With the skills and setup required, what starts out as a “free” solution may in the end not actually be free because of all the time and effort required. If you’re a developer or programmer and know how to code, you can customize the software to do exactly what you need it to.ĭisadvantages: Open source tools can take a fair amount of development time and expense to get them where you want them. ![]() ![]() If you have a lot of special needs and requirements, you might want to consider an open source freeware monitoring solution.Īdvantages: The biggest benefit of open source software is the flexibility it gives you. One thing to note is that they do depend on ads for their revenue, so you’ll have to be okay with seeing them in the interface. Although Spiceworks don’t offer support, their online user community is thriving and can be a resource when you have questions about the product. ![]() With a web-based interface, alerting on down devices, and a customizable map topology, Spiceworks includes the basic features network professionals want. Lastly, these always-free tools typically do not offer support.Įxample: Spiceworks is an example of an always-free tool. For that reason, upper management may not be comfortable with IT using these tools to manage the network. Another risk is that the product will not give you the same stability or reliability as a paid commercial tool. There’s no upgrading or adding on extra features-so you should make sure you’re happy with the product as-is before you roll it out. And with always-free tools, what you get is what you get. You can’t ask for a better ROI!ĭisadvantages: The downside of using an always-free tool is that it may be missing key features that you need. You will generally get basic features such as automatic network discovery, monitoring, and alerting.Īdvantages: If you can find a freeware solution that does exactly what you need it to, you’ll enjoy the features you need at an unbeatable price. Sometimes they will show advertisements within the interface. These products are built to serve the IT needs of businesses and are 100% free. Related Content: Ultimate Buyer's Guide for Network Monitoring Software 1. Let’s walk through the advantages and disadvantages of each freeware type below.
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