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Inventory software

X

XOR != OR

[H]F Junkie
Joined
Jun 17, 2003
Messages
11,547
I'm putting this here because I'm trying to reach other network admins. What do you all use for inventory? I'm looking for a system which allows me to track workstations, monitors, printers, laptops, cameras, scanners, projects and other various IT related equipment throughout the equipment's life cycle. I'd like any system to have a way to schedule notifications automatically based on equipment type as well, although it's not required. Raw access to the underlying database is a plus.

I'm tempted to write something, but I don't have the time anymore to really dedicate to such a project. What does everyone here use?
 
Have you ever checked out Spiceworks? That can get you a hefty amount of information from the network.
 
Cmustang87 said:
Have you ever checked out Spiceworks? That can get you a hefty amount of information from the network.
Click to expand...
Spiceworks is really a completely different product than what I am after. I am after a simple app which lets me enter in X product, set up reminders of X types and be able to surplus X product after X time. I don't need the actively scanning features of spiceworks, nor do I want the software auditing features of spiceworks. And frankly, spiceworks runs like ass given the size of the network I have it watching.

So to answer your question; yes, I have checked it out. :)
 
What size network are you talking then? We have 2300 clients and use Altiris, but it's expensive and overkill for what you want to do. From the requirements you list, an Excel spreadsheet would satisfy like 80% of it. :p Not trying to be a dick with that last comment but there's a significant difference between inventory products and you're asking for things that smaller products just won't have and things that bigger products will but you have to wade through all the extra crap of a larger product.
 
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QHalo said:
What size network are you talking then? We have 2300 clients and use Altiris, but it's expensive and overkill for what you want to do. From the requirements you list, an Excel spreadsheet would satisfy like 80% of it. :p Not trying to be a dick with that last comment but there's a significant difference between inventory products and you're asking for things that smaller products just won't have and things that bigger products will but you have to wade through all the extra crap of a larger product.
Click to expand...
No worries, I get what you are saying about an excel spreadsheet. The problem is there is no data verification. And by virtue of the document, it allows for abuse. For example, we have a spreadsheet for every budget year for the past 10 years. And of course, because each line is a new line, data entry errors creep in so there is no way for me to know how much of X I have at any given time. Like, say, how many "Printers" I have. "Printres", "Priners", "pinters" are all there.

Honestly, access would probably do us. But again, that's writing something. While I could do it, I was hoping for a prepackaged product.
 
Yeah Altiris can do all that. It really is too bad that it's not a cheaper product because it really can do anything. In 7ish years of using it I haven't found anything that I wasn't asked to inventory or pull data from an asset that it didn't.

If you had Remedy for a helpdesk product you could use that as well. But I'm not a huge fan of Remedy.
 
I'm using OpenAudit, all computers on our network run the OpenAudit script at startup. The computers add themselves and pretty much all their info, software keys & versions, ram/hd/video card, monitor, etc. Things like Cameras & Scanners could be added manually.

Just need an Apache/MySQL install and some quick configuration and you're pretty much set. If you don't already have a *nix server setup consider getting one going with a vmware image, so many neat opensource tools available.
 
At work, everything is logged on a spreadsheet. (small business) :rolleyes:

But, if I recall correctly what you're looking for is an EAM solution? Or an ITAM solution?

I have no personal experience with it, but I remember a large client was going to deploy IBM Tivoli. I think it covered pretty much their environment, but if it's carrying the IBM branding, I can just imagine the price tag.
 
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I know at a past employer we were able to find a free access template and it had all sorts of columns etc all created so all we had to do was drop in model, asset tag number, serial number, and lot of that info we got in a list as we put in lease equipment orders. Also I thought maybe the Microsoft configuration manager had a way to pull in all that info that maybe could be used to tie into a database but not positive on that one.
 
I used PDQ Inventory a while back, it was worth the funds at the time, havent looked at it recently, adminarsenal.com
 
Well, as I was the OP I might as well follow up with what I ended up with...

I wrote my own. I know, I know, it's a horrible idea. But that's what my client at the time wanted, and still wants. We looked at several different systems and none of them were an "exact" fit. I made the argument that nothing would be perfect, but we could work around the issues...nope. They wanted me to develop something custom for them, so I did.

I still support it, to this day. Which is both a good and bad thing; I would have been stuck supporting whatever was put in place anyway, at least this way I am an expert on it AND I have the access to do whatever needs to be done.
 
Good for you. Sounds like you gained some good experience as well.
 
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