How to Automate PC Hardware Inventory

Computer PC Hardware Inventory automation is as easy as 1 2 3. Thanks to Automated Computer Hardware Inventory Software (NIS). This software is developed by greatengland.co.uk. NIS software is a downloadable ISO file that you can download free of cost from sourceforge to be installed on a x86 PC. NIS ISO image is a complete solution that contains operating system, inventory software, database, automation software, barcode label printing and hardware component reporting all in one package.

The x86 pc where this ISO is installed is called NIS server and it is connected to a isolated network switch and a ZPL compatible thermal label printer. Several inventory items such as Laptop, Desktop, Server and etc are connected to the switch as well.

Note: Inventory items may or may not have any operating systems installed, or they may have mixture of operating systems installed such as linux, windows, mac os, novell, dos and etc., Inventory items may or may not have Hard Disk Drives installed. NIS works independently and does not care what os inventory items have.

NIS is a zero touch configuration system and out of the box plug and play solution. Just power-on workstations and booting from Network / PXE is required for the NIS solution to work correctly.

Power-on each inventory item and it boots via network NIS server through PXE. In other words each inventory item when powered-on receives a operating system from NIS server over the network that is held / run temporarily in the inventory item's own RAM - Memory, therefore HDD or OS installation is not an requirement. All the hardware component and health information is collected from each inventory item and is reported back to NIS server. This information is automatically stored in the database as well as a self adhesive thermal barcode label is printed.

Kindly see below ZPL printer has automatically printed the pre-selected self adhesive barcode labels. NIS currently supports 6 different size of barcode labels, below 76x25mm label and 102x152mm labels can be seen automatically printed by the NIS solution.

102x152mm Label.

You can use barcode scanners to manage your inventory just like any big warehouse or super market. You have all the information available on a click of barcode scanner for each inventory item.

NIS has a very nice Graphical User Interface, that can be accessed by using any web browser, any operating system and any handheld mobile phone devices such as iPhone or Android phones.

Printed self adhesive labels can be attached to the inventory items for identification purposes and inventory management. See below various examples of different size of labels.

Label size 50x25mm attached to the workstation

Label size 76x25mm attached to the workstation

Label size 76x50mm attached to the workstation

Label size 76x50mm attached to the workstation

Label size 102x50mm attached to the workstation

Label size 102x50mm attached to the workstation

Label size 102x76mm attached to the workstation

Label size 102x152mm attached to the workstation

Label size 102x152mm attached to the workstation

Label size 102x152mm attached to the workstation

Once inventory is completed, you can access the detailed reports from the management console.

Example Reports