All About Monitoring

Q. Why are Quick Monitors installed locally & not run from a central machine ?

Although many solutions run centrally, there are a number of advantages in running locally. For example ...

• Local monitoring can be performed more often and at shorter intervals.

• The monitor can take automatic action locally, without the need for remote software - e.g. to clear down temp. files, clear a locked SQL query, delete a rogue print job etc.

• Improved security - the monitor can normally run as a local administrator - giving it access to all the areas it needs without requiring special domain accounts.

• There is no reliance on the network. Monitoring will typically continue to function even if the machine is off-line (only alerting & web reporting may be affected).

• The monitor has minimal impact (typically alerting & reporting only) on the network.

• Monitors can be accessed locally or remotely.

• You can be up and running in minutes.

• You only need to purchase what you're going to use - e.g. you don't have to buy a huge solution to monitor 3 machines etc
    

• To configure centrally (a primary benefit of centralised monitoring), simply run the Quick Monitor Console. This allows you to easily synchronise configuration options from one monitor to another.

Q. I'm new to Windows monitoring.  What should I be looking for ?

The simple answer is that you should monitor anything you're interested in. Don't be tempted to monitor every aspect of the machine or server if, in reality, you only want to know about printing and/or disk space. If an alert is triggered and all you'll do is ignore it (or wonder what it means), disable the check. That way, you'll be able to concentrate on the aspects you are interested in.

Quick Monitors are divided into groups - some monitor very specific aspects of your servers - e.g. log files, disk space etc., whilst others are more general and cover either the primary server (e.g. the Quick Server Monitor) or a software environment (e.g.  Quick IIS Web Monitor, Quick SQL Monitor, Quick File & Print Monitor etc.).

Q. Do Quick Monitors come pre-configured ?

Yes, in most cases, the Setup Wizard will install default monitoring settings for you, enabling you to be up and running in literally minutes. 

Bear in mind these are default settings, and as such are designed to give you an idea of what's possible. They will normally need to be adjusted and amended to suit your own environment, based on server size, expected typical  usage & expected peak usage etc.
  

Evaluating & Purchasing Sentry-go Quick Monitors

Q. Can I try before I buy ?

Yes. You can download a free 21-day evaluation from  http://www.3ds.co.uk/sentry-go/software-downloads.htm .

Q. Do I have to pay to run an an evaluation ?

No. Evaluations are free and can be run for 21 days.

Q. Can I set up the Quick Monitor Console as part of my evaluation ?

Yes. The evaluation contains the complete product, including the Quick Monitor Console.

Q. Can I get support during the evaluation ?

Yes. Evaluations come with full documentation but if you have a question, problem or comment, simply e-mail Support@Sentry-go.com and we'll do our best to help. We aim to respond to all e-mails within 1 working day.

Q. How do evaluation versions differ from the full product ?

In terms of functionality the two are the same - that way, you get to see all features running in your own environment. Evaluations are time-coded for 21 days and will not function until the correct licence key is installed. 

Q. After I've evaluated the software and wish to purchase it, do I have to install the monitor again ?

No, simply enter the new licence key provided when prompted by the Configuration Utility, then start the Quick Monitor service. All your current settings will be retained.

Q. Do I get a discount if I purchase more than one Quick Monitor ?

Yes, discounts are available for volume sales (bundles) as well as site licences. All prices are available on-line at http://www.3ds.co.uk/sentry-go/pricing.htm. Alternatively, e-mail us at Sales@Sentry-go.com or call to discuss any specific customisations or requirements.

Q. How can I purchase Sentry-go Quick Monitors ?

Sentry-go software can be both purchased and downloaded from our web-site - http://www.Sentry-go.com/buy-now.htm. You can purchase Sentry-go software using a credit card or purchase order etc. 

Q. If I buy on-line, is my payment secure ?

Yes, for your protection, we use WorldPay to provide secure on-line transactions. No credit card information is held on our servers.

Q. Do I have to buy on-line ?

We recommend you purchase on-line because it is quicker to process and therefore the quickest way of receiving your licence key - usually within minutes. However, you can also purchase our software using a Purchase Order. For more information, please e-mail Sales@Sentry-go.com. 

Q, Can I buy through a reseller ?

Yes, our monitoring solutions are also available via our recommended resellers & solution providers. Visit http://www.Sentry-go.com/where-to-buy.htm for an up to date list.
 

