Network inventory tools

However, not all these programs are of equal quality. We recommend you take advantage of free trials before you commit—a few weeks of consistent use might help find your best fit.

With this top-tier network configuration management system, you can stay on top of incoming data with intuitive graphs via a centralized dashboard.

The network inventory scanning is one of its best features. With this tool, you can automatically track and record all your devices across all your locations. The data collected includes serial numbers, IP addresses, and end-of-life information.

If you want to see the most detailed, up-to-date information about your network, this tool might be your perfect fit. The ability to monitor specific metrics means you can easily convert complex data into concrete solutions for high-priority issues. The software can help you take complete control of your system with customizable inventory reports and scans that operate on your schedule.

These apply to anything on your network—no matter the device type. SolarWinds offers a fully functional day free trial. Give it a try to see these features in action.

If you liked the sound of the first tool but prefer a more map-centric approach, your organization might benefit from SolarWinds Network Topology Mapper.

The paid services include more features than the free versions, although all versions include network discovery. You can get a day free trial of the Pro and Enterprise plans. You need to get a list of all the devices running your network , you need to know what each is, who supplied it and what firmware version it has.

You also need to make sure it is optimized and secure and you need to plan for its replacement at the end of its service life. There are very few tools available that cover every aspect of network inventory management. You might choose to use several tools to get the best service for each aspect of inventory management.

The task certainly requires input from other departments, such as accounting and purchasing managers in your business. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. Comparitech uses cookies.

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Network inventory tools form the foundation of network monitoring because you need to know what equipment you have before you can supervise it. Find out about the best network inventory tools. Stephen Cooper.

The utility enables you to create an optimized setup for each device and then prevent those settings from being altered. Download a day free trial. ManageEngine Network Configuration Manager A system that discovers and logs all network assets automatically and standardizes device configurations.

It installs on Windows Server and Linux. Paessler PRTG An infrastructure monitoring service that automatically logs all equipment in an asset inventory. It installs on Windows Server. Atera A cloud-based platform that supports managed service providers and includes an asset discovery system.

Datadog Infrastructure A cloud-based IT infrastructure monitoring system that includes an inventory management service. Network inventory management The network inventory is the basis for network monitoring.

Network inventory maintenance Once you have a record of the make, model, and location of each device on your network, you are in a better position to watch over your infrastructure and keep it available and efficient.

The best network inventory tools When looking for the best inventory tools, we focused on those utilities that perform all inventory management tasks or do an excellent job of covering one aspect of the discipline. What should you look for in network inventory software? We reviewed the market for network inventory tools and analyzed the options based on the following criteria: A service that can automatically discover all assets connected to the network Scans to gather system data from each device A live monitor of device statuses and availability Controls to prevent unauthorized changes to device settings Options for monitoring across a network or over the internet A no-cost assessment period offered by a free trial or demo system A service that offers value for money by giving good controls at a fair price.

Pros: Built for medium to enterprise size networks, with features designed to streamline troubleshooting and improve TTR and overall productivity Can automatically discover new devices on the network and provide templated health reports for immediate insights upon installation Offers configuration management, allowing teams to quickly backup and restore changes that may have impacted performance Can monitor settings for unauthorized changes and specific teams or managers Offers a customizable dashboard that has a host of different options for visualizing network performance.

Cons: Not designed for home networks, this is an enterprise tool built for system administrators and network technicians. Pros: One of the most holistic monitoring tools available, supporting networks, infrastructure, and real user monitoring in a single platform Uses real-time data to discover devices and build charts, network maps, and inventory reports Is one of the most user-friendly network monitoring tools available User monitoring can help bridge the gap between technical issues, user behavior, and business metrics Supports a freeware version for testing.

Cons: Is a very detailed platform that will require time to fully learn all of its features and options. Add custom data. Track important changes in your network. Network Inventory Advisor. January 2, Best Network Inventory Tools of With growing IT and network assets, companies feel the need to implement more effective asset management strategies. Network inventory tools are the cornerstone of most network inventory management approaches.

Download for Windows Get a License. What Is Network Inventory? Editor choice. Recent Articles. Get for Free. Network inventory management allows you to keep track of what network devices you have and all their relevant software and hardware. It also helps you to know when to acquire new assets, or to decommission old ones, which can help with general performance and uptime management, and capacity planning. Network inventory tools should always be used to complete network inventory processes in large enterprises, as manual approaches will simply not be enough to keep track of everything efficiently.

Network inventory software is widespread in the network management tools marketplace, and there are many options for you to choose from. It allows you to discover, map, and inventory your entire network, while providing high-quality network automation tools and performance monitors.

When networks were smaller, this process could be managed manually, but companies and their networks are now rapidly expanding. With technology changing quickly, the acquisition and decommissioning of network assets can be a fast-moving process. One of the best ways to keep on top of network inventory is to use network inventory tools, as these greatly free up your time and resources leaving you available to deal with more pressing issues.

These tools scan and map your network, determining exactly what devices you have, their configurations, and the operating systems and software installed on them. NCM is a network configuration management and mapping tool designed to help you stay on top of changes happening in your environment. This tool includes a network inventory scanner, which allows you to track and document multiple devices and device types across many locations, including:.

It also includes out-of-the-box support for specific devices, including:. One of the other great features of NCM is you can create network reports based on device information, so you can quickly view a network overview of your entire inventory.

NCM can be set up to scan regularly, so your device list is updated as frequently as you like. For your contracts and end-of-life information, NCM regularly polls for device data on these points, and can notify you when a device or asset needs to be replaced, or if a contract needs to be renewed.

NCM is a great piece of network device inventory software, and it offers a free trial for up to 30 days. I recommend trying it out, so you can see how comprehensive and easy to use it is.