Information management inventory

摘要

An information management inventory in which information is managed electronically in a network of distributed servers including a structured data environment. Agent software may be loaded on a first server, which may be a local server, and the first server may be scanned with the agent software to identify data stores located on the first server. The information related to a first data store may be compiled with the agent software, and the information may be provided to a second server, which may be a data accumulation server. The information may be metadata about the first data store, and histories of changes to the data stores may be tracked in the second data store. Apparatus, computer readable medium systems, and computer program products are also provided.

主权项

1. A method of managing information electronically in a network of distributed servers including a structured data environment, the method comprising:
choosing and implementing complementary components including a Database Management System (DBMS) and associated query language, the DBMS configured for housing a metadata data store, network protocols and connectivity for integration with disparate systems, and an operating system and hardware platform at least for the metadata data store, wherein the choices are made based at least in part on cost, connectivity, scalability and technical standards of a target environment; loading agent software on a central data accumulation server and at least two local servers wherein at least two of the at least two local servers are geographically dispersed from one another and at least two of the at least two local servers operate on different platforms from one another; scanning at least one of a system catalog, copy book or configuration file of the local servers with the agent software to identify technical metadata related to one or more data stores located on the local servers; compiling first information as specified by a user, the first information related to a first data store identified on a first local server with the agent software and related to a second data store identified on a second local server with the agent software, wherein the first information related to the first data store comprises an identity of the first data store, a size of the first data store, a computerized format of the first data store, and a status of the first data store, and wherein the first information related to the second data store comprises an identity of the second data store, a size of the second data store, a computerized format of the second data store, and a status of the second data store; storing the first information related to the first data store in the second data store; receiving the compiled first information on the central data accumulation server; processing the compiled first information on the central data accumulation server comprising generating one or more reports regarding the compiled first information on the central data accumulation server upon request of a user, wherein the scope of the reports regarding the compiled first information is preselected by the user; periodically scanning the local servers with the agent software to identify at least one data store that has changed since a previous scanning event; compiling second information as specified by a user related to at least one change to the at least one data store; receiving the compiled second information on the central data accumulation server; and processing the compiled second information on the central data accumulation server related to the at least one change to the at least one data store, the processing comprising generating one or more reports regarding the compiled second information related to the at least one change to the at least one data store upon request of a user, wherein the scope of the reports regarding the compiled second information is preselected by the user.