need to track application usage and more across platforms

[Jason Joines]

Lonni J Friedman wrote:
> On 11/9/07, Jason Joines <joines at okstate.edu> wrote:
>>      I'm in need of something to track application usage and inventory
>> software and hardware that will run on a Linux backend and work with
>> Linux, apple and windows clients.  It needs to be functionally similar
>> to http://www.computerlabsolutions.com/labstats.  If I don't find
>> something I'll probably end up having to use that product and it only
>> runs on a windows backend so I really, really, really don't want to.
>> Open Source is definitely preferable but anything that doesn't require a
>> proprietary os on the backend will suffice.
> 
> I looked at that website, and I'm not all that clear what this thing
> does.  It looks like MRTG on steroids?  Anyway, can't you use
> something SNMP based to do all of this?



     Basically it tracks what applications are used on the machines, 
when and how long.  It tracks logins and logouts.  It keeps track of 
what machines are free and which ones are in use.  I believe it also 
grabs a hardware and software inventory.

     I'm not aware of anything SNMP that will do all this but I'm all 
ears if you know of something.  My boss wants to be able to track what 
labs are used and when so it can be decided which ones need more 
computers, staff, etc.  Also which software is used the most to know if 
more or fewer licenses are needed.  It also draws a real time map on a 
web page so users can see what labs have computers available for use at 
that time.

     I'm sure I could accomplish all of this with open source tools and 
scripting if we were talking about Linux clients but when it comes to 
windows and macs I don't know.


Jason
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