[itdiscuss] Spice Works?

Thu Aug 28 19:34:47 EDT 2008

In essence, this is just a .net version of OCS.  Spice Works inlcudes so
much more and scans to find all hardware not just computers.  It inventories
switches, routers, printers and just about anything else that works with
snmp or wmi.

I don't believe the ads are anything to be concerned with.  They know the
audience that is using the tool doesn't want to be inundated with
advertisements.

This newest version even tracks Exchange server and can alert based on
preset thresholds.  It also fully integrates with AD and allows you to use
Exchange to handle the sending/receiving of e-mails for alerts and process
incoming helpdesk requests.

It really is a neat product and continues to morph and grow at an incredible
rate.

-Jason 

-----Original Message-----
From: discuss-bounces at itdiscuss.org [mailto:discuss-bounces at itdiscuss.org]
On Behalf Of Dayron Daugherty
Sent: Thursday, August 28, 2008 1:38 PM
To: IT Discussion Forum
Subject: Re: [itdiscuss] Spice Works?

That's a long list to post :). It collects about as much data as you could
want from your PCs\servers and displays in a nice web gui format.
It also helps keep track of licensed software, apps you deem "approved".
You can add user pics to the DB, if tracks PC asset tags etc. You can
wake-on-lan any PC it lists that has Wake on lan available. Again...long
list. 

Check out their website: http://lansweeper.com/ Also the feature PDF:
http://lansweeper.com/lansweeper31.pdf

In summary it's a MS SQL based backend using IIS web server for the front
end. It can be used with SQL 2005 Express (free) if you don't have a
licensed SQL server.

Data collection is kicked off by a client app you can configure to run from
a network share at PC startup using startup scripts in group policy, or each
PC. So it's not a resident program that runs all the time, just at bootup
(or whenever you script it to run).  It works great "out of the box" and you
can customize reports if desired and add custom scripts to the web gui that
you as the admin can execute on remote PCs (wake on lan, remote screen
shots, remote rebooting, view product keys of MS products on a PC, the list
goes on.  

-----Original Message-----
From: discuss-bounces at itdiscuss.org
[mailto:discuss-bounces at itdiscuss.org] On Behalf Of blloyd at buskercom.com
Sent: Thursday, August 28, 2008 10:47 AM
To: discuss at itdiscuss.org
Subject: Re: [itdiscuss] Spice Works?

What all can you do with it?

Bill Lloyd
IT Manager

Busker Communications
2567 Athens Hwy.
Gainesville, GA  30507
Office:  770-417-1604
Cell:    404-379-6963

blloyd at buskercom.com

This email and any accompanying attachments may contain confidential and
proprietary information.  If you are not the intended recipient, you are
requested to delete this entire communication immediately.  Emails cannot be
guaranteed to be secure or free of errors or viruses.  The sender does not
accept any liability or responsibility for any problems that may result from
emails you receive.-----Original Message-----
From: discuss-bounces at itdiscuss.org
[mailto:discuss-bounces at itdiscuss.org] On Behalf Of Dayron Daugherty
Sent: Thursday, August 28, 2008 9:59 AM
To: IT Discussion Forum
Subject: Re: [itdiscuss] Spice Works?

I use LanSweeper 3 http://lansweeper.com/ It's freeware, ad free, allows you
to add any number of utilities and custom commands from its web interface,
customizable reports etc etc...all that good stuff.

I was in the process of deciding between and SpiceWorks. SpiceWorks looked
like a winner. Then, paranoid me, started reading the privacy statement and
saw it required ads. The SW site states no gimmicks or catches. In my
opinion if I can't use their software UNLESS I receive the ads then that's a
gimmick...a catch which they say there are none.
I quickly put it aside and went Lansweeper. I realize that may seem like a
small issue, but if they say there is no gimmick or catch and there is one
then how can I trust their data collection and sharing of 'anonymous' data
to unidentified 3rd parties?

-----Original Message-----
From: discuss-bounces at itdiscuss.org
[mailto:discuss-bounces at itdiscuss.org] On Behalf Of blloyd at buskercom.com
Sent: Wednesday, August 27, 2008 3:41 PM
To: discuss at itdiscuss.org
Subject: Re: [itdiscuss] Spice Works?

Have you had any problems with the event log data not updating correctly?

Bill Lloyd
IT Manager

Busker Communications
2567 Athens Hwy.
Gainesville, GA  30507
Office:  770-417-1604
Cell:    404-379-6963

blloyd at buskercom.com

This email and any accompanying attachments may contain confidential and
proprietary information.  If you are not the intended recipient, you are
requested to delete this entire communication immediately.  Emails cannot be
guaranteed to be secure or free of errors or viruses.  The sender does not
accept any liability or responsibility for any problems that may result from
emails you receive.-----Original Message-----
From: discuss-bounces at itdiscuss.org
[mailto:discuss-bounces at itdiscuss.org] On Behalf Of Matthew Irvine
Sent: Wednesday, August 27, 2008 3:17 PM
To: 'IT Discussion Forum'
Subject: Re: [itdiscuss] Spice Works?

I'm using it and love it.  We use it for inventory and HelpDesk, and I like
it a lot.  I've never had problems with inventory like others have.

________________________________________________________
 	  	Matthew Irvine
Information Technology Manager & Webmaster First Baptist Church . 506 N.
Main . P.O. Box 5 . Belton, TX 76513
(254) 939-0705 . http://www.fbcbelton.org

-----Original Message-----
From: discuss-bounces at itdiscuss.org
[mailto:discuss-bounces at itdiscuss.org]
On Behalf Of Randy Smith
Sent: Wednesday, August 27, 2008 6:25 AM
To: discuss at itdiscuss.org
Subject: [itdiscuss] Spice Works?

Anyone using Spice Works?  What has been your experience with the software
and what it does

Randy Smith
IT Director
wacc.net

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