Asset tracking and inventory - any great solutions that you know of?

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TecPCPro

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I currently use excel.. Have a file for each client and the hardware/software/network is divided by sheet..

What I really wanted Santa to bring me ( I actually got socks and aftershave ) was an application that was cross platform, standalone and with a reporting function that would let me print off branded reports of any or all items in its database.. For example, those nice dudes at Microsoft send a software compliance request and with a few clicks, I print a report that lists all computers with os version, license type and serial number for a whole site, same for office and cals/SQL/etc etc.. The same concept for hardware and warranty dates.. It must exist.. It's just too useful to not be available.. Also an inventory of network attached devices with logins and config tables.. But I'll be damned if I can find it..

Would be great to have a solution for the above that is affordable and cloud based, so I can have the data available in the office or on my iPad when on site..

I have looked at spice works and the asset tracking in gfimax.. But they both lack depth and custom reporting capabilities..

Any ideas?

Cheers.
 
Have they implemented the advanced reporting and I missed the memo? Also is spice works available via cloud and not a local install.. I don't want a dedicated box in the office for anything anymore..
 
There are plugins for pretty much anything you want. It's not cloud based, but you don't need a dedicated box to run it. I have it running in a Windows 7 vm configured with 2 gb of ram, and it runs beautifully. I even have it connected to a couple of clients with local installs there, so I can track. I have the rescue plugin for those. These are the customers who don't want to go full msp but still have me on retainer or speed dial. Makes life pretty easy. You also get discounts all over the place just for being a member of the community. Ie, I get rackspace email at $1/mailbox and discounts on their hosted exchange and office 365.
 
Isn't it a real PITA to setup for multiple networks? Last that I looked at it, Spiceworks, was mostly an in house RMM system not something an MSP could make use of. Has that changed?
 
I don't use it for msp stuff. But across networks, if you go slow and easy, it's not bad. The remote installs communicate across a vpn to my central install. Works ok for the clients we have with it. Of course, I want them to go with a managed package, but, sometimes, they just won't shell out the money. Therefore, we have an alternative that's a bit less.
 
I hear ya... I need something for clients with an msp contract... Maybe if enough are interested, we could crowd-source a developer to create an application, would be great to have this software designed by users and tailer made for our needs.. Spiceworks just does not cut it yet.. I am also thinking of trialing Sysaid, I'll let you know what The results..
 
If you need something for msp, that's an entirely different scenario. Something other than your op indicated. There are a ton of cloud-based msp packages that do you everything you need. Many of them are pay-as-you-go. Kaseya, gfi, manage engine, just to name a few.
 
Sorry fella, I think you missed the standalone and cloud based part of the OP, also the bit where I state spice works and gfi (at least gfi max, but the LAN manager and asset mgmt is the same no?) are not what I am looking for.. As for being for msp's, a good piece of software that filled the OP reqs would be fit for task in most IT scenarios.. Thanks anyway.. Any and all ideas are welcome..
 
I'm confused, so I'm trying to sort this out.

TecPCPro said:
an application that was cross platform, standalone and with a reporting function that would let me print off branded reports of any or all items in its database..

Would be great to have a solution for the above that is affordable and cloud based, so I can have the data available in the office or on my iPad when on site..

I have looked at spice works and the asset tracking in gfimax.. But they both lack depth and custom reporting capabilities..
Click to expand...

Not true of either. The reporting capabilities of both are nearly endless. Spiceworks is not cloud-based, but can be accessed quite easily remotely.


TecPCPro said:
Also is spice works available via cloud and not a local install.. I don't want a dedicated box in the office for anything anymore..
Click to expand...

I explained how it can implemented in a vm.

TecPCPro said:
I hear ya... I need something for clients with an msp contract... Maybe if enough are interested, we could crowd-source a developer to create an application, would be great to have this software designed by users and tailer made for our needs.. Spiceworks just does not cut it yet.. I am also thinking of trialing Sysaid, I'll let you know what The results..
Click to expand...

Nowhere in your op do you mention msp needs. These needs change the direction of the conversation completely.

TecPCPro said:
Sorry fella, I think you missed the standalone and cloud based part of the OP, also the bit where I state spice works and gfi (at least gfi max, but the LAN manager and asset mgmt is the same no?) are not what I am looking for.. As for being for msp's, a good piece of software that filled the OP reqs would be fit for task in most IT scenarios.. Thanks anyway.. Any and all ideas are welcome..
Click to expand...

