ManageEngine has created a great suite of free tools that helps Active Directory admins by simplifying common tasks that admins would typically accomplish via PowerShell or an MMC console. Using Free Active Directory Tools can tremendously expedite mundane tasks like viewing/setting a group password policy, forcing replication between domain controllers, or querying the Active Directory database.

Let’s take a look at some of the ManageEngine Free Active Directory Tools.

ManageEngine Free Active Directory Tools

(more…)

Rate this tool: (1 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5)

 Loading ...

Submit a free admin tool | Free admin tools index | Browse free admin tools

I think most of us who have worked with VMware’s VSphere have to come realize that it’s a great product, but it still leaves us yearning for more robust real-time VM monitoring, documentation, and management reporting for our virtual environments. That is where a product like Veeam ONE Free Edition can be a key player in your environment. It has no restrictions on the number of vCenter servers and ESX(i) host you can mange, and best of all it’s free.

VMware vCenter and ESX(i) monitoring – Veeam ONE Free Edition

(more…)

Rate this tool: (4 votes, average: 4.75 out of 5)

 Loading ...

Submit a free admin tool | Free admin tools index | Browse free admin tools

If you’re a Windows administrator who is intrigued by the interoperability of existing web-based monitoring systems but put off by their difficulty of configuration, you’ll have to check out FrameFlow.

Developed to run on Windows, FrameFlow offers out-of-the-box web-based administration and reporting without tedious config files or a hefty price tag. Unlike other Windows monitoring products, FrameFlow does not utilize any client software to perform status checks, supplanting tedious client installation/patching with existing monitoring frameworks like WMI. Administrators are not limited to monitoring only Windows hosts, either: FrameFlow can handle Linux and BSD hosts with relative ease. Let’s take a quick look at the features FrameFlow has to offer.

FrameFlow – Main window

(more…)

Rate this tool: (3 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

 Loading ...

Submit a free admin tool | Free admin tools index | Browse free admin tools

PDQ Inventory, made by Admin Arsenal, is a free inventory tool that allows you to track software, hardware and OS configurations in a Windows network.

One of the first things that struck me with PDQ Inventory was the ease in setup! Downloading PDQ Inventory is a breeze. Registering for the free version requires just your name, an email address, and your company. While waiting on the download link, take the time to read the confirmation page as it is sure to provide a chuckle or two.

The welcome screen for PDQ Inventory immediately begins guiding users through computer inventory collection.

(more…)

Rate this tool: (5 votes, average: 3.60 out of 5)

 Loading ...

Submit a free admin tool | Free admin tools index | Browse free admin tools

SCCM Client Actions Tool (SCCM CAT) is a simple and robust HTA script that can be used to manage and conduct day-to-day administrative maintenance of almost any SCCM environment.

SCCM Client Actions Tool

Often times I would end up working in environments where installing tools to get some basic troubleshooting and maintenance done is deeply frowned upon. If the software is not on the DoD’s approved software list, well then you are just out of luck. The same applies to many corporations that are trying to secure their environments as much as possible. You just have to get really crafty with your scripting skills or do it the hard way “manually”. Fortunately for SCCM admins, we have the “SCCM CAT ” hta.

(more…)

Rate this tool: (4 votes, average: 3.25 out of 5)

 Loading ...

Submit a free admin tool | Free admin tools index | Browse free admin tools

OCS Inventory NG is a free, agent-based inventory software for Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Submitted by Matthew Borcherding – BorchTech Consulting

The OCS Inventory NG backend can run on Windows or Linux. Inventories are done daily or on demand, and take very little CPU time. Inventories include very detailed lists of hardware and software components. The inventory software allows you to display all systems that have particular software installed.  Access to server is web-based, usually via Apache.

Free inventory software – OCS Inventory NG

(more…)

Rate this tool: (4 votes, average: 3.50 out of 5)

 Loading ...

Submit a free admin tool | Free admin tools index | Browse free admin tools

PAExec lets you run programs on remote Windows servers, without needing to first install something on the remote server.

Submitted by Doug – Website: Power Admin

The launched program can run as a specific user, or as the Local System account.  It can run visibly or silently.  It’s very useful for opening a quick terminal-like session to the server, checking configuration or remotely installing other software. Command-line options can be seen at the PAExec site.

PAexec – Run programs on remote Windows servers

(more…)

Rate this tool: (2 votes, average: 4.50 out of 5)

 Loading ...

Submit a free admin tool | Free admin tools index | Browse free admin tools

The free edition of Altaro Hyper-V Backup is a perfect backup software for small Hyper-V deployments. The free Hyper-V backup tool supports live backups, ReverseDelta ™, and Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS).

Submitted by David Vella – Blog: Altaro Blog for Hyper-V & Windows Administration

Altaro Hyper-V Backup

(more…)

Rate this tool: (1 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5)

 Loading ...

Submit a free admin tool | Free admin tools index | Browse free admin tools

You want to know what are the NTFS permissions a particular user or group has to a directory? Then the free NTFS Permissions Reporter tool is what you need.

