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​​Application, Endpoint and Database Servers​

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Certero Components

Application Server

This is the web based front-end to all Certero products within the tenant and performs several

key roles:

- Presents the Certero web-based application to end users.

- Holds all configuration information for the tenant.

- Performs scheduled tenant database maintenance tasks.

- Performs scheduled data update tasks.

- Receives data from the Endpoint Server / Device(s) configured for the tenant.

- Imports inventory data into the SQL database associated to the tenant.

Receiving Application Server updates and notifications of new releases can be automated via the Certero

Customer Centre.

 

Endpoint Server / Device

These may be responsible for several key aspects relevant to the Certero Solution instance, depending on whether it is running in a hosted or on-premise environment, such as:

  • Connects to Active Directory to import Users, Groups and Computers.

  • Connects to Virtualisation platforms such as VMware vSphere/vCenter, Citrix XenServer and Hardware Management Console to map out Virtual Machine to Host relationships and other information.

  • Connects to third party sources of inventory information such as Microsoft SCCM, LANDesk and others.

  • Connects to other enterprise systems like SAP, Oracle and IBM.

  • Performs Network Discovery and associated tasks.

  • Performs Agentless Inventory of Windows, Linux, Unix and Apple Mac.

  • Deploys the CERTERO SOLUTION agent to Windows, Linux and Apple Mac.

  • Collects inventory data from computers.

  • Consolidates the inventory data and pushes it to the Application Server for importing into the SQL database.

 

For each Certero Solution instance, multiple Certero Solution Endpoint Servers / Devices can be configured to:

  • Allow for easy scalability across large complex organisations.

  • Accommodate secure network infrastructures, e.g. DMZ.

  • Allow management of devices outside the internal network e.g. Laptops that are taken home and other mobile devices.

 

Typically, each Endpoint Server / Device can manage between 5,000 and 10,000 devices, depending on its configuration. Any required updates are included releases of a new Application Server which can be automated via the Certero Customer Centre.

 

Database Server

A Certero database group is made up of three Microsoft SQL Server databases within a SQL Server instance and is described below.

  • The Data Repository holds the live ITAM and SAM related information, together with any custom / bespoke elements of the tenant. Generally starts with C_Data.

  • The Configuration Database holds global application configuration information such as the available columns and views. Generally starts with C_Config.

  • The Staging Database is an area used by the Application Server to import the data it receives from downstream Endpoint Servers / Devices. Generally starts with C_Tmp.

10.4 Database Server

CERTERO SOLUTION database groups are created within one or more pre-existing SQL instances. CPS can be configured with the details of all the SQL instances where you wish to deploy one or more CERTERO SOLUTION instance database groups: at least one must be defined within CPS.

The example below shows the Tenants screen of the CPS application and lists four SQL instances that can be used to deploy an CERTERO SOLUTION instance.

The collation of a SQL instance is important, especially for when moving an CERTERO SOLUTION database group from one SQL instance to another as the source and target SQL instance must have the same collation.