Putting stickers on computer for identification
 

I'm setting up about 20 new computers in an office and want to stick an ID on each tower and monitor - CPU17, VDU04 etc - so we can keep an audit of equipment and help with technical problems. I wonder if anyone can suggest what to use to stick the numbers on?

The cases and monitors are matt black so permanent marker written directly on won't show.

I've tried the old dynamo(?) - the one with the red tape and you turn a dial then sprain your wrist clicking the handle - but it doesn't stick very well, starts curling up and drops off in 5 minutes.

Ordinary sellotape dries up and crumbles after a month, sticky labels curl up and fall off quickly.

The best I've come up with so far is white insulating tape. It sticks well but the marker pen rubs off easily, even permanent marker.

Can anyone offer a personal recommendation? A 'tried and tested' and trusted method that you know for a fact actually works.

Re: Putting stickers on computer for identification
 

Engrave them

Re: Putting stickers on computer for identification
 

It depends how much you want to spend.
You could get some asset tags created with numbers and you can also get some which will show if they have been tampered with.

See here:

http://www.datalabel.co.uk/security-labels.htm

Re: Putting stickers on computer for identification
 

dymo handheld label printer

Re: Putting stickers on computer for identification
 

:tu:agree. I use one to label PCs, peripherals, switches, routers...... well everything that it's useful to be identified. Doesn't curl up and fall off like the old ones and you can change font size, spacing etc.

Re: Putting stickers on computer for identification
 

ultra violet security pen

Re: Putting stickers on computer for identification
 

at uni they just had what appeared to be standard labels with the machine id printed on.

failing that, why not use a white marker pen?

Re: Putting stickers on computer for identification
 

we also use a dymo labeller, does the job

Re: Putting stickers on computer for identification
 

I use a dymo handheld for servers and the workstations / laptops. We also have a special plastic paint with pre-cut stencils, but those are special order things, so probably a bit too much hassle (plus it's more for visual security marking than asset, but can be used for asset as well).

---------- Post added at 20:17 ---------- Previous post was at 20:16 ----------

I think the OP is wanting to asset tag rather than security mark, so that a quick look can determine the unit - a MAJOR time saver when working on a medium to large domain environment.

Re: Putting stickers on computer for identification
 

Another vote for dymo handheld

Re: Putting stickers on computer for identification
 

as an aside, I tend to mark with the machine name too, as this saves even more time!

Re: Putting stickers on computer for identification
 

I know Little ultra violet lamps will show it.. Stickers will wear down over time. The dymo jobbies would do as long as they do not come off. I know perfectly well what the op asked

Re: Putting stickers on computer for identification
 

then why suggest something that's;

a) not what they asked for
and
b) hardly a practical solution in comparison to other suggestions

if you see a sticker is wearing down, replace it. a lot less trouble than getting the lamp out and searching around a device for where you marked it. and it's not much use if you are talking to the user of the device over the phone and you ask them for the asset tag which they can't tell you because it's invisible! you need to think practical in a domian environment and 20 units constitutes a thoughful approach...

Re: Putting stickers on computer for identification
 

I agree with Zing`s suggestion mate and i think you ought to cut him a little bit of slack here. The op was asking for opinions. Zing offered his best advice and it was probably the same that i would have given to be honest. We`re not right all the time though.;)

Re: Putting stickers on computer for identification
 

We have over 1200 mixed PC's and laptop's at work(and around 900 monitors), 200 printers and 50 servers. Not to mention network hardware such as switches, fibre converters etc.

All these devices are labelled with a PC controlled label printer. We don't suffer from label peel or fade.

Ultraviolet on the other hand does fade, and easily removed with some of the cleaning products that are in use.(the stuff we use does anyway, not saying all UV marks would suffer the same).

If there's a need for users to be able to tell you the numbers, or for you to do IT audits you need visible markings.

Re: Putting stickers on computer for identification
 

back to the point though, the OP was asking for opinions on how to STICK tags to a machine. out of interest, do you work as support in a large domain environment? if you do, I would have expected you to foresee the issues that an invisible marking would cause. my personal opinion, and perhaps advice to the OP is to use a fully visible mark for speed and ease of identifying units. there's nothing worse than trying to remote to a server or machine when you don't know it's ID...

Re: Putting stickers on computer for identification
 

gonna go pm

I agree with Jon use them stickers that last ( on topic :))

Re: Putting stickers on computer for identification
 

I can't remember the manufacturer of the printer we use, i'll find out tomorrow morning.

Re: Putting stickers on computer for identification
 

Try one of these

LINK

but I bet the tape refills will cost more than the printer, maybe buy a couple of printers

Re: Putting stickers on computer for identification
 

I would not be without my trusty label printer. The modern Dymo type ones are also great for hanging file labels so well worth the expense.

Re: Putting stickers on computer for identification
 

http://cpc.farnell.com/brady/wo-34/l...requestid=8665

Stuck out of the way they'll easily last for the few years before the next upgrade.

Re: Putting stickers on computer for identification
 

How about a simple Tippex pen?

Re: Putting stickers on computer for identification
 

My brother-in-law uses one of these, and is happy with it. He also labels cables with it if there is any possibility of mixing them up. He says it has saved him hours of frustration!

Re: Putting stickers on computer for identification
 

Re: Putting stickers on computer for identification
 

Imo i think the easiest and most effective way to identify your assets is to have them PAT tested as this normally requires them to be identified on the plug or carcase with a very sticky lable showing a unique number , personally for identifying our company kit i also apply a bar code to the appliance which makes it easier to PAT test next time round.

This kind of kills several birds with 1 stone because you end up with an accurate asset list and a means of identifying each bit of kit, plus legal compliance, and if your PAT testing every 12 months it will almost always be upto date.

we use labels purchased from Portable Appliance Safety Services or PASS for short, and the labels arent that expensive. if memory serves me correct it costs about 40 odd quid for 500 lables.

like i say my company has been using them for the last 5 years and havent had any issues with them falling off yet.

Re: Putting stickers on computer for identification
 

At work, we use a Dymo electronic handheld label printer ( http://global.dymo.com/enGB/Products...Point_250.html ).

The nice thing is it has a sort of "count up" feature. Essentially, if you typed something like "PC0001" and pressed Shift + Print, the label would print, and the display would show "PC0002". Just keep pushing Shift + Print for each label.

The downside is that while the labels are difficult to remove, Students do manage it. But, it is easy enough to work out what the number should be by looking at the PC's next to it.

Re: Putting stickers on computer for identification
 

I just printed the info on paper and sellotaped them down once I'd cut them out.

Took 10 minutes and they're still fine.

Re: Putting stickers on computer for identification
 

plastic stencil set and plenty of tip ex ( seems the most popular choice on ex council monitors/towers that come my way ;) )

Re: Putting stickers on computer for identification
 

Depends on the hardware though. Once you get laptops in the environment this breaks down as you PAT test the charger not the laptop, works for desktops and lcd panels though.

Re: Putting stickers on computer for identification
 

not too sure what you mean by breaks down SMHarman, the barcode labels we use are very adhesive and are attached to each appliance ie the back of the laptops etc, they have the company name on and a unique number (for id purposes) and the pat test labels are applied at the plug end, i test the charger as a seperate item and then run a test using the charger whilst plugged into the laptop to check for any leakage etc.

Re: Putting stickers on computer for identification
 

The concept of combining PAT and Asset tagging breaks down, not the sticker materials. A laptop does not need to be PAT tested as it does not have a plug. A laptop power pack has a plug instead. So you cannot PAT a laptop but you need to asset tag it. As you pointed out the laptop has an asset tag and the PSU has a PAT tag.