Hands off my assets: 6 asset management packages tested

How we tested

 Asset management
We evaluated all packages on an Acer Altos Server, which was equipped with two Pentium III 1GhH CPUs and 1GB of RAM running Windows 2000 Advanced Server. We had 30 workgroup PCs attached to our private network as well as three network printers. Our main aim of the testing was to see how easy each of the packages were to install. We also evaluated how easy it was to deploy client software onto our assets. Other tasks that were carried out include discovering of all our assets and interrogating both hardware and software focusing on how well software licenses can be managed and how well the package can produce reports.

Interoperability
Does the package work with a wide variety of hardware and software platforms?

Futureproofing
Are additional modules available to expand the capabilities of the package to suit your needs?

ROI
Comparing features, price and the value each package can provide to the business.

Service
What support is provided as standard and how much will ongoing support end up costing you?

Sample scenario

Company: GY Textiles & Objects. This company is looking for a package that will help it better manage its PCs and other IT assets.

Approximate budget: Open.

Requires: Asset management software for 250 PCs and servers and other associated equipment.

Concerns: The company wants to manage not only the physical assets--whether owned or leased--but also the software licenses and management contracts on each one. Ease of management and the ability to create flexible and useful reports will be the key criteria.

Best solution: Altiris Asset Management Suite fits this GY Textiles & Objects' needs perfectly, providing more functionality than it needs at a price that still beats the competition.

Editor's Choice

T&B Editor's choiceAltiris Asset Management Suite

The Altiris Asset Management Suite offers good scalability and is a part of an entire IT management solution. It can manage all your physical assets including PDAs but also the software licenses and contracts associated with all your assets. It does this in a way which is very easy to understand and it's backed up by excellent support offerings.

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Talkback 5 comments

    Geez you guys, do you think yo ...Anonymous -- 15/04/04

    Geez you guys, do you think you could have included appropriate candidates for this topic? Where is Marimba, Landesk, Paradigm, Tivoli?
    The fact that these were not included make this inaccurate!

    Guess Mike in previous comment ...Anonymous -- 18/08/04

    Guess Mike in previous comment does not see the difference in IT asset management and device management. Bigger issue in the items listed is these are all legacy software solutions. Difficult to integrate, upgrade headaches and very intrusive to your environment. Look at products that will grow and support you in the future and link easily to enterprise systems. Look at incontroltechnology.com

    other options Stuart McDonell -- 10/11/05

    Some others to think about include Centennial and Opsware. This doesn't end the list by any means. BMC-Marimba and Tivoli do ITAM also. The Opsware solution ATE (originating in Tangram) was the leader for desktop inventory. It supports all major platforms and allows Lifecycle management. Ask vendors to do a proof of concept, some won't. A proven track record of integrating to similar systems to your own is also important. Regards.

    Sofware Asset Management Review Petar -- 15/03/07

    We have 2 software packages BAM (Biomedical Asset Management) and NAMES (naval asset management ).
    We would like to be reviewed. How can we have you review our software?

    New Player 250 nodes per second Trevor Smith -- 16/04/09

    We are just releasing a competing product that is agentless ie requires no deployment. In appearance is similar to Altiris, does what most of the others do and some things that none do and analyses nodes at the rate of 250 per second and returns data at 2000-3000 nodes per minute. Installation takes 5 minutes and 1 minute later you have the results from 2000-3000 nodes and its cheaper than the rest. 1.5% hit on 10 base network, fragmented data so hi security. Functions from a wireless laptop and over VPNs. You can scan global networks from a single wireless acces point and send the data in real time to a server at another location. Picks up all remote users and anything that connects to the network even internet enabled mobile phones. an extreme example : provided that you have a wireless connection and the relevant access rights you can sit in a restaurant in the UK, scan a distributed enterprise across America and stream the data to a server in Rusia in real time; while eating your lunch and by dessert you will have scanned approximately 100,000 - 150,000 nodes .

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