ITA installation with remote SQL 2005 database

Question

I'm having a lot of difficulty installing IT Assistant 8.2

It isn't compatible with any of our 7 Dell servers, so I've tried installing it on a non-Dell management server, as well as my own PC, with no success.

All our servers are running Windows 2003 R2 and PCs are all XP Pro. We have one set up running SQL 2005 Standard. I want to use this for the database. Due to space limitations on the C: drive, I don't want to install the ITA on the same server as SQL 2005.

When attempting installs on other machines (servers or PCs other than the SQL server) I keep getting prerequisite errors saying that a nondefault instance of SQL is installed, as well as an error that SQL Express isn't installed. I can only assume that the nondefaut instance is the SQL Native Client which installs with the SQL Managerment Console. Obviously, I don't want to use or install SQL Express.

I've read through some documentation saying that in order to do this you need the MSSQLSERVER service running on both the SQL server (which it is) and the remote machine. However, I don't see how you install the service without installing the core SQL 2005 database software - essentially making this an SQL server, too - so why would I need a remote database if I do this?!

Just as a test, I completed an installtion on the SQL server just so I could see the software. I ran a discovery and it found most of the devices on our network - except the Dell PCs. So, amusingly, ITA can't install on any of our Dell servers and doesn't discover any of our Dell devices...

Anyway, if anyone has successfully implemented an installation of ITA on a server using a remote SQL 2005 Standard database, I would appreciate some procedures, if you have them. The whole OpenManange setup is turning into a nightmare for me, as nothing will install or run on the Dell equipment we have.

Also, I need to know how to move the repository to another drive. I usually install software on the C: drives and larger data stores on a Raid array - drive D: or E: - however, I can't seem to find where you change the location of the repository in ITA.

TIA

Rick

sysbuff · Answer

IT Assistant can be installed on any Dell Server or Clients running versions of Windows higher that 2000 SP4, except the Small Buisness Server editions. ITA is not supported on SBS

During ITA installion you need to have an SQL Server default instance running on that system. Install the SQL Express that is supplied with ITA installation. After installation of ITA you can move the ITA database to an SQL Server of your choice and uninstall the SQL Express you installed on the ITA box. See the following documentation on how to do this

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/software/smitasst/8.1/en/ug/install.htm#1055058

On the boxes you want to monitor using IT Assistant you need to install Server Administrator 5.4 (for servers) and Open Manage Client Instrumentation (OMCI ) for Desktops and other clients.

To move the repository to another location check this post

http://www.dellcommunity.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=pc_openmanage&message.id=4074#M4074

Please note that you should run the SQL script on the machine that contains the ITA database and not the machine on which ITA was installed if you already moved the database.

StarkSA · Answer