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The Joel on Software Discussion Group (CLOSED)

My boss wants me to implement a simple IT asset management system - covering desktop and laptop systems, servers, UPS and network equipment.  Nothing fancy, just so we know what equipment is where, when it was obtained, and what software is on it.

Technical requirements - .net, MS SQL backend, web based.

Cost - free is ideal (hey, we are a poor state agency...)

I've started some searching around the place, but just about everything is MySQL / PHP / Perl....

Any pointers?

Thanks.

Computerworld recently had this tool on their top ten free tool list:
http://www.spiceworks.com/

Have not used it - we use Track-IT Enterprise in our environment, but I am keeping spiceworks in my toolkit for future endeavors.

Check out Oracle,not free, but a good measuring stick.
http://www.oracle.com/applications/maintenance/eam.html

humm...Excel? :)

I already support something like this within a gov't context.....you guessed it, it's a developed MS Access app I didn't initially build but am now maintaining.....

It's a single app, but you could certainly create a 2-tier app splitting the front and backend.

Spiceworks looks good (and contrary to my first fears, it has nothing to do with four untalented English pop "singers").

Thanks for the pointer.

(Hopefully not derailing the topic too much) I'd really like to hear what you guys think of SpiceWorks advertising-supported software model.  I decided I didn't like the ads and looked for something else.

Strangest marketing copy I've ever read:

Spiceworks IT Desktop is designed for
* IT Pros who have admin rights on their network.
* Organizations with less than 250 devices on their network. It will work with more but it won't be as fast.

SpiceWorks is pretty cool and how you ever connected it to the Spice Girls makes you sound deeply confused.

I've used Spiceworks for this type of thing on a small scale, and it does include a basic helpdesk capability as well.  It isn't the fastest thing on its feet however.

Another option is to use a vendor-provided admin tool:  For example, if you're a Dell shop, Dell IT Assistant (part of their Open Manage suite) can perform asset management for non-Dell equipment as well.  It isn't amazing, but it is free.

Another option might be to look at Windows Sharepoint Services 3.0 - it has a set of build in packs, and it's really easy to set up new ones without development.  At a previous position, we used WSS 2.0 to do our IT asset management, helpdesk, and availability recording.