About AIDA64 Network Audit
AIDA64 Network Audit is the edition of FinalWire dedicated to the hardware and software inventory of an organization's computers. It collects the characteristics of the workstations, produces reports and compares reports collected on several dates. You can use it to prepare for a hardware renewal, examine the distribution of applications or document the evolution of the fleet. In the category utilities for Windows, its main purpose is to transform scattered information into a set of data that you can view and compare.
Collection can be automated through the command line. The results can be saved in open formats or in an SQL database, then used by the audit tools. This edition should not be presented as a benchmarking product: it meets a need for inventory and monitoring of changes. The verified version is 8.40. Unlike the current diagnostic editions of the range, the product page advertises compatibility with 32-bit and 64-bit Windows. It indicates 80 MB for the installation, plus the stored reports. Network Audit is commercial and available for trial. The quality of the result also depends on your organization: stable identification of workstations, collection schedule and treatment of unavailable machines.
Define the questions your inventory must answer
Before collecting all available data, formulate the questions to be addressed. You can search for workstations of the same generation, versions of an application or computers that require memory upgrade. Network Audit brings together hardware and software information to power this analysis. Choose a naming convention and retain the date of each report. A renamed workstation must remain identifiable so as not to be counted as a new machine for no reason. This preparation makes the statistics more reliable and allows the results to be linked to concrete decisions regarding maintenance, purchasing or standardization of configurations.
Prepare a repeatable collection process
Command line automation helps produce reports in a common way. Test the settings on a small group of representative machines before generalizing the operation. Check the file destination, write permissions and actual data obtained. A turned off, disconnected from the network, or inaccessible computer can miss a campaign without leaving the fleet. So keep a list of expected results and exceptions. By repeating the same procedure, you will be able to compare campaigns with less ambiguity. The frequency must correspond to your need for monitoring and the actual availability of the workstations concerned.
Use statistics without losing details
Audit Manager allows you to work on reports and produce statistics or distribution diagrams. A global view helps to identify dominant configurations, but decisions sometimes require returning to the individual workstation. Maintain the relationship between the total displayed and the machines that compose it. Also check the date of the data: a graph may bring together readings that are not all as recent. Open formats and the ability to use SQL make it easier to operate in your environment. However, define the storage and retention period before successive campaigns multiply the files and references.
Distinguish expected change and anomaly
The Change Manager compares audit snapshots to report hardware or software differences. An added application may correspond to an authorized request, and a new version may simply result from an update. Link observations to the intervention schedule before treating them as anomalies. For a focused investigation, keep the reports from before and after the change, with their dates. This approach makes it possible to narrow down when the change occurred without claiming to automatically know its author or its cause. Alerts and reports constitute tracking information; their interpretation belongs to the fleet management process.
Store reports with appropriate access
A detailed inventory may contain machine names, software present, and various system settings. Define who needs to see this information and where it will be stored. To share a result, select the elements necessary for the decision rather than systematically transmitting all raw reports. Also think about continuity: a collection that is useful today must remain understandable in several months. Document the chosen format, collection settings, and known exceptions. This will make it easier for another administrator to resume monitoring and avoid comparing data produced according to incompatible rules.
Compare editions according to expected work
AIDA64 Business adds remote monitoring and control functions as well as diagnostic tools. AIDA64 Engineer is aimed at technicians who examine the performance and stability of machines. AIDA64 Extreme mainly corresponds to the analysis of a personal computer. Network Audit is relevant if you want to know the fleet and its evolution without requesting benchmarks from this tool. Microsoft Excel or LibreOffice can help analyze exported data in a spreadsheet, but neither collects the hardware inventory for you. The choice must therefore take into account the entire chain, from collection to final analysis.
Key features
- Inventory of fleet computer components
- Collecting information about installed software
- Automating reports via command line
- Exporting statements to open formats
- Possible recording in an SQL database
- Statistics on configuration distribution across computers
- Comparison of changes between audit campaigns
- Support for Windows in two architectures
System requirements
Windows 32 or 64 bits, including Windows XP to 11 and Server 2025; Intel Pentium or later; RAM not specified; 80 MB disk.
Questions and answers
Does Network Audit measure CPU performance?
This edition is dedicated to inventorying and tracking changes. It should not be chosen as a benchmarking tool. For performance or stability testing, consider AIDA64 Extreme, Engineer, or Business editions depending on your context and license.
Can we compare two states of the fleet?
Yes. The Change Manager compares audit snapshots taken at different times. Keep workstation identifiers stable and use comparable collection procedures across audit runs. A difference indicates a development to be examined; it does not automatically specify whether this change was planned or problematic.
Does the program support 32-bit Windows?
The official Network Audit page advertises Windows as 32-bit and 64-bit, unlike current diagnostic editions which require 64-bit. Always check the intended package and configuration before deployment, especially when your fleet still contains several generations of systems.
Does a detected application prove that its license is compliant?
No. The inventory records installed software but does not replace purchase records or a review of usage rights. Compare its results with your license contracts and assignments to assess whether the software is correctly licensed within your organization.
Should we use an SQL database?
Not necessarily. FinalWire also provides reports in open formats. The choice depends on volume, analysis tools and your organization. An SQL database can centralize data, but requires appropriate access and management; a pilot allows the chosen method to be validated.
How to install
- Download the AIDA64 Network Audit 8.40 installer from FinalWire.
- Open the wizard, accept the license and choose the destination.
- Complete the installation then start the trial or enter your license.
- Create a test report and verify its performance before deploying automated collection.
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