Docker containers). It sends hardware and software inventory, and software usage, into the project. Those records show on Assets with the source Licenseware Collector. The full documentation, including supported systems, network requirements, installation and every data point it collects, is at licenseware-collector.com.

Software metering

Section titled “Software metering”

The Collector’s main use is software metering: it records when software is actually run, not only that it is installed. Every 60 minutes it takes inventory plus a point-in-time view of running processes, services and logged-in users. Every 240 minutes it reads execution history, such as last run time and run count on Windows and last-opened time on macOS, so Licenseware can work out when each product was last used. The field list and intervals are under Data Collection in the Collector documentation.

That usage fills the Software Usage windows on Assets, from Used last 30 days to Not used in 90+ days. A discovery tool that only lists installs leaves Usage empty. With the Collector you can find paid software nobody has opened, and reclaim the license or uninstall it before a renewal. See Find unused software to reclaim.

Get data in

Section titled “Get data in”
  1. Create an API key. The agent enrolls with that key. The tab shows the key’s name, not the secret.
  2. Install the agent. The package does not include the key. You provide it at install time. Systems, packages and the install commands are on that page.
  3. Check the agent. The Agents tab shows whether the machine is reporting. From there you can collect now, pause, or update.
  4. See where the data shows. Hardware and software land on Assets, with Licenseware Collector as the source.

When that data has processed, open the Software Inventory report.

Next: 3. Open the SIM report.