1. A method for providing the status of a local network of interconnected information technology devices, comprising the steps of: downloading a local network monitoring software program from an online source onto a host computer system associated with said local network, said monitoring software program pre-configured with algorithms and parameters for automatic asset and configuration discovery of preexisting platform management systems and protocols on information technology devices associated with said local network from said host computer; installing said local network monitoring software on said host computer; initiating an inventory of all information technology devices associated with said local network of information technology devices from said host computer; determining the operational status of a plurality of said inventoried information technology devices from said host computer; determining the status of software programs installed on said information technology devices from said host computer; said steps of initiating an inventory of information technology devices, determining the operational status of a plurality of inventoried information technology devices, and determining the status of software programs performed automatically by said monitoring software program using said algorithms and parameters for discovery of information technology devices associated with said local network by discovering said preexisting platform management systems and protocols on said information technology devices without the use of a client side agent associated to said local network monitoring software; displaying system information relating to the operational status and status of software programs on said information technology devices in a user interface on said host computer; and allowing a user of said host computer system to initiate maintenance and support actions in response to said operational status and said status of software programs using said local network monitoring software.