I've been using Lansweeper (Classic) since 2012, and nothing monumental has changed with the product since version 5 where the database schema changed to allow more flexibility and efficiency. Awesome features were added, but in the grand scheme of things, under the hood, the engine was the tried-and-true Lansweeper that we all grew up with. It's Lansweeper Classic.
The GUI for Lansweeper Classic is ugly.. and has been since inception.
though it has had a few minor facelifts recently within the past couple of years. But, it's kind of like your old favorite T-Shirt: It might not be the newest fashion, it has a few stains on it, and other folks with nicer clothes scoff when they see what you have chosen to wear. It's Lansweeper Classic.
(Image Above: An Actual Picture of Lansweeper Classic)
Anyone who is familiar with Lansweeper, knows the push to Lansweeper Cloud, and the controversy brought with it. While Lansweeper Cloud ushers in a lot of improvements and changes (I will talk about pros and cons in future posts), a lot of us IT Systems Administrator nerds still hold fast to the old-school, on-premise solution that is... Lansweeper Classic.
So, why are we still championing Lansweeper Classic?
The reason is simple. It's about the data.
I have used a lot of asset management applications, kicked the tires, and gave all of them a fair shot, as I really enjoy discovering all the devices that are on networks (I'm OCD about it). And some do better at X, and others do better at Y... and some do better at X, Y, and Z.. but no other product that I've seen thus far has the comprehensiveness and (most importantly) EASE OF ACESS to asset data.
I have seen numerous times, a company spending over a million dollars on a fancy discovery application, only to then need dedicated, trained administrators that still have to struggle to show the data in a way that is easy to use. "Wow, that's great," I say. "Now show me everything that's at the 5th avenue location.' 'Now show me every Zebra mobile printer.' - And, they can't do it without a struggle.. I'm usually met with "give me a little bit, I'll get back to you.' Heck, I have a few in my lab still, that I've yet to figure out how to actually see what I want to see, or find what I want to find.
So, why is Lansweeper Classic so great?
(I will talk about each of these in future posts)
1) It uses Microsoft SQL Server as the backend database, and it's a clear and concise relational database that any SQL person can quickly make sense of.
2) Reports are SQL Queries. Can't figure out a query? Ask the Forum where SQL nerds will give you the query, or, ask a SQL guru co-worker.
3) Anything that you see in the GUI, you can report on. If it exists on the screen, you can make a report for it.
4) Anything clickable in the GUI is a drill-down. It's super easy to find what you want.
5) The search field at the top can search for a variety of things - descriptions, MAC address, IP address, software name, user name, asset name, and more.
6) Every report is a SQL View behind the scenes. Easy hand-off to any DBA or Data Analyst to import into whatever they want, for analytics or integration.
7) Extensive information for an asset. Tons of info. Tons. More than you'd ever need? Maybe... but there's generally a need for it that will come up in the future... and you'll have it.
8) The data is easy to get to.
IN SUMMARY:
Whenever I talk about Lansweeper Classic, and all the reasons why it is so great, I end up sounding EXACTLY like Willy Wonka talking about his lick-able wallpaper.
(Image Above: Me giving an actual presentation about Lansweeper Classic)
"You want to see printers? You got printers. You want to know toner levels of those printers? Here they are. Want to know every computer that still has old spinning hard drives located in Alaska? Right here!"
(Image Above: From left to right: Data Analytics, End User Support, Infrastructure, Information Security, Me grinning)
And I think that sums it up. Lansweeper Classic - It's all about the Snozzberries.
- Jacob