The MAP Toolkit supports different methods to find computers on a network. After it finds the computers, the MAP Toolkit connects to each computer using the appropriate method to perform the inventory. At least one of the options on the Discovery Methods page must be selected.

Use Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS)

Use this method if all computers and devices are in AD DS. Using only the AD DS method can significantly improve the time required to complete the inventory. For more information about the use of AD DS to discover computers, see the MAP Inventory Wizard-Active Directory Credentials and MAP Inventory Wizard-Active Directory Options topics.

Use Windows Networking Protocols

Use this method if the network and computers being inventoried are not part of an Active Directory domain. For more information about use of the Windows networking protocols to discover computers, see MAP Inventory-Windows Networking Protocols.

Use System Center Configuration Manager

Use this method to inventory computers that are managed by System Center Configuration Manager. If you choose this method, you need to provide the credentials required to access the Configuration Manager WMI provider on the named Configuration Manager primary site server. See the “System Center Configuration Manager” section in “Section 1: Prepare Your Environment” of the Getting Started Guide for information on how to configure your site server. For more information about the use of SCCM to discover computers, see the MAP Inventory-SCCM Server and Credentials topic.

Scan an IP Address Range

The IP address range computer discovery method is limited to scanning only 100,000 IP addresses at one time. If you have more addresses than the limit, run the wizard multiple times, specifying different IP address ranges each time you run the wizard.

The following recommendations are provided for the IP address range method:

• Use this method to specifically target a set of computers in a branch office or specific subnets when you only want inventory performed on those computers.
• Use it to find devices and computers that cannot be found using Windows networking protocols or AD DS.
• Limit the size of the IP address range provided. This will reduce the time required to perform the inventory.

For more information about use of the IP Addresses to discover computers, see the MAP Inventory-Scan an IP Address Range topic.

Manually Enter Computer Names and Credentials

The MAP Toolkit lets you to input server names and credentials manually. You can specify all the computers you would like to inventory and then the MAP Toolkit will inventory those computers. For more information about manually entering computer names, see the MAP Inventory-Enter Computers Manually topic.

Import Computer Names from a File

Use this method to input computer names from a text file. You can specify all the computers you would like to inventory in one or more text files and then direct the MAP Toolkit to the location of these files. The MAP Toolkit will inventory those computers specified in the text files. For more information about importing a file to discover computers, see the MAP Inventory-Import Computers from File topic.