Abstract: An automated system and method for remote workstation inventorying and monitoring within a distributed computing environment are presented. The computing environment includes a plurality of workstations interconnected by a network. Each workstation has basic peer-to-peer communication ability providing remote file transfer and remote command execution. A designated non-server workstation operates as a monitor for generating an execute command to be sent to each remote workstation to undergo monitoring. At the remote workstation a diagnostic routine is executed for monitoring at least one configuration characteristic of the remote workstation and for providing based thereon a report file. The report file is then returned to the monitor workstation for analysis, including compiling of an appropriate report and possible issuance of an alert message.