An Introduction to HostMonitor
HostMonitor published by KS-soft, is a Windows based system management tool for monitoring server availability and performance 24/7. If a monitored device does not respond to a test using your own parameters, HostMonitor will alert you and/or take any of 25 pre-defined actions such as email message or shutting down a service.
It is reviewed here as one of the applications chosen by OPENXTRA customers to monitor and alert to server room temperature using the Sensatronics IT Temperature Monitor.
HostMonitor Functionality
Very quick to install (although set up may take you some time) and with an easy to understand interface which can be customised to your own settings, HostMonitor can monitor TCP services, ping a host, retrieve a URL, check available disk space, files, web service, CPU usage and so on, a total of 54 tests in all. HostMonitor tests network servers at regular intervals and takes pre-defined actions if a device does not respond.
These action options are one of HostMonitor’s real strengths and can give it the edge over similar network monitors. Boasting a total of 25 actions, Host Monitor can provide a visual or sound warning, send an e-mail, pager or mobile phone, execute external program, remotely reboot, stop or start a service (on Windows NT/200/XP) or generate test result log files and reports. It is also possible to set hierarchies of actions for example if there is no response over a certain number of tests, or to schedule different sets of actions for different time periods for example, at weekends or overnight.
The Log Analyser, available as an add-on or inclusive for Professional and Enterprise Editions,can illustrate separate information for each tested host, collect statistical information and display graphs of all request times for specified time periods for each or all servers. A small point here is that text on the graphs had a tendancy to overlap rendering it difficult to read.
Operating Systems Supported by HostMonitor
HostMonitor runs on Windows 98, ME, NT4, 2000, XP or Windows Server 2003. Remote Monitoring Agents are also available (at extra cost) for Linux, FreeBSD and Solaris platforms.
Conclusion
HostMonitor’s best function is the number of actions that can be executed remotely or automatically. It may take you a while to get around the licensing structure but once you purchase, support can be obtained free via email or through help and advice from an active user forum. If you want to take a look yourself, please contact us on 0800 612 1357 for a free fully functioning evaluation.
See Also
About the Author
Annie Raynor, Bsc(Hons), possesses extensive experience in IT marketing and PR, particularly in the field of network management. In 2003 she joined OPENXTRA as Marketing and Business Development Manager, part of her remit being to raise OPENXTRA’s profile and assist in its growth.
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