System Requirements

Q. Which versions of Windows can I run Sentry-go Monitors on ?

Sentry-go can be run on NT v4.0, 2000, XP, 2003 or above.

Q. Do I need any third party utilities to install Sentry-go ?

No, we've developed our own easy to use Setup routine. Simply run it and it'll prompt you for the information it needs.

Q. I'm looking for a monitoring solution but am worried about network bandwidth. Is there a solution ? 

Yes. Sentry-go Quick Monitors are network friendly because they run & monitor locally and therefore have no impact on the network. The only exceptions to this are for alerting and the optional HTML web reporting. 

Q. Do Sentry-go Monitors run over the network ?

Sentry-go Quick Monitors alert & optionally log across the network - e.g. via e-mail, network messaging, SMS, pager etc. Other than that, the majority run locally on the server machine. This ensures that network overheads are kept to a minimum, and allows the monitor to continue to function even in the event part of the network should fail. It also prevents a single point of failure being created.

Q. What else do I need if I want to run a Sentry-go Monitor ?

As long as you have a suitable Windows environment, the required networking components (for alerting) and the underlying software you wish to monitor, no additional software or hardware is required to run Sentry-go Monitors.

Q. How do I know Sentry-go will run in my environment ?

Sentry-go runs on the majority of 32-bit versions of Windows without issue. However, to check the appropriate solution runs in your environment, simply download a free 21-day evaluation from the web site, and run it. 
 

Installing

Q. Are Sentry-go Monitors really quick to install ?

Yes, simply download the zip file, unzip it and run Setup. Setup will then guide you through the installation, which typically takes around a minute or so to install the software.

Q. Is help provided throughout Setup ?

Yes, full help is available for both full products & evaluations. And if you get stuck, e-mail us at Support@Sentry-go.com and we'll do our best to help.

Q. Can I install more than one monitor on the same machine ? 

Yes, simply run the appropriate Setup routine for each monitor on the server. To provide access to all web reports from each monitor, it is recommended that each monitors is installed within the same local directory.

Q. I already have a web server installed ? Can I still access Sentry-go reports ?

Yes. Setup will detect another web server or Sentry-go monitor & adjust the web server's settings accordingly. The only noticeable difference will be when accessing the appropriate HTML report, when the port number will need to be specified along with the server name.
 

Getting Started

Q. I want to monitor my servers but don't know what I ought to be looking for ? 

In general, the best approach is to keep it simple. Start by monitoring the key areas of your business - e.g. Web, E-mail, Databases, File & Print etc. On these, monitor the areas you're features you're interested in, understand and can do something about. That way, you won't get lots of alerts you don't understand or are not interested in! 

To see which monitor is right for you and which monitors contain which features, visit www.3ds.co.uk/sentry-go/solutions-compared.htm. With most of our solutions, the most likely settings you'll need will be pre-configured when you install the software.

Q. Can you advise on our monitoring requirements ?

Yes, within reason. Obviously you know your environment better than we do, but we'll be happy to discuss or advise you on using any Sentry-go product or configuring it to meet your needs. Simply send your query to Support@Sentry-go.com. 
 

Upgrading

Q. How much does it cost to upgrade my current version ?

In most cases, upgrades within the same version - e.g. v3.0, 3.1, 3.2 etc. are free of charge. Simply visit http://www.Sentry-go.com/software-downloads.htm, enter your existing licence key and download the latest version. For larger upgrades, discounts are available to existing customers.

Q. If I upgrade, what will happen to my old settings if I upgrade ?

When run, Setup will automatically detect an existing version of the software and ask you whether you wish to keep or overwrite existing settings. Simply select retain existing settings and only new configuration values/options will be added.
 

Configuring 

Q. How do you configure the Quick Monitor ?

Wherever possible, Sentry-go solutions come pre-configured "out of the box", thus getting you up and running in literally minutes. To view or edit these settings, or to configure new ones, simply run the Configuration Utility provided. This is a simple tab-based utility that allows each area of the monitor to be reviewed and configured.

Q. When do new settings take effect ?

Once you've made you changes, simply click Apply or OK from within the Configuration utility. You will be prompted to restart the monitor. Once restarted, the new options will take effect.

Q. Can I remotely configure Sentry-go Quick Monitors ? 

Yes, the Quick Monitor Configuration Utility will prompt you to connect to the appropriate server when started. Simply select the local machine or the required remote server in order to view or edit settings on that machine. 

