Spiceworks, just installed

[gibbo_ap]

I have just installed spiceworks and was wondering how others are using it. not had a chance to mess yet as it is doing a network scan (zzzZZZ)

 

i installed it a while ago and remember it didnt seem to pickup everything and didnt have time to mess.

[Edu-IT]

We've used it a lot in the past week for inventory and it's been pretty much perfect, bar the odd few things which we've had to manually update.

 

Also use the helpdesk aspect of it. Set up a dedicated email address which Spiceworks checks regularly.

 

Works a treat and the portal is great for announcing things. We've set this as our homepage.

[cromertech]

I use it mainly for inventory purposes but I'm looking at getting the helpdesk going to replace our ageing system that no-one uses effectively. It links nicely into active directory so no-one has any 'I've forgotten my password' excuses.

[sparkeh]

Yep use Spiceworks at all my schools and I love it. It also improves with every version. For me the random performance issues that plagued in the past are gone now.

 

I use it for:

Inventory - yep picks up everything win and *nix based, machines, printers, swtiches etc

Alerts - AV out of date, printer supplies etc

Helpdesk - very simple to use

Network mapping

 

Basically its great

[Kitkatninja]

We're going to be changing from Spiceworks to My Little Helpdesk here. Performance is not as good as it should be (imo) since the release of 4, we've even upgraded to the 4.5 beta hoping that it'd improve. But for what it is, it's a great bit of kit.

 

-ken

[john]

We're going to be changing from Spiceworks to My Little Helpdesk here. Performance is not as good as it should be (imo) since the release of 4, we've even upgraded to the 4.5 beta hoping that it'd improve. But for what it is, it's a great bit of kit.

 

-ken

I'd say the performance has improved in V4 I'm afraid, its still poor on the full system in IE, but use FF its great

[Whitestar]

I've been using spiceworsk for the past year and a half and I absolutly love it.

 

Initially I only used it for the helpdesk, but now I use nearly all of its features and it has made my life so much easier.

 

Yes it can be a bit slow sometimes, but that is one very small negative in a whole load of posatives.

 

@wagnerk - 4.5 is based on an entirly new backend and they only just released the second beta today. Give it a chance before you jump ship.

 

Mark

[mattx]

Can't get Spiceworks to see any of my workstations, but it sees mostly everything else.

Can't get Spiceworks Help Desk Ticketing to work correctly - Have setup AD autentication and that's all fine, but then when user logs on the portal they enter their details then they are being asked to authenticate AGAIN - [ why ? This time in a seperate logon page ] and then it says the E-mail has not been setup. I have turned off the AD authentication but it's still asking for it.....Hmmmm. Very close to un-installing it now.

And when will people realise that we don't all use Exchange ? Grrrrrr.

Also why when I logoff the server it's installed on I can't access it from another PC on the network ?

 

May have sorted the last problem - was setup as on startup not as service.

 

Oooo found yet another bug - been entering the E-mail server info - click on test and it.......just hangs and hangs and hangs and hangs, and you can't stop the service......oh dear.....may have to put this alongside the 'Sophos' category of rather bad software.

Edited November 13, 2009 by mattx

[mattx]

I don't think I have ever used a bit of software that is just so slow to do anything.....Even after deleting the logs and the other suggestions does not help - it's bleeding terrible.

Someone let me know when it actually works.....

[dalsoth]

You need to have the patience of a saint to use spiceworks. It is sooo slow. Tried it perhaps 4 times and each time i realise why i deleted it. Full credit to those who develop it though. For some it is a lifeline and costs nothing. You can't really moan too much when it is done for free and helps many.

 

Still on Liberum for helpdesk which definitely still does the basics but have purchased My Little Helpdesk because of the great features. Had a few little niggles with that but just need some time with it to be happy to roll it out. It will happen at some point.

[mac_shinobi]

You need to have the patience of a saint to use spiceworks. It is sooo slow. Tried it perhaps 4 times and each time i realise why i deleted it. Full credit to those who develop it though. For some it is a lifeline and costs nothing. You can't really moan too much when it is done for free and helps many.

 

Still on Liberum for helpdesk which definitely still does the basics but have purchased My Little Helpdesk because of the great features. Had a few little niggles with that but just need some time with it to be happy to roll it out. It will happen at some point.

 

Nagios is on a *nix ( linux ) platform and yes takes some configuring but works well hence why it gets suggested a lot

[mattx]

Hang on !! Something has happened !! Managed to get the E-mail side worked out [ I think ] without it falling over....

[Kitkatninja]

...@wagnerk - 4.5 is based on an entirly new backend and they only just released the second beta today. Give it a chance before you jump ship...

 

While performance is a slight issue, it's not the main reason why we're moving helpdesk/servicedesk system. We're going to be implementing the cut down version of ITIL at our place: FITS.

