Unrecognised Software
Unrecognised Software is a query that lists software titles discovered on your network that the recognition engine could not classify. These titles do not appear in licensing reports until they are recognised, which means they could represent a compliance gap if any of them are licensable software.
Why Software Goes Unrecognised
The recognition engine maintains a database of known software titles. A title goes unrecognised when:
- It is new or niche software not yet in the recognition database
- The title string is unusual (e.g., custom internal tools, rebranded software, or titles in non-English languages)
- The software was installed from a non-standard source and has an unexpected name
Viewing Unrecognised Software
Navigate to the Software Dashboard and select the Unrecognised Software query. Click the blue links to see the full list of unrecognised titles:
TODO Screenshot:
ClickMenu "Software Dashboard" | PrintScreen "itam-software-licencing-unrecognised-software"
You can also view all software (including unrecognised titles) from Software > Computers by Software Title > Computers by Software Title -- All. This includes every title discovered, regardless of recognition status.
Sending Unrecognised Titles to xAssets
You can submit your unrecognised titles to xAssets for inclusion in future recognition database updates:
- Navigate to Admin > Transformations > IT Transformations > Software Asset Management
- Select Send Unrecognised Software to xAssets
- Click Queue to submit the data
TODO Screenshot:
ClickMenu "Software Dashboard" | PrintScreen "itam-software-licencing-unrecognised-software-2"
xAssets will review the submitted titles and add any that should be recognised (e.g., commercial software like "HPE Insight Management Agents") into the centralised recognition database. The next time you receive a recognition update, these titles will be correctly classified.
What To Do About Unrecognised Software
| Scenario | Action |
|---|---|
| Title is clearly commercial software (e.g., a known product with an unusual name) | Submit to xAssets for recognition. In the meantime, you can create a manual recognition record (see Creating Software Titles Manually) |
| Title is an internal or custom application | No action needed -- internal tools typically do not require external licences. You can create a recognition record classifying it as "Free" if you want it categorised |
| Title is a system component or driver | No action needed -- these are typically classified as "Secondary" or "Free" when recognised |
| Title appears suspicious (potentially unwanted software) | Investigate further -- check which machines have it installed and consult your security team |
Tips
- Review the unrecognised software list periodically (e.g., monthly after a fresh discovery)
- Focus on titles with high installation counts first -- these are more likely to be commercial software that needs licensing attention
- After submitting titles, recognition updates are applied the next time discovered data is loaded
- Do not ignore unrecognised software indefinitely -- a vendor audit may discover licensable software hiding in the unrecognised list
Related Articles
- Software Updates — how recognition database updates are delivered
- Creating Software Titles Manually — creating recognition records for titles you need to track now
- Software Installed on a Computer — viewing all software on a specific machine
- Software Products — managing the product catalogue