Optimizing scanner cache configuration

The scanner cache folder is used to store information about scanned files and directories in your file system. By knowing the hierarchy of files, the scanner can locate them quicker, which results in shorter scans. The amount of disk space that is needed for the cache depends on the number of files that are being scanned. If the current location of the cache folder cannot ensure sufficient disk space, you can change the location of the cache folder or optimize the cache.

About this task

9.2.2 Change the default location of the scanner cache folder.
  1. Log in to the BigFix console.
  2. In the navigation tree, click Sites > External Sites > BigFix Inventory > Fixlets and Tasks.
  3. Select Change Scanner Cache Folder.
  4. Enter an absolute path to the new cache folder, or restore the default scanner_install_dir/cache_data folder.
  5. Click Take Action, and select computers on which you want to change the scanner cache folder. Then, click OK.
After you change the cache folder or restore the default one, all current cache is removed. The new cache is created after you run the software scan. To check the current cache folder, see the results of the Scanner Information analysis.

9.2.4 Optimize the scanner cache. This option is recommended for infrastructures with a large number of files that need to be scanned. Optimization of the cache allows for reducing its size and shortening the time of the scan. The option also optimizes remote shared file systems.
Important: Starting from application update 9.2.6, fresh installations have the optimization enabled. However, scanner cache settings are not changed if you are upgrading. To check whether scan optimization is enabled on a particular computer, perform these steps.
  1. Log in to the BigFix console.
  2. In the navigation tree, click Sites > External Sites > BigFix Inventory > Fixlets and Tasks.
  3. Select Configure Scan Cache.
  4. To reduce the amount of disk space that is used by the cache, select Use experimental CIT Scanner Cache3.

    Starting from CIT Scanner 9.2.27, a new file type, Cache 3 is introduced in the system information caching mechanism. CIT Scanner Cache3 is optimized for lower CPU and memory footprint comparing to default Cache2. Cache optimization is supported on Windows, Linux and AIX. It is recommended to use Cache3 (if supported) on computers that experience scanning problems.

  5. Click Take Action, and select computers on which you want to enable the optimization. Then, click OK.
When you enable the scan optimization, the cache that is created during the software scan includes only files that are relevant for the types of software scans that you are running. The size of the cache is reduced.