Q. Can I copy the configuration from one server to another ?

Although this is not directly supported by either the Configuration utility or Setup, Sentry-go stores it's configuration information in the local Windows Registry - under HKLM/Software/3Ds/<Sentry-go Monitor Name>/CurrentVersion. To copy the configuration, simply run Setup on the target machine, then export the above information using RegEdit.exe and import it onto the new machine.

Q. Can I show dates in my own format ?

From v3.5, Sentry-go Quick Monitors can show dates in either UK (dd/mm/yyyy) or US (mm/dd/yyyy) formats.
  

Monitoring

Q. Can Sentry-go check that my services are running ?

Yes, a number of Quick Monitors, including the Quick Process & Service Monitor allow you to monitor Windows Services and either restart them if they fail, report the failure, or both. Pre-defined as well as custom services can be monitored.

Q. I want to check that a process is always running. Can Sentry-go do this ?

Yes, the Quick Process & Service Monitor can check that key processes (e.g. anti-virus software) are running and restart them if not.

Q. I want to protect my server against the running of illegal software.

To do this, you can run the Quick Process & Service Monitor can check that key processes (e.g. Setup routines) are not run. If they are, they can be terminated automatically and/or alerted.

Q. Can Sentry-go keep an eye on available disk space ?

Yes, a number of Quick Monitors allow you to monitor available disk space (in terms of free space or percentage of total disk space available, and alert you when free space drops below a configured amount. Alternatively, you can also run the Quick Disk Monitor to do just this job.

Q. I need to monitor the performance of my server. Can Sentry-go do this ?

Yes, simply run the Quick Performance Monitor or a Quick Server Monitor to do this. Pre-defined as well as custom counters can be monitored.

Q. I have a print server and need to monitor the printers as well as print queues connected to it.

Yes, for print servers you can run the Quick Print Monitor. Alternatively, to monitor both files, event logs as well as printers, you can use the Quick File & Print Monitor. Both utilities provide monitoring of print queues, printer & print job errors, including alerting & real-time web reporting.

Q. E-mail is important to our business. How can I check it's working correctly using Sentry-go ?

To periodically check that you can send & receive e-mails using SMTP & POP3 to one or more addresses, you can run the Sentry-go E-mail Availability Monitor. If you want to check your entire Microsoft Exchange server (performance, services, disk space, Event Logs etc.) as well as the sending & receiving of e-mails using SMTP, POP3 or IMAP, you can run the Quick Exchange Server Monitor.
 

Alerting

Q. How does Sentry-go alert me to an error ?

Both Quick Monitors Monitors can alert you in a wide variety of ways including e-mail, network messaging (NET SEND), SMS or pager (via the appropriate gateway service), SysLog Server, text file, database log, HTML-based report or any scriptable interface using 3rd party software - e.g. to export to 3rd party system etc. 

Q. Can I alter the text sent in an alert ?

Yes, simply use the Configuration Utility to specify the text & format sent. Place-markers can be used to include context-sensitive information such as the error text, server name, time raised etc.

Q. Can I send multiple alerts ?

Yes, you can send a single alert to one user or multiple alerts to many.

Q. Can I perform a totally custom action in response to an alert ?

Yes, the Quick Monitor allows you to run a batch and/or a script file in response to an alert. The file is "compiled" automatically at run time in order to allow you to include context-sensitive information such as the error text, server name, time raised etc.

Q. I have a SysLog server which holds all our errors. Can I log to that ?

Yes, Sentry-go can easily log the alert to a SysLog server.

Q. What happens to an e-mail alert if my SMTP is unavailable ?

Sentry-go will periodically attempt to resend the alert in the event the SMTP server is unavailable. By default, it attempts to resend every 15 minutes.

Q. Can Sentry-go respond to problems itself ? 

Yes, most Quick Monitor checks can trigger an automatic response such as a command (e.g. to restart a failed service), batch file (e.g. to clear down temporary files to conserve disk space) or script (to interface with an external system or database). These can easily be customised & tailored through the Configuration Utility. 

Q. Can I review alerts I may have missed ? 

Yes, the embedded web server gives you HTML Reporting access direct from the monitor, allowing you to review the most recent alerts triggered. Just connect to the Recent Alerts report. 

Q. Can I see the current status of the machine without waiting for an alert to be triggered ? 

Yes, most Sentry-go Monitors provide a Current Status Report, allowing you access to the current values being monitored direct from your web browser. Most values are updated in real-time. 

Q. If I don't receive any alerts, how do I know all is well ? 

• Quick Monitors.
   
