I've been wanting to use Spiceworks for some time, and have installed several versions over the last couple of years, including the newly released 4.0. I know that there is a big community over there, but it's hard to navigate and I'm noticing several Spiceworks proponents over here.
The big problem I have with Spiceworks is that there appears to be no way to properly track computer components and peripherals. Whatever Spiceworks retrieves via WMI when it does it's inventory seems to be set in stone. That is, if Spiceworks detects the monitor as "Plug and Play 1024 x 768", there is no way to tell it what the monitor actually is, nor is there any way to enter a serial number, etc. The same is true for internal components.
Currently I use GLPI + OCS-NG and it's a disaster of a system. But what I do like about GLPI is that I can track peripherals and whatnot. If I get a call from somebody complaining of a beeping UPS, I can look up their computer, see which UPS is attached, and pull a new battery on my way over. If somebody calls and says that their monitor wouldn't come on for ten minutes first thing in the morning, I can pull up the monitor in GLPI and check the warranty info. Things like that are handy.
With Spiceworks I don't believe this is possible without adding custom fields which is just a hack, and means a lot of copying and pasting or otherwise transcribing serial numbers as peripherals move between machines, as they tend to.
Last year I complained about this at Spiceworks, and got some positive feedback but I don't think much will come of it. If you're using Spiceworks, how are you managing this problem? Is there something I'm missing here?
Best Answer
On all assets there is a Notes tab where you can put in that information and there is a documents tab where you can attach supporting documentation.