GLPI

GLPI is a comprehensive open-source IT Service Management platform that unifies asset inventory, service desk operations, and configuration management in a single PHP-based application. Originally developed in France and now used by millions worldwide, it serves organizations ranging from SMEs to enterprises like Airbus, La Poste, and Telefonica.

The platform combines multiple IT management disciplines. Its asset management module inventories computers, servers, network equipment, printers, mobile devices, and data center infrastructure through agent-based or agentless discovery. The CMDB maintains relationships between configuration items, enabling impact analysis when changes occur. Service desk capabilities follow ITIL practices with incident, problem, change, and request management workflows.

GLPI integrates with directory services (Active Directory, LDAP, Azure Entra ID), monitoring tools (Centreon, Cacti), and collaboration platforms. The plugin ecosystem extends functionality for advanced dashboards, data injection, and custom asset types. A mobile application allows technicians to manage tickets and assets remotely.

Deployment options

GLPI offers both self-hosted and cloud deployment. The self-hosted version runs on standard LAMP/LEMP stacks requiring PHP 8.1+, MySQL/MariaDB, and a web server. Docker images are available for containerized deployments. The GLPI Network Cloud provides managed SaaS instances with automatic updates, backups, and professional support.

Limitations

• PHP codebase limits scalability compared to modern microservices architectures; very large deployments (50,000+ assets) may require significant database tuning
• User interface reflects its 2000s-era origins with dated navigation patterns that can overwhelm new users
• Mobile application functionality is limited compared to the web interface; complex asset modifications require desktop access
• Advanced reporting and business intelligence features require paid GLPI Network plugins or third-party tools like Metabase
• Real-time asset discovery depends on FusionInventory or GLPI Agent components that must be deployed and maintained separately
• LDAP synchronization can be slow in large directory environments; filtering and incremental sync require careful configuration