IT Asset Management System

Abstract

The system provides a method to automate the complex processes that occur at the end-of-life of IT hardware assets, and at the same time, increase the resale value of these assets. Using the system, an IT manager is able to identify a scalable number of systems for Secure Disk Wiping, Diagnostic Testing, Hardware Audit, License Recovery and Backup. These tasks are schedule driven in one embodiment, performed on multiple systems simultaneously, and minimizing the usage of network bandwidth. (In one embodiment, the system is agentless). At the same time, an IT manager can increase resale value by; restoring operating systems to hard drives once wiped, diagnostically testing systems, and capturing detailed hardware information all of which can be supplied to potential buyers or new users of repurposed/refurbished components.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for automatically managing computer assets comprising:
 discovering presence and identification information of computer assets on a network;   performing diagnostic tests on the discovered assets;   backing up the data of the discovered assets;   restoring OS and software with licenses on selected assets;   sanitizing data storage on non-selected assets.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the network is a LAN. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the network is a WAN. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein performing diagnostic tests on said assets is accomplished by defining assets to be tested, establishing parameters of the diagnostic tests, and performing the diagnostic tests pursuant to the parameters. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein backing up the assets is accomplished by defining assets to be backed up and performing the backup of those assets. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein restoration of OS is accomplished by retrieving a license key for each asset to be restored, sanitizing each asset, and restoring the OS to each asset using the license key of each asset. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein performing sanitizing is accomplished by selecting assets to be sanitized, erasing the assets, overwriting the assets as desired, and preparing a certificate of data destruction for each asset. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein sanitization is performed pursuant to DOD standards.