Business Productivity

Most asset management softwares are classified into two broad types. One can be a simple software that discovers assets in your network and then goes on to creating an inventory list out of these. The other is often a suite that typically includes complete IT lifecycle management, including clients, server needs, etc.

Basically, asset management is involved with complete management of the asset. Right from the purchase up until the lease expires or the asset retires. During this phase, asset management software can give you a clear picture of where you’re saving on costs. Companies that use asset management software often reiterate the word ‘return on investment’ (ROI). These asset management softwares can often help you by reducing the overall cost associated with owning different assets and identifying different situations.

With the basics over, here’s a quick review of two popular asset management softwares.

Altiris Asset Management Suite:
The Altiris Asset Management Suite is a complete IT lifecycle management solution. It offers client, mobile, server, and asset management. However, instead of going for the complete suite, you also have the option to go with just one component. We’ll be reviewing the asset management component of Altiris Asset Management.

Installing the asset management suite is a time consuming and complicated task. Usually, a vendor installs the product due to the complex nature of the suite. Moreover, the suite has a few prerequisites such as an SQL Server, IIS, etc.
The Notification Server comes next, which is the basic infrastructure of the entire suite and provides a common range of features, such as a Helpdesk, Web Console, etc.

Altiris Asset Management Suite provides real time deployment via the LAN interface. Not just that, but it also offers other deployment possibilities such as Logon Scripts, Web Pages, etc.
Overall, at a price of $22 per node for 100 nodes, this management suite is good. However, any extra modules can account for a more expensive overhead. Priority and standby support is offered, along with comprehensive hardware and software support.

You can find more on http://www.altiris.com

AuditWizard:
The installation process of AuditWizard is as simple as it can get. With an installation time of little over a minute, it is a breeze to install. No complications, and nothing complex to understand.

Discovery of all the network assets is not a problem. However, if you want to audit your PCs you will have to build a network scanner using the ScannerWizard.
Before you can audit the PCs you have to create a shared folder on the server (in this case, where AuditWizard is installed) and make sure that every PC you would like to audit can see the folder on the network. You might also need to create a script that can invoke the scanner from the client PC.

There’s also the ReportWizard which allows you to create custom reports based on variables you define. Very handy, since you can also export this data to edit it with other applications.

The price rounds off to about $8 per node, which is great. However, there are not many options for expansion since it does not have any plugins or extra modules. Hardware and software support is good, including phone, fax, onsite, and forum support.

Their website is http://www.laytontechnology.com.au

Tags: Asset Management Software

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