Free Spiceworks 4.6 - Network Monitoring, Help Desk, & More

[SpiceworksJasonS]

Spiceworks, developers of free ad-supported network management and help desk software, just released the latest version of the tool, Spiceworks 4.6.

In addition to network management, help desk, asset inventory, troubleshooting, and an integrated online community, the newest iteration of the software includes virtual server discovery, expanded help desk functionality, the ability to view & kill processes remotely, and much more. All for free.

Get more information about Spiceworks 4.6, or visit Spiceworks.com to review all of the features of the software and how they're able to keep it free.

-Jason Smith, Spiceworks Online Marketing Manager

[SpiceworksJasonS]

...we'd love to know what you think and what features would help make your job easier. We take feedback very seriously to improve the product and add enterprise-level functionality - for free.

Please let me know via email (send me a PM through this forum), or visit Spiceworks.com and share your thoughts. Thanks!

-Jason

[freedog96150]

I have Spiceworks in use several client locations. One client has multiple store fronts and many servers and terminals, along with the normal catastrophe of network infrastructure devices. SW makes inventorying and monitoring all of it easy. At another clients, we installed the Intel Power manager addon and along with some easy Group Policy scripting, are now saving an additional $126 per month in electricity and have made the operation as green as we can.

I have not even begun to explore all the power and features, but have to progress slowly as most of my clients have PCI compliance issues. After the July PCI scans, I will look into enabling more than just inventory and monitoring.

For now, I can easily recommend Spiceworks for anyone that wants a very easy to use network monitoring tool and does not want to learn the ins and outs of Nagios. This is a lot of tool for (ad-supported) free.

Guess I should add that for home networks or networks with less than 5 computers, this is probably overkill, but then small networks would not normally be looking into inventory and monitoring programs to begin with.

[BezantSoft]

Originally Posted by freedog96150

o o o This is a lot of tool for (ad-supported) free.

Guess I should add that for home networks or networks with less than 5 computers, this is probably overkill, but then small networks would not normally be looking into inventory and monitoring programs to begin with.

Freedog,
I started evaluating Spiceworks since version 2.x something, and have been an active registered user since 4.0.
My SOHO network is mostly XP Pro and Win7 Ultimate workstations peer to peer. With my kids in and out from college, I run anywhere from 2 to 8 machines on the network. (Exclusive of hardwired linux devices like routers, AP's, network print server and the NAS.) ((And I forgot the 2 Android Cell phones using 802.11g...)). The best thing for me is that it does tell me when the college boys have done something they should not have: "Son, what are you doing installing an insecure IRC client?? Just because everyone else uses it doesn't mean that it is safe. Use xyz or zyxxy clients instead, ok?"

The only problem I've had is getting management & inventory information from devices with poorly documented or non-existent interfaces. {e.g. my emergency purchased Belkin F5D8235-4 n+ router}

But, all in all, Spiceworks does it for me.

/s/ Bezantsoft

[freedog96150]

@Bezansoft I guess that I tossed in that last sentence qualifier because I imagined the home user running out and downloading Spiceworks and thinking "What's the big deal" I already know my machine names. The inventory features are so powerful and when coupled with the reporting, you have a serious network monitor. I retract my previous comment and add that Spiceworks can easily help you in any size network, especially with software inventory and event management.

[SpiceworksJasonS]

Spiceworks 4.7 now provides users with exclusive Rackspace email integration, ability to scan and track Dell Warranty Information, Exchange 2007/2010 support, and more as part of the free complete IT management solution.

For more information on these new features, as well as other functionality like network monitoring and help desk, see the Spiceworks Community - http://community.spiceworks.com/.