How do you inventory your equipment?

[HMCTech]

We have a database that we enter in manually into Access. Occasionly during the summer we can borrow the librarians barcode scanner to enter in the serial numbers.

 

Does anyone do anything special to build up their inventories with ease?

[bladedanny]

we use spiceworks ( Spiceworks - Free Network Monitoring Software for Network Management ) any computer/printer attatched to the network is automatically picked up and added to the database, you only then need to manually add monitors, usb printers and anything else you wish to add to the database.

 

Also it's free

 

Hope this helps,

 

Dan

[Duke]

We have a custom in-house solution. My colleague wrote an application in C# which talks to our MS SQL server. We print our own barcodes on security labels from Avery and and one of our guys goes around scanning the barcodes and entering the location/product/serial number of the item, etc. We can then use the application to search by product type (e.g. monitor, laptop, speakers), brand, department, location as required. I'm sure there are more advanced solutions out there but this one was quick and easy and cost nothing besides the barcode reader.

 

Cheers,

Chris

[powdarrmonkey]

Don't bother here, but in my other life at the theatre I wrote an Access application to do location-based inventory and insurance valuation. We print our own barcoded labels for both labels and items, and all new items get coded and a test. Once a year we work our way around the building, clocking into an area and scanning all the items in it to do a headcount, then go onto the next. It tracks other bits, like disposals, depreciation in value, location changes, loss, PAT, etc etc.

[sparkeh]

+1 Spiceworks - its very good in my opinion.

[mossj]

we use spiceworks ( Spiceworks - Free Network Monitoring Software for Network Management ) any computer/printer attatched to the network is automatically picked up and added to the database, you only then need to manually add monitors, usb printers and anything else you wish to add to the database.

 

Also it's free

 

Hope this helps,

 

Dan

 

Seconded, also comes with a helpdesk as well. Some people say its too slow but tbh i haven't noticed that since the patchs to fix the issue.

Edited May 20, 2009 by mossj

[martynbez]

His name is Ben and he has some paper and a pen! best 16k we ever spent!

[apoth0r]

I used Impero Inventory for a few years, not sure what they use here as I haven't done one yet

[tmcd35]

Written own in-house PHP/MYSQL solution. Bought a netbook especially for the job. Wander around the school with the netbook logging the details on the database.

[Geoff]

OCS Inventory, plugged into GLPI.

[HodgeHi]

If you have office 2007 you can download a free asset template for Access from MS website. It's got a good rating as well although i haven't got 2007 so can't say how good it actually is.

 

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/TC012253421033.aspx

[LCPSWolf]

We use an Inventory piece built into our helpdesk application, ITDirect (SchoolDude - Home) which works well for tracking inventory. However, it won't allow you to use a barcode scanner to truly "run" an inventory, so we're looking at switching.

 

Right now we're planning to go to an inventory piece from Follett, the same company that does our library automation. It will provide a barcode-scanable inventory, allow us to track where items are, etc.

 

I've got spiceworks running too, but it's only of so much value to me. True, it will track anything on the network, but won't do cables, monitors, etc. I *love* it for the software tracking side of it however.

[john]

Spiceworks for us very good stuff

[Batman]

Does anyone do anything special to build up their inventories with ease?

 

Yep. I let Mike do it... Ho ho ho!! :D:D:D

[Griffo]

Pretty much the same as Duke

 

I use the librarians spare barcode scanner, print a barcode onto a mini address label and put it on the back / bottom of the machine where fingers cant get to peel them off

 

Then just enter it into an access database that i made myself, kind of a work in progress but so far it can search by barcode, serial, location and asset tag and records where it is, how old it is (warranty). Eventually i will sort it so that it will record any items that were lost / broken or disposed and maybe even the software on each machine.

[nutso]

Yet another vote for Spiceworks here. I just wish it had a remote agent that could be installed to cover for laptops that aren't connected when the scan runs.

[NEEDS]

We are currently trialling Parago as an inventory tool. Seems great so far. Runs around the network picking up hardware, software, licencing and builds an image of the school so no exactly what is in every room. Also comes with barcoding option (for another fee i may add)! My boss used Spiceworks initially but wasnt doing the job spent so much extra time on it!!

[mossj]

We use an Inventory piece built into our helpdesk application, ITDirect (

I've got spiceworks running too, but it's only of so much value to me. True, it will track anything on the network, but won't do cables, monitors, etc. I *love* it for the software tracking side of it however.

 

I beleive you can add these manually

[7andY]

Tried spiceworks - too slow!!!

 

Now use OCSNG and GLPI. Brilliant!

 

7&Y

[Duke]

For anyone looking at doing barcodes, we use Avery security labels (L6113) that can be printed on a standard laser printer. For doing the barcode and serial number generation we use Avery DesignPro for PC which is a free download.

 

Cheers,

Chris

[sparkeh]

Tried spiceworks - too slow!!!

 

In the past SW could be fickle when run as an app and using IE, but I think a lot of work has gone into improving the speed.

I have always ran it as a service and used Firefox and it has always run well.

[plexer]

Or if you don't want tamper evident ones then LS140 are extra durable adhesive ones.

 

I think I'll try those instead of buying some in.

 

Ben

[ianniow]

Lansweeper does the job for me it runs when ever a pc is started. So you don't miss the laptops.

[torledo]

For anyone looking at doing barcodes, we use Avery security labels (L6113) that can be printed on a standard laser printer. For doing the barcode and serial number generation we use Avery DesignPro for PC which is a free download.

 

Cheers,

Chris

 

thanks chris. what's your barcode format of choice when your printing on those avery labels ?

[Duke]

thanks chris. what's your barcode format of choice when your printing on those avery labels ?

 

Assuming I've understood you right, we use a six digit number (starting at 100000) as follows:

 

[bARCODE]

1XXXXX

School Name

 

The Avery software handles everything else (i.e. the auto-increment and barcode creation). Sorry I can't go into more detail but I'm not the person here who actually uses it.

 

Cheers,

Chris