Software Installations vs Running Processes

[Stephen Skaggs]

What is the difference between the data that populates the software installations and the running processes related tables on a server?

Also, if there is a difference between the data, which one would be more accurate?

for example, if there is a Microsoft Visio software install but not a running process showing for it, why would that be? Also Visa versa, why would the software install be missing if there is a running process?

also what determines if those installs or processes are no longer active on the server?

[CMDB Whisperer · Accepted solution]

Software installations tell you what software is installed.  Running processes tell you what processes are running.  Not all software that you install will be running as a process at a given point in time.  Where there is an overlap that is the software that's installed and currently running as a process.  They both tell you different things.  When the software is no longer installed, the record should be cleaned out.  If is still installed but not running as a process, it will show that there is not an active process.  If there is a running process but no software installation, that means that there is no specific registry entry for the process that is running.