Spiceworks next week is set to make available an enhanced version of its free network management software which now includes remote-access capabilities, enhanced antivirus support and an IT management dashboard designed to showcase data relevant to troubleshooting.

Spiceworks IT Desktop 1.6 is an upgraded version of the software the vendor launched last summer. Spiceworks IT Desktop, ideal for networks with up to 250 devices, includes capabilities to discover, inventory, monitor, track, report and now repair hardware and software running on the network, according to company executives.

The software runs on an IT manager's workstation and inventories systems, clients and other IP-based devices through agent-less discovery methods using protocols such as Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) and Secure Shell (SSH). IT Desktop 1.6 runs on Windows and discovers Windows, Unix, Linux and Mac OS X machines along with any other IP-addressable device.

With this release, Spiceworks included remote-access capabilities that tap into existing Windows and VNC software residing on client machines. The feature enables IT managers to address issues on remote machines from a central console without having to visit the client desktop. "Almost all client machines have Microsoft remote desktop or VNC applications on them and with this feature our customers can reach all the managed machines they need from their desktop," says CEO Scott Abel.

The company also introduced the "My Spiceworks" home page, an IT management dashboard that can be customized by dragging and dropping widgets, allowing customers to monitor the health of their networks, view troubleshooting information and tap third-party content from one interface.

Spiceworks also now supports 21 versions of the seven most popular antivirus products including those from Norton, McAfee, TrendMicro and CA. Spiceworks competes with AdventNet, Alloy Software, Ipswitch and Solarwinds.

Spiceworks IT Desktop 1.6 will be available free for download Monday here.

Spiceworks, founded in January 2006 by former executives from management automation software company Motive, says the bulk of its revenue comes from the clickable ads featured in its IT Desktop console program via a partnership with Google Adsense. For software users, that means they see a list of clickable ads regarding the subject they are monitoring, though more than three-quarters of the screen will still be devoted to the management program, the company says.