Networking All-in-One For Dummies, 7th Edition

Chapter 3

Managing Network Assets

IN THIS CHAPTER

Understanding why you should keep track of your network assets

Identifying what kind of information you should track

Using a spreadsheet to track assets

Using specialized asset-tracking software

In a small network, keeping track of the computers that live on the network is easy. For example, in a small office with four or five employees, you can just walk around the room and make sure that everyone’s computer is still there. If one of the computers is missing, you know you’ve lost one!

But in a larger network, keeping track of the assets on the network can become a major burden. With dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of devices to keep track of, you need some kind of organized system to keep track of everything. Otherwise, you’ll soon find yourself asking questions like these, and struggling to come up with answers:

• When Bob in Accounting left the company two years ago, did we get his laptop back? If so, where is it?
• When we hired Paige last summer, did we set her up with a MacBook or a Dell laptop? Or did we give her Bob’s laptop? ...