4sysops - FREE: Spiceworks – Network Monitoring & Help Desk Software

Michael’s Update: This great free tool has been submitted more than two years ago by Jeffrey Botts. Since then quite a few new features have been added and because Spiceworks 4.6 is now out, I updated this post. The top new features follow after Jeffrey’s original comment and at the end of the article you will find some screenshots of the new version.

Submitted by Jeffrey Botts, November 2007

You want network management software that works for you, not software that makes you work. You wish you could have it… without spending a fortune. Your wish is granted.

Introducing the free Spiceworks IT Desktop. Designed, tested and used by 160,000 IT pros in 185 countries (Michael’s update: Spiceworks is now used by 900,000 IT pros). Spiceworks has the everyday IT features you need:

Automatic PC and software inventory and IT asset reporting to simplify your job.
Network monitoring and troubleshooting to keep things running smoothly.
Run an IT help desk for your company that’s easy to use and join the fastest-growing IT community.

It takes less than 5 minutes to get up and running. No agents. No scripts. No manual. No hassles. Just download Spiceworks and go.

Michael’s update: In addition to the above mentioned functions Spiceworks now also supports:

Manage IT assets
Manage changes & configurations
Map your network
Audit your software
Manage power consumption
Monitor SQL Server
Be an MSP (Managed Service Provider)
Talk to IT pros

Spiceworks 4.6 top new features

View & Kill Processes Remotely – See and terminate device processes directly from Spiceworks without having to leave your desk or run your remote control utility

Discover Your Virtualization Servers - Automatically detect VMWare virtualization servers to get a more complete inventory of your virtual machines, along with allocated RAM and hard disk space.

Get (Even) More Out of Your Help Desk – Resize your help desk to see more tickets at once. Get email notifications to see when tickets have been assigned so you avoid duplicating efforts. Customize ticket attributes right from you smart phone or PDA.

Search & Buy CDW Products from the Toolbar* – Increase your purchasing power by searching for and instantly buying CDW products you need without leaving Spiceworks to open a new browser.
(*Only available in North America)

Get More Network Mapping Functionality – View all devices connected to your WAP, spread your network maps across your entire monitor, and locate all devices contained in your network map.

View Alerts Right in Your Spiceworks Toolbar – Pop-up notifications will keep you in the loop, whether it’s info on the latest Spiceworks plugins and reports, newly-added help desk tickets, or the latest Community posts.

Let Intel Help Save You Time & Money – Schedule your Intel vPro machines to remotely boot, suspend, or shut down to conserve power. And with Intel’s new SOL/IDEr Terminal plugin, you’ll have serial over LAN access to remotely boot and control the bios of your vPro enabled PCs.

Spiceworks 4.6 Screenshots

View & Kill Processes Remotely
Discover Your Virtual Servers
Expand Your IT Help Desk
Help Desk Email Notifications
Customize Tickets On-the-Go
WAP Support for Network Maps
Network Alerts in Spiceworks Toolbar
Search & Buy CDW Products from the Toolbar
Track Power Management Consumption
See More Spiceworks (without Scrolling)
New Featured Plugin: Intel’s SOL/IDEr Terminal