 

As MLH is compatible with the ITIL/FITS, it was a good enough time as any to make the move

 

-Ken

[Kitkatninja]

I'd say the performance has improved in V4 I'm afraid, its still poor on the full system in IE, but use FF its great

 

After a few tests with different browsers, we've found Chrome to be the fastest so far (even over FF).

 

-Ken

[vikpaw]

We looked at Spiceworks, the inventory side seems pretty cool.

Couldn't get the helpdesk side to work properly, wouldn't communicate with AD or exchange, and just got fed up of trying different settings.

 

Were going to go for MLH but kept getting put off by the man with the money. Looked at spiceworks again but we are going sharepoint soon, so was wondering, which is going to be the best helpdesk to at some point in the future integrate well with sharepoint?

 

Can Spiceworks do that?

 

I still like the look of MLH and it has got some really good improvements on the inventory and network side of things recently.

[nicholab]

They looking at migrating to SQL back end I think this will speed it up.

[Kitkatninja]

We looked at Spiceworks, the inventory side seems pretty cool.

Couldn't get the helpdesk side to work properly, wouldn't communicate with AD or exchange, and just got fed up of trying different settings...

 

Strange we've experience the total opposite: communicated with AD and Exchange, but inventory didn't work properly.

 

...Were going to go for MLH but kept getting put off by the man with the money...

 

They do a good educational price £150, but money is always tight regardless of where you are...

 

...Looked at spiceworks again but we are going sharepoint soon, so was wondering, which is going to be the best helpdesk to at some point in the future integrate well with sharepoint?...

 

There is a helpdesk template that you can download for Sharepoint from Microsoft. However according to what I've read it's not ITIL/FITS compatible. Saying that if you're not worried about that, you can try it out. After all it's free

 

...Can Spiceworks do that?...

 

Not sure, I know that you can import a webpage into Sharepoint, but as for a Sharepoint webpart, I don't know if one exists.

 

-Ken

[vikpaw]

Thanks Ken,

 

We're not too bothered about FITS here, but i'd like to go down that route.

Plus support for MLH is miles better than anyone else is likely to give.

[RabbieBurns]

What is ITIL/FITS ? Ive seen it mentioned in some job ads recentlly..

[tmcd35]

Best practice framework on managing an IT help desk. FITS stands for 'Framework for IT Support' and is Becta's cut down implementation of the ITIL guidlance for education.

 

You can sit exams to become ITIL qualified. They are done by the same people who do the PRINCE exams for Project Management.

 

Reminds me I've got some ITIL books sitting around here. Should really read them and get the qual. Problem is it's such a dry subject. oh hum!

[mattx]

I've got Spiceworks to see printers, switches and a few servers, not a single workstation though......Will have to investigate ports....

[Kitkatninja]

What is ITIL/FITS ? Ive seen it mentioned in some job ads recentlly..

 

Best practice framework on managing an IT help desk. FITS stands for 'Framework for IT Support' and is Becta's cut down implementation of the ITIL guidlance for education.

 

You can sit exams to become ITIL qualified...

 

That's right, you can find out more here (for FITS) and here (for ITIL).

 

-Ken

Edited November 14, 2009 by Kitkatninja
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[dalsoth]

Did the ITIL certificate and went on the FITS course just to get the education Becta view on it too. It is very dry and literally had me asleep a few times while lying in bed studying. Worth doing though and makes you think constantly about improvements.

 

I did get told on the FITS course by the trainer that they are going to be doing an exam for it also soon and i would get an email after doing the course earlier this year when details were available. Would definitely like to get the FITS exam done to go with the ITIL if it happens. Need to chase it up. Anyone else heard about it?

 

We also purchased MLH helpdesk because it is improving all the time and adding ITIL elements and i think mentioned a inventory in the future too. Just need to get some time to get it done, i know theres plenty ITIL would have to say about time management!!

Edited November 14, 2009 by dalsoth
spelling

[Kitkatninja]

Did the ITIL certificate and went on the FITS course just to get the education Becta view on it too. It is very dry and literally had me asleep a few times while lying in bed studying. Worth doing though and makes you think constantly about improvements...

 

I don't know about FITS, but I agree with ITIL - I self studied the v3 foundation and had to stick needles in my eyes just to keep me awake, lol

 

...I did get told on the FITS course by the trainer that they are going to be doing an exam for it also soon and i would get an email after doing the course earlier this year when details were available. Would definitely like to get the FITS exam done to go with the ITIL if it happens. Need to chase it up. Anyone else heard about it?...

 

Here are the details for the 2 levels of exams:

 

Practitioner

Manager

 

I believe the Practitioner one is almost ready, but the Manager's one is still in development (don't quote me though). They are accredited by the SQA (Scotland's version of Englands NQF) so it's not only accepted through-out the UK, but also internationally (as it's a recognised and mapped qualification).

 

Hope this helps

 

-Ken

[Kitkatninja]

I've got Spiceworks to see printers, switches and a few servers, not a single workstation though......Will have to investigate ports....

 

You may want to see here for the ports that Spiceworks uses

 

Hope this helps

 

-Ken