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openDCIM is an open-source application for tracking data-center assets, inventory, and capacity. Its central aim is to replace spreadsheets and word-processing documents used to manage infrastructure—not to control cooling, power, or other building systems. It may also suit teams responsible for a single colocation cage, provided they are prepared to enter and maintain the inventory data.
What is openDCIM?
openDCIM is a data-center inventory management project. Its official repository describes the application as open source under the GNU General Public License version 3 (GPL-3.0): openDCIM on GitHub.
The project’s purpose is practical: give operators a system for recording what equipment is in a data center and managing related capacity information, rather than relying on scattered spreadsheets or documents. In a 2016 interview, creator Scott Milliken described its number-one goal as removing “the excuse for anybody to ever track their data center inventory using a spreadsheet or word processing document again.” Data Center Knowledge, February 8, 2016.
Can it replace spreadsheet-based inventory?
It can be a candidate when the main problem is maintaining a usable record of data-center equipment and capacity. Moving from spreadsheets to a dedicated application can give a team a shared place to manage that information; the value depends on keeping the records accurate and current.
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That is not the same as an automatic migration or a guarantee that every team’s workflow will fit. The available sources establish the project’s inventory and capacity focus, but do not provide a current, independent comparison against commercial DCIM products or other open-source tools. Before adopting it, check whether its present features and integrations match the fields, processes, and reporting your team actually needs.
What openDCIM does—and does not—manage
openDCIM is centered on data-center assets and capacity. It is not a building-management or facilities-control system. Milliken drew the distinction explicitly in 2016: “openDCIM doesn’t really do management of any facility systems at all.” Data Center Knowledge
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- Within its described scope: data-center inventory, assets, and capacity management.
- Outside its described scope: management of facility systems such as building controls. Do not treat openDCIM as a controller for cooling or power equipment.
The 2016 article mentioned an API for integration with other systems and discussed Modbus compatibility as a possible future feature. That historical discussion does not establish what the current release supports. Check the project’s current documentation before relying on a specific API, integration, or protocol.
How long does deployment take?
Milliken said in 2016, “You can go from download to running in 30 minutes.” This was his estimate, not a measured benchmark or a promise that a production-ready, fully populated system can be deployed in that time. He also said entering the inventory data is usually the largest part of implementation. Data Center Knowledge
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In practice, distinguish getting an installation running from completing the work of preparing, importing, checking, and maintaining records. The time required for those tasks depends on the size and condition of the existing inventory. The project repository includes installation and upgrade documentation as well as bulk-import tools; consult its current instructions to assess the deployment path for your environment: openDCIM repository.
Is openDCIM useful for a colocation cage?
It can be. A team does not have to own an entire data center to benefit from organized asset and capacity records. Milliken argued that DCIM can be useful even to an organization monitoring one cage in a colocation facility. The 2016 article also noted that some colocation providers offer DCIM capabilities as a service, but not all do. Data Center Knowledge
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For a cage operator, the relevant question is whether the tool can represent the inventory and capacity details your team must track—and whether your provider already supplies an adequate system or data access. openDCIM’s described focus is asset and capacity management, not control over the colocation facility’s systems.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is known about adoption and current project status?
Adoption and release figures in the cited coverage are historical. Data Center Knowledge reported that release 4.1 was current in February 2016 and that the software was in production at “hundreds of data enters” [sic], listing examples including NASA, universities, research facilities, Red Hat, AT&T, and DirecTV Latin America. These are reports from 2016, not a current adoption total or statement of current users. Data Center Knowledge, February 8, 2016
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteThe official repository is the appropriate place to check current code, installation guidance, and project documentation: github.com/openDCIM/openDCIM. The cited material does not establish a current release number, present-day adoption count, performance benchmark, or independent deployment study.
Quick Recap
How to decide whether it fits
- Consider it if your core need is structured asset, inventory, and capacity management and you are willing to invest in data entry and upkeep.
- Do not select it as a facilities controller if you need software to manage building controls, cooling, or power systems.
- Verify current details—including integrations, import behavior, and maintenance—against the project’s latest documentation and your own requirements.
- For colocation, compare the records and access you can get from your provider with what your team needs to manage independently.
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