OCS Inventory

OCS Inventory is an open-source system for tracking hardware and software across an IT fleet, including devices found on the network without an agent. It suits organizations that can manage agents and server infrastructure, especially those that want inventory, software deployment, and vulnerability checks together. Its free edition is unusually broad, but tailoring it to a particular environment may demand substantial technical skill.

Overview

Agents send machine inventory to an OCS server, where administrators review results in a web console. That combination gives IT teams a central view of installed hardware and software while also exposing detected network equipment. IP discovery and SNMP scans can find devices such as copiers, switches, routers, and computers even when no agent is installed, making OCS more useful than a machine-only inventory tool in mixed environments.

The console also supports deployment packages: administrators create them centrally, agents retrieve them over HTTP or HTTPS, and status feedback and statistics help track execution. A REST API and compatibility with ITSM-NG, GLPI, CMDBuild, and iTop make it possible to connect inventory work with other management systems. Plugin examples extend coverage to VMware vCenter, installed drivers, and user-installed applications.

Key features

• Hybrid asset discovery: Agent-collected inventory covers machine hardware and software; IP discovery and SNMP add network devices without agents. This is a practical fit for enterprise networks with varied equipment, though it still requires administration of the server and agent environment.
• Remote deployment: Packages can be distributed to remote computers, with status and statistics for follow-up. Teams seeking inventory and deployment in one system can avoid treating these as entirely separate workflows.
• Vulnerability checks: CVE Search compares fleet inventory with the CVE-Mitre register to flag machines exposed to software vulnerabilities. It adds a security-oriented use for inventory data, but the dedicated paid plan is the route that includes daily scans and setup assistance.
• Extensibility: The REST API, named ITSM integrations, and plugins broaden what the system can connect to or inventory. That flexibility is valuable for established IT operations; it is less compelling for teams that want a turnkey, low-administration service.

Pricing

OCS offers a free package and paid plans. The free package includes unlimited agents, the complete software, plugin access, and community support, so it is a substantial starting point for organizations able to install and adapt the system themselves.

CVE Search is aimed at teams prioritizing vulnerability scans and help with installation; it does not include the hosting and outsourcing offered by OCS Cloud. Cloud is the clearer choice for organizations that want the publisher to host the service and handle updates, while the Pro offers suit larger deployments that need support and project expertise. The free option gives up publisher support: OCS says adapting it to an organization’s infrastructure can require advanced development, system, and network-administration skills.

Platforms

OCS Inventory supports API, Linux, macOS, self-hosted, web, and Windows. The maker describes both SaaS/cloud and on-premise deployment options, with agents compatible with all types of operating systems.

Who it's for

OCS is best suited to IT departments managing enterprise-scale assets that want inventory, network discovery, package deployment, and vulnerability checks within a flexible open-source system. Organizations with staff who can configure and maintain infrastructure can make good use of the free package. Teams that prefer the publisher to provide hosting, updates, or support should consider the paid offers. It is a weaker fit for a small organization seeking a simple, managed inventory service without technical overhead.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Unlimited agents and plugin access in the free package make it possible to build a broad inventory without a per-agent free-tier cap.
• Pro: Agent inventory plus IP and SNMP discovery can cover both computers and network devices that cannot run an agent.
• Pro: Deployment, REST API access, integrations, and CVE checks give the inventory system several operational uses beyond cataloguing assets.
• Con: Adapting the free solution can require advanced development and systems or network administration, which raises the practical cost for teams without those skills.
• Con: The free package includes community support; publisher support and managed hosting require a paid offer.

Alternatives

For a broader comparison, browse Network Discovery Software. Consider Fing Security if a free network-oriented tool with up to three scans per day, speed tests, network and ISP reporting, and troubleshooting tools better matches your needs. Its free plan is more limited in scope than OCS’s unlimited-agent inventory package.

Lansweeper is worth comparing if a 14-day full trial followed by a free allowance of up to 100 assets and unlimited user seats suits your evaluation. LOGINventory is another option for a small deployment: its Forever-Free plan has no time limit and covers up to 20 devices.

NetworkTonic is a freemium alternative. runZero may suit teams whose requirements fit a Community Edition capped at 100 assets, one organization, 10 recurring tasks, and 30 days of data retention. Domotz is an option for per-device billing, at $1.50 a month per managed device, billed in bundles of 10.

Gluware offers a free Community Edition for up to 20 devices for one renewable year, with its full application suite except Topology, community support, and on-demand training. Infoblox Cloud Network Automation uses token-based licensing, with tokens purchased as an allowance over an agreement term.

Verdict

Choose OCS Inventory if you need a customizable, open-source system that combines machine inventory with agentless network discovery and deployment, and you have the technical capacity to run it. Its free package is the strongest reason to start here; the main reason to look elsewhere is the expertise needed to adapt and operate it, unless a paid hosted or supported offer fits your budget.