SpiceWorks Releases v1.6, Passes 100,000 Users

[don]

If you haven't already, check out this free IT Management software package. You won't be sorry. See their press release below:

Spiceworks Ad-Supported IT Management Software Surpasses
100,000 User Mark

User Base Nearly Doubles as Spiceworks Expands Features to Focus on IT Troubleshooting, Including One-Click Remote Control

AUSTIN, Texas – June 25, 2007 – Less than one year since it debuted the industry’s first ad-supported IT management software for small and midsize businesses, Spiceworks™, Inc. announced that its customer base has swelled to 100,000 users spread throughout more than 185 countries around the world. The milestone coincided with the availability of version 1.6 of the Spiceworks IT Desktop, which adds new troubleshooting capabilities, including a remote control feature that allows users to troubleshoot and fix any PC or server on their networks without leaving their desks. In addition to its latest milestone and new software release, Spiceworks also announced that currently over 4.3 million devices are being managed with the Spiceworks IT Desktop.

The Spiceworks IT Desktop is designed for small and medium organizations with computer networks of up to 250 devices. Core product features include the ability to automatically discover, inventory, monitor, track, report on, troubleshoot and repair the hardware and software running in a network. The application also provides a built-in help desk and a Wiki-based IT expert community. The new features in the most recent release are focused on improving the troubleshooting and repair process and include:

•   One-Click Remote Control – enables users to launch remote control sessions from directly within Spiceworks allowing them to quickly troubleshoot and fix problems on PCs and servers.
•   Expanded Anti-Virus Support – Spiceworks software now checks the update status of 21 versions of the seven most popular SMB anti-virus packages, including Norton, McAfee, TrendMicro, Kasperksy, Panda, Avast! and Computer Associates. This provides IT professionals a simple, integrated view into the anti-virus protection health and security across their networks.
•   “My Spiceworks” Home Page – provides a new IT management dashboard that can be easily customized by dragging and dropping widgets to allow the user to monitor the health of their network and to see relevant troubleshooting information.   

“Spiceworks has allowed our IT department to better manage time so we can tackle our long-term projects,” said Trevor Nielsen, Information Systems Engineer for Pioneers Medical Center. “The new remote control and a customizable home page give us a better handle on our environment. And they are features that WE voted for.”

A variety of organizations, including systems integrators, government agencies, businesses, manufacturers, educational institutions and non-profits are currently using Spiceworks software to manage software and hardware devices across multiple operating systems and platforms. The free Spiceworks software is supported by displaying relevant, non-intrusive ads on topics that are useful to IT professionals. Over a dozen advertisers are leveraging the Spiceworks network to reach IT professionals, including industry leaders HP, Rackspace, Sony, and more.

“By listening to customers and building a product that meets their needs, we have demonstrated that the ad-supported model can not only work but succeed beyond the expectations of the marketplace,” said Scott Abel, founder and CEO of Spiceworks. “Our loyal customers are the key to this success. They have made their wants and desires known and helped create the IT management solution SMBs have always dreamed about.”

For more information on Spiceworks or to download the free Spiceworks IT Desktop software, visit www.spiceworks.com.

About Spiceworks
Founded by network and systems management software pioneers, Spiceworks develops the industry’s first free IT management software designed to meet the unique needs of small and medium businesses. Spiceworks software helps organizations easily inventory, monitor, manage, troubleshoot and repair the software and hardware assets in their networks. Spiceworks is a privately held company headquartered in Austin, Texas with funding from Austin Ventures. For more information visit www.spiceworks.com.

Don

[slimjim100]

Yea I have to admit I use this with a lot of my non-profit clients it helps to map the network and let you know whats going on. Very useful and free tool I was show by RichM in his column http://www.ethicalhacker.net/content/view/104/24/. I have to say SpiceWorks has helped a ton learning the layout of new networks.

Brian

(aka Slimjim100)

[BillV]

Agreed. I've used SpiceWorks on several occasions for random things. It really is an incredible product worth trying out if you've never installed it before.

If we hadn't just purchased a new helpdesk system that included asset inventory and such right before I heard of this product, we'd probably be using it more on a regular basis. Will probably look into doing that in the future though.

[old531]

It looked interesting at first glance. I shut it down after seeing a large amount of
traffic on an SSL connection to one of their hosts. I didn't capture the traffic so
I couldn't say if it was benign or not.

[aabee]

What is SpiceWorks actually.I read an article like it is some kind of hacking software,but it seems like some course.And what is SpiceWorks actually-never heard before it.

[BillV]

It's not hacking software... it's network/asset inventory and troubleshooting/monitoring software.

[LSOChris]

It looked interesting at first glance. I shut it down after seeing a large amount of
traffic on an SSL connection to one of their hosts. I didn't capture the traffic so
I couldn't say if it was benign or not.

if it was SSL you wouldnt have been able to do anything with it anyway unless you are running a proxy for SSL