  This is a good question. Ideally you don't want to see any alerts because this means the server & software environment is performing well. But this of course might indicate a network failure is preventing alerts from being sent! For peace of mind, one or more Administrators can receive a Summary by e-mail which shows the total number of errors for each category on that server for the last 24 hours (or since the last restart) whichever is later. 
   

• Lights-On/Lights-On Plus! Monitors.
   
  In addition, you can also run the free "Lights On" Monitor to ensure network connectivity to each server and/or desktop is available. 

Q. Once I've been alerted to a problem, I will need time to resolve it without being notified again. Do I need to reconfigure Sentry-go or turn it off during this time ? 

No. The Configuration Utilities provides a means by which an alert can be ignored for a period of time after it has been triggered - thus giving you time to resolve the issue before the check is made again. This is especially useful for checks such as free disk space which may take time to resolve. 

Q. For some errors, I only wish to be informed if the fault occurs continually over a longer period of time ? Can I achieve this with Sentry-go ? 

Some checks are only really errors if the fault continues for a prolonged period of time. High CPU usage is a good example. This may well exceed 80% or 90% at times - e.g. when printing or performing heavy processing and this is fine, but you may wish to know if it's continually higher than these values for say, 5 consecutive checks, each 30 seconds apart. Using the Configuration Utility, checks can easily be configured to only alert after X errors in a row have been triggered. 

Q. I think I've corrected the error but wish to ensure the fix has worked. How can Sentry-go help ? 

Yes. Firstly Sentry-go will repeat the check at regular intervals, depending on configuration values. In addition, Server Monitors provide HTML reports which gives you real-time status information direct from the server itself, thus showing if the problem is still occurring. 

Q. How can I check that the alerting I've set up will work ? 

There are two easy ways. You can either access the "Verify Configuration" web report and send a test alert from there, which in turn will trigger all configured alerting methods to be run, or from the Configuration Utility, select the appropriate option from the "Alerts" tab and click "Test". 

Q. What happens if the monitor encounters an error ?

In the event that Sentry-go itself encounters an error it wasn't expecting - e.g. a configuration error, it will attempt to trigger an alert, identifying the check that cannot be performed. In addition, internal warnings and errors are logged to a central log file on the server (by default this is C:\Program Files\Sentry-go\goQuickMon.log) which can help identify and resolve installation & configuration faults.
 

Logging

Q. Can I log alerts or errors to a file or database ?

Yes, most Quick Monitors allow you to log errors to both a text-based log or CSV file (using your own format) or an ODBC-compliant database such as SQL Server & Microsoft Access.

Q. Can I record performance information using Sentry-go ? 

Yes, you can log any captured performance information to a CSV file. This can then be viewed using an in-built report or imported into a 3rd party application such as Microsoft Excel. 

Q. Do I have to pay extra for these features ?

No, where available these features are included directly within the project.

Q. Can I graph performance information gathered by the Quick Monitor ? 

Yes. The Performance Log (CSV) file can then be imported into other 3rd party packages such as Microsoft Excel for further manipulation, graphing etc. 
 

Web Reporting

Q. Does Sentry-go require IIS or other web server to generate it's web reports ?

No. Sentry-go monitors contain an in-built web server. They do not not use, nor need access to IIS or other external web server on the local or remote server.

Q. Is there any easy way to access a Quick Monitor Web Report ? 

Yes. You can either ...

• Launch your browser and access the server's Sentry-go "home page" using it's URL - e.g. http://<Machine Name>:<Port No>, 

• Launch your browser and enter the URL of the report directly. 

• Click the shortcut installed by Setup during installation 

• Click the Web Reports button from the Configuration Utility.

Q. Can I password protect Sentry-go web reports ?

Yes, simply configure a password for all, some or no web reports through the Configuration utility.

Q. Can I restrict access to the Sentry-go web server ?

Yes, you can define one or more IP-addresses or ranges of IP addresses that can access the Sentry-go web server. All other addresses will be prevented from accessing the server.

Q. What are the security implications of enabling the Sentry-go web server component ?

The web server allows users to remotely access the monitor & it's stored information from their web browser. You can protect this access with the use of password protection & IP-address restrictions. It is also important to remember that the Sentry-go web server is in-built for the purposes of the monitor - it is deliberately not designed as a "generic" web server, nor can it run code, scripts or malicious commands. Although some monitors do provide a "virtual session" (remote command) page, this can be disabled independently during Setup.

