SMS: Using the 'Group Not' Function in Queries

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To query against installed software, first use a software inventory package or perform a software audit so that Systems Management Server clients have reported what is installed on their systems. After the software inventory data has been collected and subsequently reported to the Systems Management Server database, a query can be created to examine this data. To implement the example for Microsoft Excel, first create the following expression in the query:

   MICROSOFT|SOFTWARE|1.0:Software Name is 'Microsoft Excel 95'
				

When this expression is executed, all systems that reported Excel in software inventory are returned in the query results. To locate systems that do not have Excel, highlight this expression and then click the Group Not button. The expression changes to the following:

   NOT IN(MICROSOFT|SOFTWARE|1.0:Software Name is 'Microsoft Excel 95')
				

Executing this query correctly returns all systems that did not report Excel in their inventory. This expression differs from one using the "is not" operator. If the following "is not" expression is used, the query returns only those systems that did not have Excel as the first package. Therefore, this query would not return the desired results.

   MICROSOFT|SOFTWARE|1.0:Software Name is not 'Microsoft Excel 95'
				

Similar queries can be used to locate systems that do not have Pentium processors or that do not meet other hardware requirements.