# Learn more about Systems Manager Inventory
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When you configure AWS Systems Manager Inventory, you specify the type of metadata to collect, the managed nodes to collect from, and a schedule for metadata collection. These configurations are saved with your AWS account as an AWS Systems Manager State Manager association. An association is simply a configuration.

**Note**  
Inventory only collects metadata. It doesn't collect any personal or proprietary data.

**Topics**
+ [Metadata collected by Inventory](inventory-schema.md)
+ [Working with file and Windows registry inventory](inventory-file-and-registry.md)