Q. Which web browsers are supported ?

In general, most newer web browsers should work with Sentry-go, although we recommended Microsoft's Internet Explorer v5.x and above, or Netscape Navigator v6.x or above.
 

The Quick Monitor Console

Q. I wish to run a single monitor. Do I need to run the Quick Monitor Console ?
 
No, the Console is an optional component. Quick Monitors can run and alerts with or without it.

Q. Do I need to upgrade my Quick Monitors in order to run the Console ?
 
Quick Monitors version 4 and above support the Console. If you are running an earlier version, you can upgrade free of charge from our web site - http://www.3ds.co.uk/sentry-go/software-downloads.htm.

Q. How much does the Console cost ?
 
Nothing - the Console is an optional, free of charge component.

Q. How do I download the Console ?
 
The Quick Monitor Console is a component of the version 4 and above monitor downloads. It can be installed from a Quick Monitor installation - you do not need to download it separately.

Q. Can I run more than one Console ?
 
Absolutely - you can run one, two or many copies of the Console - maybe on all PCs in your support area or helpdesk. But you only need to run one per desktop.

Q. I've installed some Quick Monitors. How do I add them to the Console ?
 
If you've installed them on the same machine as the Console, Setup will register them for you. If not, simply click File/Add Quick Monitor(s) from the Console menu and follow the Wizard's instructions. You can either tell the wizard where the monitors are, or get it to search for them.

Q. Can I see all alerts generated by my Quick Monitors ?
 
Yes, as long as the Quick Monitor is defined to the Console and running, you can view alerts generated by it.

Q. Can I limit the output on the Console's alert display ?
 
Yes, you can filter on server, monitor or keywords/phrases within the message text.

Q. Do I need to have the main Console window screen showing all the time to see alerts ?
 
No, standard alerts to e-mail/network messaging etc. will continue to operate independently. In addition, you can configure Taskbar alerts - small popup windows that display when a monitored (and optionally filtered) occurs. Simply minimise the Console and you'll be notified on-screen if an event occurs.

Q. Can I control Quick Monitors through the Console ?
 
Yes you can stop or start any registered Quick Monitor as well as view their current status. Configuration changes can also be made direct from the Console.

Q. Can I configure Quick Monitors through the Console ?
 
Yes, simply select the Quick Monitor and choose configure from the menu. To do this, the appropriate Configuration Utility must also be installed on the local PC - the PC running the Console and in the same directory as the Console. If it isn't, simply run the Setup Wizard and choose to install the Configuration Utility when prompted.

Q. I would like to make the same configure change to a number of Quick Monitors. Can I do this quickly with the Console ?
 
Yes. Each Quick Monitor uses it's own configuration settings which are held locally. To apply changes to multiple monitors, simply update one of the monitor's configuration settings and then synchronise them with the others by clicking File/Copy. Note that some settings are never configured such as licence & local path information.

You can use the Console's Configuration Synchronisation wizard to copy the following from one monitor to one or more local or remote monitors ...

• E-mail/network message settings

• The above plus alert engine (script) settings

• All monitor settings

Q. Does the Quick Monitor need to run any additional software to support the Console ?
 
No. From version 4, support is provided through the embedded web server.

Q. Do I need to enable the web server in order to support the Console ?
 
The embedded web server need to run in order to support the Console. However, even if the web server is running, browser functionality (reporting) can be enabled/disabled independently.

Q. If I disable embedded reporting, what will a user see if they attempt to access the Quick Monitor from a browser ?
 
In this case, the user would receive an HTTP 403 (forbidden) error.

 Q. Can I configure some monitors to support the Console and others not ?
 
Yes, during Setup you can determine whether the monitor should support Console's or not.
  

Enhancements & New Ideas

Q, I'm running a Quick Monitor at the moment but really want it to monitor something else as well. Can you help ? 

Each monitor is designed to be quick & easy to use, monitoring the key areas that are likely to be needed. However, you may have a requirement that we haven't thought of in which case, please e-mail the details to Support@Sentry-go.com and we'll take a look. We may be able to recommend a workaround, or even enhance the product for you. Many new features we've added over the years come as the result of requests from our clients!

Q. I support in-house software and would like a solution to automate monitoring. Can you help ? 

Yes, either through existing Quick Monitors or our bespoke monitoring solutions. Drop us an e-mail at Support@Sentry-go.com listing your requirements and a brief outline of you environment and we'll discuss the options available.