IT Pros Needed to Test Mobile Monitor Application

[liquidcaffeine]

I have a new project I'm working on for an application that allows me to do quick checks on server availability from my AT&T Tilt. This is the first version of the software and I'm looking for suggestions on improvements, bugs, etc. The software has been tested on Windows Mobile 5, 6, and 6.1. More information available at http://www.liquidcaffeine.net/downloads/am2008f.htm


The application is available in a PC Installer version as well as a CAB file and is posted at:

http://www.liquidcaffeine.net/downloads/AlertMe2008FWE.zip (PC Installer)

and

http://www.liquidcaffeine.net/downloads/AlertMe2008FWE.CAB (The CAB installer also requires the OpenNETCF to be installed as well (http://www.opennetcf.com)

Point release update includes:
o Log Viewer Tab (see new screen capture)
o Option to email log (note - this requires Pocket Outlook to be configured with an account)

Please post any suggestions you may have.

[evilged]

Looks good I'll have a look at it and test it our servers.
Thanks
G

[futbolkeeper]

Yea looks really promising I'll give it a shot too. Something to do in my meetings. :D

[tft]

its nice to see apps that cater to webmasters.. something ppc's lack. im *trying* to cook some sftp+ssh app myself.

i think a cool feature in your app would be to schedule automatic checks on the site ever X minute with status/log info. perhaps even an audio/visual alert option that notifies you when it's offline.

i see this checks for http, but does it check for the right http 200 code? reason i ask, is sometimes a website http can be "online" but throwing out http error, which should report back as "offline/problem"

[liquidcaffeine]

its nice to see apps that cater to webmasters.. something ppc's lack. im *trying* to cook some sftp+ssh app myself.

i think a cool feature in your app would be to schedule automatic checks on the site ever X minute with status/log info. perhaps even an audio/visual alert option that notifies you when it's offline.

i see this checks for http, but does it check for the right http 200 code? reason i ask, is sometimes a website http can be "online" but throwing out http error, which should report back as "offline/problem"

Initially this was meant to be a scheduled application. This release was to test viability. As soon as I can dig up the details on how to schedule the application, I'll release the point release with this feature.

I'll look at adding the parsing of the response to check for the 200 code. There is a log file that gets generated, and I will be adding a menu function to both view and email the log.

[ZeroData]

The download link is asking for username and password...

Thanks,
Scott

[liquidcaffeine]

The download link is asking for username and password...

Thanks,
Scott

Gotta love Windows Permission settings - ugh. The downloads shoudl be working now.

[liquidcaffeine]

The new version allows for viewing of the log file more than anything else. Also, both the CAB and PC installers include the required OpenNETCF CAB, so things are cleaner on the install.

The emailing of the log file requires a Pocket Outlook account to be setup. I have only tested this with an Exchange server setup, so anyone running IMAP/POP/etc, let me know if it works. It should default to the first email setting in POutlook.

Next version should hopefully have the scheduling ability.

[jon_k]

You said you're working on implementing a periodical checker.

Good. Better yet is SMS on error, or E-Mail on error (or both.) and option to play audible alert.

That way you could SMS yourself to grab your attention, or just use the built-in feature to play a sound. You could also have it E-Mail someone in your organization or perhaps your data center (with a predefinable template no doubt!) that the server is off line.

I work at a datacenter as a sysadmin, and I do think these features could go to good use.

[liquidcaffeine]

You said you're working on implementing a periodical checker.

Good. Better yet is SMS on error, or E-Mail on error (or both.) and option to play audible alert.

That way you could SMS yourself to grab your attention, or just use the built-in feature to play a sound. You could also have it E-Mail someone in your organization or perhaps your data center (with a predefinable template no doubt!) that the server is off line.

I work at a datacenter as a sysadmin, and I do think these features could go to good use.

Yep. As soon as I get the scheduling piece down, then the fun begins. At that point, failures will be alerted via a choice of alarms (siren type MP3s requested <G>), vibration & SMS/MMS/Email.

I also want to do as the poster above suggested and actually parse the results for other, discrete errors (ie: Web server is online, but a 404 is received).

Also, if possible, color coding the log as well.

[liquidcaffeine]

Got the scheduling portion down and now have a question for folks who would use the app.

Which would you prefer, the use of SQL Server CF or just a local XML file to store the list of servers and ports to scan?

I can see benefits of both, but would like your feedback.

[ogremagi]

I'm downloading it right now and will give it a try. As a Linux system administrator, I would urge you to avoid using a vendor specific file format for anything. Go with xml. Any administrator who can't deal with that should seek a new line of work, anyway. :D

[ogremagi]

"This application requires a newer version of the Microsoft .NET Compact Framework than the version installed on this device."

[JimmyMcGee]

I'm downloading it right now and will give it a try. As a Linux system administrator, I would urge you to avoid using a vendor specific file format for anything. Go with xml. Any administrator who can't deal with that should seek a new line of work, anyway. :D

"This application requires a newer version of the Microsoft .NET Compact Framework than the version installed on this device."

Ah-hem, What ROM are you using, You might try to update to the newest NetCF :D

Apparently, The CAB installer also requires the OpenNETCF to be installed as well (http://www.opennetcf.com (http://www.opennetcf.com/))

[ogremagi]

I tracked down the package I needed from Microsoft and now AlertMe is working. It seems a small but useful tool, though definitely not a replacement for Nagios.

The immediate thing I noticed is it doesn't remember the checkboxes selected when you pick the domain/ip from the history. That would be a nice little feature.

[bengalih]

Looks nice. I haven't downloaded it yet, but on the second screenshot tab can you add a "custom" option to put in a port that isn't listed?

[liquidcaffeine]

I tracked down the package I needed from Microsoft and now AlertMe is working. It seems a small but useful tool, though definitely not a replacement for Nagios.

The immediate thing I noticed is it doesn't remember the checkboxes selected when you pick the domain/ip from the history. That would be a nice little feature.
I'm adding a scheduling feature at the moment that will allow for the system to run at defined to monitor selected ports.

[liquidcaffeine]

Looks nice. I haven't downloaded it yet, but on the second screenshot tab can you add a "custom" option to put in a port that isn't listed?
Duh - don't know why I didn't think of that. It will be added to the next release. I'm fighting off a bout of bronchitis at the moment, but hopefully the next release will be in a week or so and include this along with the scheduling.

[liquidcaffeine]

I'm downloading it right now and will give it a try. As a Linux system administrator, I would urge you to avoid using a vendor specific file format for anything. Go with xml. Any administrator who can't deal with that should seek a new line of work, anyway. :D
XML is the easier way to go. This should also allow you to bull the "jobs.xml" over to a PC for easier editing. Then push it back to the device.

[garrilla]

did you foillow up with more developements such scheduling and alerts?

I looked at the website but it didn't seem to have een updated...

[warmkiwi99]

I get "unexpected error" when i try to run it?