Recording of all equipment

[DAZZD88]

Today our line manager has mentioned getting a barcode scanner, using it for recording which machines are in which rooms and what we have in stock. We just don't really know whether this would be of benefit to us.

How does everybofy else catalogue equipment? Do you include specs in your database? How have you implemented it etc...?

[Dom_]

One of my old line managers looked into doing this, I reminded him that each room was full of machines with the same spec, so it would have just been a waste of time... We went with spiceworks in the end.

[nicholab]

This is some thing auditors seem keen on. It is a pain to keep on top of those as kit move very freely round schools

[DAZZD88]

We had a look into Spiceworks but I can't quite remember why it didn't work out for us. This was years ago though. I figured if we went down the barcode scanner route we'd have to have an access database and when we scan the barcodes, a form will pop up and we can just edit it then save.

[Gibbo]

We used a barcode scanner to quickly get the serials from all equipment around school. It saved hours, especially as the strings are long and the print small.

[maniac]

Full assets register, everything gets logged into it. Computers, Monitors, Laptops, Printers, Scanners and other misc hardware as well. Everything gets a barcoded sticker which is then it's asset number for the duration that piece of equipment is in the academy. All recorded to an in house written PHP based system which is fully searchable and also lets us build up logs for each asset so we can see when items have had bits replaced, or machines have been re-imaged etc.

We don't store machine specs, but we can get these out of FOG if we require them.

Mike.

[steve]

We've been asset tagging everything lately and I just bought a barcode scanner too.

I have to say barcode scanners rock! It's my favorite new toy Once everything is recorded and tagged, its just so easy to audit.

Automated systems are good for computers - but they don't work on projectors, printers, scanners, IWBs, monitors, etc. which for us is more than half of the equipment.

[Sylv3r]

We use a barcode scanner but its generally when the kit is new and still in the boxes as the barcodes are easily accesible.

Things like existing projectors / printers have all been added manually.

[difinity]

We have security stickers with a barcode and a number on most of our stuff here. Pointless here though when the kids rip the stickers off.

[Domino]

If spiceworks didn't work check out lansweeper

worked much better for us, and has a full catalogue of each machine

[pete]

We record the serials during unpacking. That's linked to the base spec in the Wiki. Software and status are done via agents or WMI queries.

[sted]

anyone recommend any good cheap usb barcode readers just something that can quickly scan into excel/notepad etc if it adds a return character at the end great if not ill live

[plexer]

We have a heron usb barcode reader.

Barcode readers are such cool bits of tech

We log everything as an asset if it meets the criteria of either being desirable to steal or worth £100.

Ben

[steve]

@sted: We bough a WASP one.

You can change the output to add a TAB or CR after the scan.

Works really well with excel.

[j17sparky]

I've thought about using QR codes recently as you can record a hell of alot of info on them.