Open-AudIT: Inventory and Discovery Without the Guesswork
Open-AudIT is a network inventory and asset discovery tool designed to answer a simple question: what’s on the network, and how’s it configured? For sysadmins managing diverse environments, it provides a clear, structured view of every device — hardware, software, OS, users, services, shares, and more — without having to install agents.
It’s built for Windows and Linux networks and is especially useful in environments where unmanaged systems, forgotten subnets, or unknown endpoints are a recurring issue.
What It Brings to the Table
| Feature | Purpose |
| Network Discovery | Scan IP ranges to detect and identify devices automatically. |
| Hardware & Software Inventory | Gather detailed specs from Windows, Linux, macOS, SNMP-enabled devices. |
| Agentless Operation | Uses WMI, SSH, SNMP, and WinRM — no installation needed on endpoints. |
| Change Tracking | See when something changes on a device: RAM, software, user accounts, etc. |
| Custom Queries & Reports | Build your own dashboards and export data as CSV, PDF, or HTML. |
| Web Interface | Fully browser-based, clean and responsive UI. |
| API Access | RESTful API for scripting, automation, and integration. |
Typical Use Cases
– Auditing all hardware and OS versions in a mixed Windows/Linux environment
– Detecting rogue or unauthorized devices joining the network
– Keeping historical records of hardware upgrades or software rollouts
– Preparing for software license audits or compliance checks
– Identifying vulnerable firmware or outdated OS instances across the fleet
Installation Guide (Linux-based Server)
1. System Requirements
– Ubuntu/Debian preferred
– 2+ CPU cores, 4–8 GB RAM
– Apache, PHP, and MySQL/MariaDB stack
2. Download Open-AudIT Community Edition
Official site: https://www.openaudit.org
3. Install Dependencies
sudo apt update
sudo apt install apache2 php php-cli php-mysql mysql-server nmap snmp smbclient
4. Run the Open-AudIT Installer
The script configures the database, virtual host, and permissions.
5. Access the Web Interface
Open http:///open-audit
Create admin credentials and start running discovery tasks.
6. Configure Credential Sets
Add SNMP communities, SSH logins, or WMI credentials for deeper scans.
Notes for Windows Installations
Windows deployment is also supported, but requires manual configuration of Apache/PHP and the scheduler. Linux is strongly preferred for production use.
Caveats and Considerations
– Community edition is limited to basic reporting and discovery
– Some large network scans can be slow without tuning
– Role-based access control is only in paid editions
– Interface occasionally shows its age in nested menus and terminology
Why It’s Still Used
For an open-source tool, Open-AudIT covers a surprising amount of ground. It’s practical, agentless, and gives admins visibility into infrastructure that might otherwise go unnoticed. While commercial asset tools often push cloud agents and recurring fees, Open-AudIT still does the job — especially when paired with scripting or automation pipelines.
If you need a lightweight, on-premise discovery and audit solution that won’t lock you in, this one’s worth testing.
