Cool ideas for your utilities: Can I pick your brain?
Please share with me your utility favorites.
Here's the deal:
I want to make sure, I get the best utilities to make my job easier. So, I am going to evaluate your utility favorites and may/may not impliment them on my domain. I am making this a 500 pt question because I am hoping to share points between the comments.
I have two domain controllers (either 2003 or 2008 server Std edition) that service a site. Then there is one (2003 server) security server/backup server, and about 50 computers on that site with a mixture of XP Pro and Vista. But, I have 22 sites.
These are my favorites so far:
--I use Symmtime on each PDCe to synch my servers to an outside time source. Then I set up flags to make the PDCe the authoritative time server for the domains.
-- on the same site I have domain time check. that monitors my time servers and how the domain is syncrhonized to them.
--I use Event Sentry to monitor event logs. I am just getting my feet wet on this utility, and I like what I see so far.
--I use the server's services for group policy and GPMC, WSUS, AD, DNS, DHCP, and like centralizing it under MMC console.
--I love this free utility called Angry IPscan that will check IPs and ports to those IPs on a IP space or on an individual computer.
--I use Harris Stat scan to scan my system for security vulnerabilities and *really* like it.
--I use Acronis enterprise addition to backup my datar and have experienced very good luck with it. This one I won't sway from.
--I love sysinternals "process monitor" to check for CPU usage, but would like a domain-based utility for monitoring CPU usage.
--I also like "speedfan" for monitoring CPU core temperatures, but would like a domain tool for warning me if the core temp on one computer is a bit high.
This is what I need most of all: (in order)
1) I need the ability to scan the network for network inventory of software and hardware, while also looking at MS product keys for the possibility of duplicate keys that are not my volume licenses. I know Belar advisor does this, but they want a fortune to cover us on this utility.
2) I need ideas for network troubleshooting:
Currently I rely upon the server support utilities. with netdom, dcdiag, netdiag, ping, portquery, browstat, nbtstat, ect...... But there is a limit to their capabilities. Have any ideas on this?
3) I would like something that looks at the domain shares and tells me the permissions on them. I saw one called tree. I am looking for something similar.
4) Is ther any cool utilities I missed?
So, let me pick your brain.
Please help me keep within the tiny budget and focus more on site or domain utilities if you can.
Thanks!
Here's the deal:
I want to make sure, I get the best utilities to make my job easier. So, I am going to evaluate your utility favorites and may/may not impliment them on my domain. I am making this a 500 pt question because I am hoping to share points between the comments.
I have two domain controllers (either 2003 or 2008 server Std edition) that service a site. Then there is one (2003 server) security server/backup server, and about 50 computers on that site with a mixture of XP Pro and Vista. But, I have 22 sites.
These are my favorites so far:
--I use Symmtime on each PDCe to synch my servers to an outside time source. Then I set up flags to make the PDCe the authoritative time server for the domains.
-- on the same site I have domain time check. that monitors my time servers and how the domain is syncrhonized to them.
--I use Event Sentry to monitor event logs. I am just getting my feet wet on this utility, and I like what I see so far.
--I use the server's services for group policy and GPMC, WSUS, AD, DNS, DHCP, and like centralizing it under MMC console.
--I love this free utility called Angry IPscan that will check IPs and ports to those IPs on a IP space or on an individual computer.
--I use Harris Stat scan to scan my system for security vulnerabilities and *really* like it.
--I use Acronis enterprise addition to backup my datar and have experienced very good luck with it. This one I won't sway from.
--I love sysinternals "process monitor" to check for CPU usage, but would like a domain-based utility for monitoring CPU usage.
--I also like "speedfan" for monitoring CPU core temperatures, but would like a domain tool for warning me if the core temp on one computer is a bit high.
This is what I need most of all: (in order)
1) I need the ability to scan the network for network inventory of software and hardware, while also looking at MS product keys for the possibility of duplicate keys that are not my volume licenses. I know Belar advisor does this, but they want a fortune to cover us on this utility.
2) I need ideas for network troubleshooting:
Currently I rely upon the server support utilities. with netdom, dcdiag, netdiag, ping, portquery, browstat, nbtstat, ect...... But there is a limit to their capabilities. Have any ideas on this?
3) I would like something that looks at the domain shares and tells me the permissions on them. I saw one called tree. I am looking for something similar.
4) Is ther any cool utilities I missed?
So, let me pick your brain.
Please help me keep within the tiny budget and focus more on site or domain utilities if you can.
Thanks!
SOLUTION
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@KCTS:
I am familiar with sysinternals. BUT, I have never really looked at them as I should have done. These sound great:
ShareEnum and AccessChk
@Khaledf:
I am not familiar with UVNC. I am looking at it, now.
I looked at the OCS and GLPL software, and I do think this is something to compare with spiceworks. One feature it seems to have it the ability to deploy software. Rather than deploy it through GPOs, I am digging that idea. I wonder if either will spit this data out to excell spreadsheets?
Still looking for a CPU usage monitor for domain computers. I really like sysinternals process monitor, just wish it had domain capabilities. And now that it was brought up, anything for software deployment?
Good Ideas so far:
Here is a couple of my favorites for you:
On the same site: http://www.ntp-systems.com/product_software.asp
Symtime: (synchronizes a machine system clock to the outside world) Free download
Domain time check: (checks how synchronized you are) Free download
(They will ask for your info, but will not spam you or share your info)
Unlocker: http://www.softpedia.com/progDownload/Unlocker-Download-68439.html
helps you delete locked folders or files
I am familiar with sysinternals. BUT, I have never really looked at them as I should have done. These sound great:
ShareEnum and AccessChk
@Khaledf:
I am not familiar with UVNC. I am looking at it, now.