No, I didn't miss it. Simple asset tracking and reporting can be done with GFI, Spiceworks, about 100 other options including shop management software. So, I'm a little confused. Are you wanting to be a MSP? If so, there is a very wide range of products with a wide range in cost. They are full RMM suites, many of which are cloud-based. Asset tracking is but a small part of their capabilities. Reporting is a small part of their capabilities. The products I mentioned earlier in this thread have fully customizable reporting features. So there's that. Or, are you looking for simple asset tracking and reporting for your shop? If so, spiceworks would fit all but the part of being hosted elsewhere. There are true cloud-hosted solutions, many of which are listed and/or paid advertisers of this very forum.

I'm not trying to sound harsh, but I feel I wasted a bit of time replying to you earlier. Do you want to be a MSP or not? If not, what exactly are you trying to track? Customer machines coming through your door? What are you wanting to report? Maybe, I'm just having an off day, but, for the life of me, I can't tell what it is you're looking for based on this thread.
 
Last edited:
colonydata said:
Does any RMM tool collect the data you need? is it just a matter of reporting? dump it into a database and write some sql.
Click to expand...


I think that is the way I will need to go.. Maybe I'll also look into a FileMaker type app and build my own.. Gfimax has some limited additional fields in the asset mgmt tabs, but no where near what I want.

As I don't want any dedicated (even a VM requires a dedicated host..) boxes in the office, spice works is out of scope, many other cloud based solutions offer a lot of what I need/want but at a price that I don't really feel is acceptable.

Another option I may explore is creating a new dedicated website with a MySQL db and front end...

What I was interested in was what the other forum members are doing for asset mgmt etc.. And if anyone had found a good all round solution for this.. No one seems to have done so far.. I am not looking for another rmm..

Thanks for the input people..
 
TecPCPro said:
I currently use excel.. Have a file for each client and the hardware/software/network is divided by sheet..

What I really wanted Santa to bring me ( I actually got socks and aftershave ) was an application that was cross platform, standalone and with a reporting function that would let me print off branded reports of any or all items in its database.. For example, those nice dudes at Microsoft send a software compliance request and with a few clicks, I print a report that lists all computers with os version, license type and serial number for a whole site, same for office and cals/SQL/etc etc.. The same concept for hardware and warranty dates.. It must exist.. It's just too useful to not be available.. Also an inventory of network attached devices with logins and config tables.. But I'll be damned if I can find it...
Click to expand...

The Report Manager in N-Able does all that...and a few kajillion other things, it's incredibly granular and you can produce reports of pretty much anything you want. It uses a tool called the Probe, which you unleash on the customers network for a day..and collect the results at the end. Already has all that built into it.

LANSweeper was a good tool I used many years ago when I didn't have the money to plop down on a full RMM.

You mention you want a tool to do this for your clients on an MSP contract.
So if you wish to be an MSP, logically you want to have an RMM....have you selected one yet?
 
I am currently using GFImax.. I do like the console and TeamViewer aspect, I also find the Vipre Mav a fairly good product, the asset tracking is however, not the best.. Thx
 
The more I hear of the details of GFI...sure glad we didn't go with it when we were shopping for our RMM a few years ago. Back then it didn't seem polished or matured...seemed basic and "cheap". N-Ables reports are insane in details, can product certain reports of metrics you wish for, all that you mention above and tons more. Might consider where your biz is now..and the direction you want to go in..and noodle over stepping up your tools. If you're an MSP...your RMM should do what you ask it to do. Having to piece-meal together a bunch of other tools to fill in the inadequacies of your main tool...just don't add up to me.
 
You may be right... I think I will given nable another look and consider making the switch.. I'll keep gfi for the Mav and explore other more complete options for the rmm side.. Thanks again
 
Does nable have an iPad app to monitor and connect to clients? Have you used it and what are your thoughts?
 
YeOldeStonecat said:
The more I hear of the details of GFI...sure glad we didn't go with it when we were shopping for our RMM a few years ago. Back then it didn't seem polished or matured...seemed basic and "cheap". N-Ables reports are insane in details, can product certain reports of metrics you wish for, all that you mention above and tons more. Might consider where your biz is now..and the direction you want to go in..and noodle over stepping up your tools. If you're an MSP...your RMM should do what you ask it to do. Having to piece-meal together a bunch of other tools to fill in the inadequacies of your main tool...just don't add up to me.
Click to expand...

I think between your posts, and my n-able demo. I am sold on n-able. it's just that 500 a month commitment is a little daunting when you currently have 0 customers on board.
 
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