Excluding directories from being scanned

Excluding some directories from scanning is useful if the directories are large and contain no information that is important to the software inventory. By excluding them, you can speed up the scanning process. Some directories are excluded from software scans by default. They must remain excluded to ensure accuracy of data. You can add or remove other directories from the list by using tasks in the BigFix console. You can also manually add them to the scanner files on particular endpoints.

Tip:

Check how long the software scan lasts on each computer. If the scan is very long, it might indicate that some of the directories on this computer can be excluded from scanning. For example, because they contain software installation images or other file repositories not related to IBM software.

To check the scan length, activate the Software Scan Status analysis, and see the Total Time column.

Directories that are excluded by default

By default, the following directories are excluded from software scans. Ensure that you do not remove them from the list. It might lead to untested and unsupported results in BigFix Inventory.

AIX

/proc
*/tmp
*/eznim
*/unicore/lib/*
*/perl/lib/*
*/perl5/*
/usr/src/kernels/*

Note: Starting from scanner version 2.8.0.5000, the /usr/lpp directory is no longer excluded from software scans. It might cause that more software components are discovered by BigFix Inventory.

Solaris

/proc
*/tmp
*/eznim
*/unicore/lib/*
*/perl/lib/*
*/perl5/*
/usr/src/kernels/*
/var/spool/pkg

UNIX

/proc
*/tmp
*/eznim
*/unicore/lib/*
*/perl/lib/*
*/perl5/*
/usr/src/kernels/*

Windows

?:/System Volume Information
?:/$Recycle.Bin
?:/RECYCLER
?:/$WINDOWS.~BT/
?:/Windows/servicing/
%CSIDL_WINDOWS%/System32
%CSIDL_WINDOWS%/SysWOW64
%CSIDL_WINDOWS%/winsxs
%CSIDL_WINDOWS%/ServicePackFiles
%CSIDL_WINDOWS%/installer
%CSIDL_WINDOWS%/$NtUninstall
%CSIDL_WINDOWS%/$NtServicePackUninstall*$
%CSIDL_WINDOWS%/$hf_mig$
%CSIDL_WINDOWS%/servicing
*/Windows.old/
*/tmp
*/temp
*/cache/out-of-date
*/Temporary Internet Files
?:/ProgramData/Docker/windowsfilter/
?:/ProgramData/Package Cache
%CSIDL_WINDOWS%/SoftwareDistribution