I looked at the OCS and GLPL software, and I do think this is something to compare with spiceworks. One feature it seems to have it the ability to deploy software. Rather than deploy it through GPOs, I am digging that idea. I wonder if either will spit this data out to excell spreadsheets?
Still looking for a CPU usage monitor for domain computers. I really like sysinternals process monitor, just wish it had domain capabilities. And now that it was brought up, anything for software deployment?
Good Ideas so far:
Here is a couple of my favorites for you:
On the same site: http://www.ntp-systems.com/product_software.asp
Symtime: (synchronizes a machine system clock to the outside world) Free download
Domain time check: (checks how synchronized you are) Free download
(They will ask for your info, but will not spam you or share your info)
Unlocker: http://www.softpedia.com/progDownload/Unlocker-Download-68439.html
helps you delete locked folders or files
SOLUTION
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@ khaledf: LOL
You brought up a good point. The IT sec. folks are starting to require a mandatory 16 alpha/numeric/special charactor complex password. I am already starting to loose it, when it comes to remembering my passwords.
LMAO: the funny thing is I am seeing more and more sticky post-it notes on folks machines with username and passwords on them. Isn't that defeating the purpose? WHY DON'T POLICY MAKERS THINK OF SUCH THINGS?
KeePass Password Safe (http://keepass.info/)
__________________________
@Tigermatt
I am definately going to look @ Y-copy. Sounds better than x-copy and SCCM, that I never heard of.
__________________________
@jimpen
I am definately going to look at Beyond compare: And, how did you know I needed a PDF creator?
Excellent stuff:
__________________________
__________________________
Here is a few more of my favorites:
Open office:
I have a volume license disk for office, but periodically someone comes in and asks for office when they can't afford the $400 dollar retail value. That's where I point them to open office and tell them to purchase office when they get a chance. Open office will do just about anything MS office will do. It is an open source program. I am sure you all heard of it.
Hijackthis:
You probably all heard about it. The cool thing is it's an executable and I haven't found it interfering with othe spyware programs. So, you can run two spyware programs at once.
UPHclean:(Universal Profile Hive Cleanup, I think is what that stands for)
Cleans up profiles on a machine. I wish it was capable of cleaning computers domain wide.
Stinger: (from McAfee)
A utility that checks your computers from the most common viruses. I haven't used this in a while, you could run this on a group of computers, if I remember right.
__________________________
I am looking for one last thing:
Anything to detect and maybe remove peer to peer sharing programs, like limewire, skype, and itunes?
And I use to have a $10k program that was called snifferpro that monitored and checked bandwidth usage on the entire network. Anything like that for all of my sites?
You brought up a good point. The IT sec. folks are starting to require a mandatory 16 alpha/numeric/special charactor complex password. I am already starting to loose it, when it comes to remembering my passwords.
LMAO: the funny thing is I am seeing more and more sticky post-it notes on folks machines with username and passwords on them. Isn't that defeating the purpose? WHY DON'T POLICY MAKERS THINK OF SUCH THINGS?
KeePass Password Safe (http://keepass.info/)
__________________________
@Tigermatt
I am definately going to look @ Y-copy. Sounds better than x-copy and SCCM, that I never heard of.
__________________________
@jimpen
I am definately going to look at Beyond compare: And, how did you know I needed a PDF creator?
Excellent stuff:
__________________________
__________________________
Here is a few more of my favorites:
Open office:
I have a volume license disk for office, but periodically someone comes in and asks for office when they can't afford the $400 dollar retail value. That's where I point them to open office and tell them to purchase office when they get a chance. Open office will do just about anything MS office will do. It is an open source program. I am sure you all heard of it.
Hijackthis:
You probably all heard about it. The cool thing is it's an executable and I haven't found it interfering with othe spyware programs. So, you can run two spyware programs at once.
UPHclean:(Universal Profile Hive Cleanup, I think is what that stands for)
Cleans up profiles on a machine. I wish it was capable of cleaning computers domain wide.
Stinger: (from McAfee)
A utility that checks your computers from the most common viruses. I haven't used this in a while, you could run this on a group of computers, if I remember right.
__________________________
I am looking for one last thing:
Anything to detect and maybe remove peer to peer sharing programs, like limewire, skype, and itunes?
And I use to have a $10k program that was called snifferpro that monitored and checked bandwidth usage on the entire network. Anything like that for all of my sites?
SOLUTION
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ASKER
Very excellent, everyone!
I am going to close this out before points get too thin.
I think I might revisit this one to get some more pointers. I found a bunch of new tools that show promise!
On a question like this, where there are no wrong aswers, I divided up the poinks evenly. Five different folks, 500 points, 100 for each of you. (If you posted more than once I divided your points between your posts for a total of 100 points for you.)
Thanks again and look for this posting: (I am narrowing down the possibilities. So, it will get harder. You all took care of my #1 priority, and a couple others I didnt' think about asking for.)
Very nice!
Look for: Cool ideas for your utilities: Can I pick your brain #2?
I am going to close this out before points get too thin.
I think I might revisit this one to get some more pointers. I found a bunch of new tools that show promise!
On a question like this, where there are no wrong aswers, I divided up the poinks evenly. Five different folks, 500 points, 100 for each of you. (If you posted more than once I divided your points between your posts for a total of 100 points for you.)
Thanks again and look for this posting: (I am narrowing down the possibilities. So, it will get harder. You all took care of my #1 priority, and a couple others I didnt' think about asking for.)
Very nice!
Look for: Cool ideas for your utilities: Can I pick your brain #2?
ASKER
I heard a lot of good word on spiceworks. That is one of the first I am going to try out.
Looking for more ideas and will assign poinks.