Submitted by Chris Wright – Website: Cjwdev

NTFS Permissions Reporter is a new tool from Cjwdev, with a completely free edition available for anyone to download and use without any registration or time limits imposed. It makes auditing and reviewing permissions on your file system quick and easy, as you can simply right click on any directory in Windows Explorer and choose Report Permissions to launch the program and instantly see how permissions are assigned to that directory and all of its sub directories.

What are the NTFS permissions? NTFS Permissions Reporter

(more…)

Rate this tool: (2 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5)

 Loading ...

Submit a free admin tool | Free admin tools index | Browse free admin tools

PhoneFactor offers an easy to implement and inexpensive solution for IT groups that want to implement two-factor mobile phone based authentication without the overhead of physical tokens and licensing.

PhoneFactor is free for up to 25 users and reasonably priced after that. The beauty of PhoneFactor is that it utilizes something users already have – a mobile phone – as a token rather than a proprietary device.

PhoneFactor Agent, the software behind the service, acts as a RADIUS server for authentication to network resources such as a VPN. When a user attempts authentication, he will still first be prompted for a user name and password. After he enters those details, the service will place a call to his phone and require the user to answer the call and press the “#” button. Once this is completed, the user is successfully authenticated.

In this tutorial we will install the Agent on Windows Server 2008 R2, integrate with Active Directory, link a few user accounts, and set up a RADIUS server.

Getting started

You can download the PhoneFactor Agent after registering here. You will need a mobile phone to register since PhoneFactor utilizes their own system on their customer portal. Run the installer and launch the PhoneFactor Agent. You will be greeted by the Authentication Configuration Wizard, where you can:

(more…)

Rate this tool: (2 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5)

 Loading ...

Submit a free admin tool | Free admin tools index | Browse free admin tools

Zenmap is an Open Source GUI for the free Windows network scanner nmap.

Nmap is a tool that needs no introduction. Quite arguably it should be in the hands, or at least the back pocket, of most systems administrators. Nmap can perform network host and service discovery, security scans, OS fingerprinting, and a whole lot more. Zenmap, a highly functional GUI for nmap, helps ease the learning curve by providing a user-friendly interface for both building scans and viewing scan results or reports. Plus, Zenmap is a multi-platform application that runs on Windows as well as Linux and Mac.

The Windows Zenmap GUI

(more…)

Rate this tool: (16 votes, average: 4.44 out of 5)

 Loading ...

Submit a free admin tool | Free admin tools index | Browse free admin tools

This article introduces a brand-new freeware utility from EMCO that can help you to collect information about installed programs and patches from network PCs and track installation changes remotely.

Submitted by Igor Vinnykov

According to the Windows 7 Programs and Components info, I have 85 applications and 118 updates installed on my PC. No doubt, it’s hard to keep in mind all these installed programs even for a single PC, and I have to open the Programs and Components view every time I need to check the software installed on the PCs in my network. If you use the same approach when you need to audit installed software, let me show how you can optimize your software inventory procedures using the free Network Software Scanner utility from EMCO Software.

The Welcome screen of EMCO Network Software Scanner

(more…)

Rate this tool: (5 votes, average: 4.40 out of 5)

 Loading ...

Submit a free admin tool | Free admin tools index | Browse free admin tools

In this article you will be introduced to the free VM-to-Cloud Calculator utility from SolarWinds. With this tool you can gather an inventory of your virtual machine infrastructure and perform cost-comparisons for three major cloud VM hosting solutions.

Does your organization employ a virtual machine (VM) infrastructure for server and/or desktop systems? Are you considering migrating some or all of these VMs to a cloud-based hosting infrastructure?

VM cloud pricing details

(more…)

Rate this tool: (1 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5)

 Loading ...

Submit a free admin tool | Free admin tools index | Browse free admin tools

In this article you will be introduced to the free Real-Time Bandwidth Monitor utility from SolarWinds. With this tool you can watch network utilization statistics for multiple interfaces in real time

One of the duties of many Windows systems administrator is network management. That is, you may be called to detect, diagnose, troubleshoot and resolve network interface slowdowns.

As your network grows in complexity to include multiple line-of-business (LOB) Web applications, load-balancing configurations, and the like, interface troubleshooting and performance monitoring can easily become extremely cumbersome and complex.

Monitoring an interface with SolarWinds Real-Time Bandwidth Monitor

To assist us in this effort, SolarWinds gives us the Real-Time Bandwidth Monitor. This is a free utility that enables us to monitor network bandwidth utilization statistics for multiple interfaces in real time.

(more…)

Rate this tool: (3 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5)

 Loading ...

Submit a free admin tool | Free admin tools index | Browse free admin tools

Workspace Manager Express stores desktop and application settings in a central database, which in some cases allows you to replace roaming user profiles.

Would you like to reduce your reliance on Windows roaming user profiles and the hassle that can be caused by corrupt profiles? How about having sub 20-second logon for all users? What about settings that work across all platforms and architectures, configured from one central place? Or applying just-in-time settings to applications as needed rather than all at the beginning of the user session?

Workspace Manager Express

Sounds great? All of this functionality is available for free with a tool that’s been around for a while: Workspace Manager Express from RES Software.

(more…)

Rate this tool: (1 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5)

 Loading ...

Submit a free admin tool | Free admin tools index | Browse free admin tools