Snipe-IT

What is Snipe-IT

Snipe-IT is a free, open-source IT asset management system designed to help IT departments track physical assets, software licenses, and accessories. Built with PHP on the Laravel framework, its main purpose is to make it easy to see who has which assets, where they are, and their current status. This helps organizations manage the entire lifecycle of an asset, from purchase to disposal. The system can be self-hosted on a company's own servers for free or used as a paid, cloud-hosted service. Snipe-IT is developed and maintained by Grokability, Inc., a company based in San Diego, California, which focuses on providing transparent and secure asset management solutions.

Snipe-IT Features

• Asset Management: Keep a detailed record of all company assets, including hardware, software, and components. You can track serial numbers, purchase dates, warranty information, and more.
• One-Click Check-in/Check-out: Easily assign assets to employees and get a clear history of who has had an asset. Users can be required to digitally sign to accept an asset.
• Software License Management: Track software licenses to ensure compliance and avoid over-purchasing. Get alerts when licenses are about to expire.
• Auditing: Perform audits to track the physical inventory against the records in the system, helping to identify lost or stolen assets.
• Reporting: Generate powerful reports on asset history, depreciation, maintenance, and current assignments. This helps in making informed decisions about purchasing and resource allocation.
• User Management: Manage users and set permission levels to control who can view or edit asset information. Integrates with LDAP and Active Directory for easy user syncing.
• REST API: A robust JSON REST API allows for custom integrations and automation with other systems in your IT environment.
• QR Code and Barcode Generation: Create and print labels with QR codes or barcodes for easy scanning and asset tracking with a mobile device.

Snipe-IT Pricing Plans

Snipe-IT offers two main deployment models. The first is a self-hosted version, which is completely free to download and use. This plan is ideal for organizations with the technical resources to manage their own servers, updates, and security.

The second model is cloud-hosted, which comes in several paid tiers. These plans are typically structured based on the number of assets and users. The paid plans are designed for businesses of all sizes, from small teams to large enterprises, and include benefits like automatic updates, professional support, daily backups, and a secure hosting environment managed by the Snipe-IT team.

Snipe-IT Free Plan

Yes, Snipe-IT offers a completely free plan. The software itself is open-source, meaning you can download it, install it on your own server, and use it without any cost for the software license. This free, self-hosted option includes all the core features of the platform. The main limitations are that you are responsible for all hosting costs, server maintenance, security, backups, and software updates. Technical support is available through community forums, but dedicated, professional support is reserved for the paid, hosted plans.

How to use Snipe-IT

1. Choose Your Version: Decide between the free, self-hosted version or a paid, cloud-hosted plan. For self-hosting, you will need a server with PHP and a database.
2. Installation and Setup: If self-hosting, follow the detailed installation guide on the Snipe-IT website. For cloud-hosted plans, you simply sign up and your instance is created for you.
3. Initial Configuration: Log in as an administrator and configure basic settings like your company name, currency, and branding. Set up custom fields for assets if needed.
4. Add Assets and Users: Begin populating the system. You can add assets, licenses, and users manually or import them in bulk using a CSV file.
5. Check Out Assets: Assign assets to users. Go to an asset's page, click 'Check Out', and select the user. The user will now be associated with that asset.
6. Manage Asset Lifecycle: As assets are used, you can record maintenance events, run audits, and check them back in when an employee leaves or changes roles.
7. Run Reports: Use the reporting tools to track asset depreciation, see which assets are deployed, or view a full history of a specific item.

Pros and Cons of Snipe-IT

Pros:

• Free and Open-Source: The self-hosted version is completely free, making it accessible for any budget.
• Comprehensive Features: Offers a robust set of features that cover almost all aspects of IT asset management.
• Highly Customizable: You can add custom fields and statuses to fit your organization's specific needs.
• Active Community: A large and active community provides support and contributes to the project's development.
• Powerful API: The REST API allows for extensive integration with other tools.

Cons:

• Technical Setup: The self-hosted version requires significant technical knowledge to install and maintain.
• Complex Interface: The user interface can be overwhelming for new users due to the large number of features.
• No Official Mobile App: While the web interface is mobile-responsive, there is no dedicated native mobile app.
• Support Costs: Professional, dedicated support is only available with the paid hosting plans.

Snipe-IT integrations

Snipe-IT is designed for flexibility and can integrate with various systems, primarily through its REST API and pre-built integrations.

• LDAP/Active Directory: Sync users and credentials directly from your existing directory service, which simplifies user management.
• Slack: Set up notifications to be sent to a Slack channel for events like asset check-ins, check-outs, and low-inventory alerts.
• Google Workspace / Microsoft 365: Integrate for user authentication and management.
• Jira / Zendesk: While not a direct, one-click integration, the API can be used to connect Snipe-IT with helpdesk systems to link support tickets to specific hardware assets.

Snipe-IT Alternatives

• Asset Panda: A cloud-based asset tracking platform known for its highly configurable system and excellent mobile apps. It is generally more expensive but easier to set up for non-technical users.
• ManageEngine AssetExplorer: A comprehensive ITAM tool that is part of a larger suite of IT management products. It offers deeper features for network discovery and software management, suitable for larger enterprises.
• GLPI: Another powerful, open-source IT and asset management software. GLPI includes a built-in helpdesk system, making it an all-in-one solution, but it can also be complex to configure.
• Device42: An enterprise-grade IT infrastructure management platform that includes asset management, CMDB, and application dependency mapping. It is more focused on data center and cloud infrastructure than just end-user devices.

Snipe-IT API

Yes, Snipe-IT provides a comprehensive and well-documented REST API that allows developers to interact with the asset management system programmatically. This enables the creation of custom scripts, automations, and integrations with other software.

To get an API key, you need to generate it from within your Snipe-IT instance. Log in as a user with appropriate permissions, go to your user profile, and find the 'API Settings' section to create a new API key.

Here is a basic example of how to fetch assets using the API with curl:

curl -X GET "https://your-snipe-it-url/api/v1/hardware" \
-H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
-H "Accept: application/json" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json"

Replace https://your-snipe-it-url with the URL of your Snipe-IT installation and YOUR_API_KEY with the key you generated.

Snipe-IT Affiliate program

Snipe-IT does not appear to have a public-facing, formal affiliate program where individuals can sign up to earn commissions for referrals. Their business model is focused on selling hosting and support services for their open-source software. For partnership or reseller inquiries, it is best to contact their sales or support team directly through their official website to discuss potential collaboration opportunities.