What is glpi?

GLPI is a free, open source IT management platform used by organizations to keep track of their technology assets and handle support requests from employees or customers. The name comes from French and roughly translates to "Free IT Asset Manager." It is built in PHP and runs on a standard web server with a MySQL or MariaDB database. On the asset tracking side, GLPI maintains a database of everything an organization owns: computers, printers, network equipment, software licenses, and related components. It can automatically update this inventory when connected to discovery agents running on networked devices, which means the list stays current without someone manually updating spreadsheets. On the helpdesk side, it follows a framework called ITIL, which is a widely used set of guidelines for managing IT services. In practice, this means it handles tickets for incidents (something broke), service requests (someone needs something), problems (a recurring issue with an underlying cause), and changes (planned modifications to systems). There is also a knowledge base for storing solutions and FAQs so that common questions can be answered without opening a new ticket each time. Beyond core helpdesk and inventory features, GLPI includes tools for managing software licenses, tracking contracts with vendors, planning and reserving equipment for temporary use, managing data center rack layouts, and running projects. A plugin marketplace extends the platform further. It is distributed under the GNU General Public License version 3, meaning it can be installed and used at no cost. A hosted cloud version with a free demo is available through the official GLPI Network service for organizations that want to try it before setting up their own installation.