Unofficial Spiceworks

So the first official beta of Spiceworks 5.2 was released on the 23rd August 2011 (Beta 1) and there are lots of new features and many updated features within this version as always with a Spiceworks update. The team always puts in a lot of effort to ensure the features we want as SpiceHeads are built in as quick and as well as possible. This  version is no different with what looks to be the start of some more real-time monitoring a load of great new features.

The “Spiceworks Studios” have also put together a cool video about 5.2, its new features and how you can influence the final version.

The main new features in 5.2 are:

• Cloud Services and Vendors
• Software Licensing
• Tighter LogMeIn Rescue Integration
• New Purchase List Features
• Micron Memory RFQ Support
• Liebert UPS Support

So I’m going to try and go though as many of these as I can but without a Liebert UPS some of it may not be possible.

Cloud Services and Vendor integration

So with the new cloud services section you can monitor / get information about any ISP or Domain provider. When you first start-up 5.2 it will automatically work out who your ISP is and start monitoring it. You can then track the uptime of the line and if you have a domain with the provider you can also see how long until the domain is set to expire. This new feature monitors ISP latency and domain status. I was wrong before its not the uptime

Spiceworks now lets you keep track of your Cloud Services in one easy location. Users who are installing Spiceworks for the first time will have all their compatible Cloud Services automatically scanned in by the new Auto-detect feature the first time they visit the Cloud Services section. Users who are upgrading from a previous installation will have any compatible IT Services converted automatically into Cloud Services, all non-compatible services will still be available in the new Vendors section. From the 5.2 test plan

The services are then monitored around every 15 seconds minutes and over time will populate the graphs to show the uptime latency.

Read More…

Some SpiceHeads have been reporting issues accessing the Spiceworks Community this morning getting either timeouts or very slow access.

We do have some knowledge that the Spiceworks team are aware of the issue and working on it and of course as soon as we have updates we will try to let you know.

I would assume when the cause is found there will be an official comment made on the Spiceworks twitter account.

For now please bear with the guys

I’m also working on my review of 5.2 so keep your eye out.

P.S. Cheers Marco for posting the SpiceRex 404 image on Google+

Update: The community is backup and running

Spiceworks 5.2 is on the way!!!

There has been a official alpha release. The main thing / only real thing we have seen so far with this release is the new Cloud Services features.

Cloud Services will help you manage your off-premise inventory. This includes discovering and scanning providers for services like your ISP, domain registrar, hosted email, cloud servers, and cloud storage.

Read more here

It also appears that there will be some near real time website + ISP monitoring so you can keep an eye on your hosted website and or your internet connection.

As soon as we have more details and some “working” screenshots we will post At the moment were waiting for some bugs to be fixed… As you expect.

At the moment the alpha is NOT being released to the public so don’t request a download/link. When its ready it will be posted in the 5.2 beta group.