Not all businesses that use Windows and Active Directory, especially smaller ones, have a Windows management database such as SMS or SCCM. The Maven database was created to allow these businesses to track their users and computers without having to spend a lot of extra money on licenses and implementation fees. Companies that have SMS or SCCM may want to use the Maven database as its data is refreshed during startups, logons, logoffs, and shutdowns. This makes it easy to track computer use.
Group Policy and UpdateMaven.vbs
Updating and inserting records into the Maven database is achieved via stored procedures and a script called UpdateMaven.vbs. This single script is executed via Group Policy during Startup, Logon, Logoff and finally at Shutdown.
Once the database is up and running and your Group Policy is in place, you can now track all machines and users from the Maven Console. The Maven SQL wizard will allow you to quickly connect to the Maven database. Not only will you be able to find, diagnose and fix issues faster than ever, but you can also perform real-time queries to instantly find out which users logged onto a particular machine or which machines a particular user logged onto.
This file contains the following:
1) A detailed document on how to setup the Maven database, run CreateMavenTables.sql script, the GPO and VBScript for updating the database, and how to setup Maven (Small Business Edition or Enterprise Edition) to utilize the data from the database.
2) CreateMavenTables.sql script: This SQL script that will create all tables, indexes, views, and stored procedures that are required to update and view User and Computer information.
3) UpdateMavenDB.vbs: a VBScript that is used to gather information about the user and computer and send it off to a stored procedure to update the Maven Database.
How it Works
1. At start-up and shutdown computers execute the UpdateMavenDB.vbs script. At logon and logoff users execute the UpdateMavenDB.vbs.
2. Information collected from the UpdateMavenDB.vbs is sent to a stored procedure that updates the Maven database.
3. Support Analysts use Maven to find, diagnose and fix any user or computer related issue. Maven will also tell them who logged on where and when.