A Software Inventory Evaluation from Rockwell Automation and CBT provides a thorough analysis of your software, hardware, and servers. This gives you a clear picture of which Information Technology (IT) assets must be upgraded, which will work concurrently, how you can avoid migration risk and where costs can be reduced.
Providing Insight Into Your Software and IT Inventory
Similar to the Installed Base Evaluation (IBE), which provides an analysis of your critical plant assets and condition, a Software Inventory Evaluation identifies your IT hardware, software assets, versions, and potential risk. This analysis can help you determine whether the hardware and corresponding operating system can support a specific software upgrade, for example, to avoid potential incompatibility. We collect information and provide detailed analysis of Rockwell Automation and Microsoft software. This assessment provides a baseline to help you take action based on risk and savings opportunity, in preparation for automation equipment migration.
A Software Inventory Evaluation can help you:
- Document all installed software and IT assets
- Determine whether current operating system and automation equipment hardware will support software upgrades, and identify migration requirements
- Improve performance by determining which of your software packages will need to operate concurrently and which will need to be license-based
- Optimize licensing and support
Getting Started With Your Software Inventory Evaluation
Step 1 – Site-readiness Planning
Review the resources required and system prerequisites to assist in preparing the site for field collection. A Rockwell Automation project manager and your designated champion coordinate the collection process. Software Prerequisites
- Operating system
- Specific Microsoft patch
- WMI infrastructure
- Windows .net 3.5 framework
Customer Requirements
- Escort for visit
- Knowledge of collection scope
- Access to machines
Step 2 – Field Collection
Multiple collection tools are used to gather software and license information installed on all PCs, laptops and servers that have been identified. Machine interrogation via standard Microsoft protocols is employed. This step includes a Rockwell Automation engineer and your designated champion or escort.
Step 3 – Analysis
Rockwell Atuomation’s proprietary analytic engine is used to categorize, assess risk, and provide detailed reports and recommendations. This step includes the Rockwell Automation project manager and technical analysts.
Step 4 – Strategic Review
CBT and Rockwell Automation will deliver recommendations and work with you to develop an action plan. This step includes the Rockwell Automation project manager, account manager, distributor and appropriate customer stakeholders. Reports will provide:
- Operating system upgrade compatibility
- Collected software on PCs, laptops, servers
- Licensed software under TechConnectSM Support
- Activated vs. licensed installs
- Activated vs. supported installs
- PLC firmware/software compatibility
For more information about Software Inventory Evaluations, visit Rockwell Automation’s IBE page or talk to your CBT specialist.
