Windows Server Monitoring and Event Log Management Solutions
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ELM 6 Is Coming - Introducing Flexible Licensing! April Curiosity Poll Results - What would you MOST use a Dashboard for? May Curiosity Poll - Smart Phone Curiosity Poll II The "ELM 411" - Notifications from a Sealed Environment 100%
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May 9 - Mother's Day
May 15 - Armed Forces Day
May 31 - Memorial Day
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ELM 6 is Coming - Introducing Flexible Licensing!
They may look identical, but no two servers are the same. Now in ELM Enterprise Manager 6.0 you will be able to mix and match the sets of monitoring features and capabilities you need to fit your environment in a single product! We've listened to our clients' requests, and have created a flexible and affordable solution to handle just about any system monitoring needs!
Starting with Version 6.0, we've incorporated the monitoring capabilities of each of the 5.5 ELM products into a single product, using individual licenses to represent each. So how does it work?
For example, if you have 50 servers to monitor, however you don't need full-blown monitoring (event logs, performance, health and status, etc.) on all of them you can now design a mixed licensing scenario to fit your exact needs AND budget! You may choose to run a System license on your top 20 critical servers for complete monitoring, where on the 30 others in your environment you only need the event logs for compliance purposes so you would select an Event license for those.
Need to add in a few switches or a firewall? Add the appropriate number of Log licenses to your selection.
What about workstations? Select the appropriate level of monitoring you need, mix and match those licenses in as well.
This unique new architecture allows all four license types within ELM Enterprise Manager work in harmony in the same environment reporting to the same ELM Server.
Stay tuned for more updates and information as we draw closer to the official release of ELM Version 6.0!
New ELM 6 TNT Software Website Sneak Peek
With the release of ELM Enterprise Manager 6.0 we'll also be introducing a new TNT Software website. We've rearranged and added new content to help you find the information you're looking for more quickly and easily.Take a look at the few sample screens below!
April Curiosity Poll Results - What would you MOST use a Dashboard for?
So many systems - so many locations - so little time. Seeing what is going on in the "trouble" areas from a single screen sounds so good... Last month we asked But, if you had to choose, what would you MOST use a Systems Management Dashboard for?
And as of the publishing of this newsletter here's what our respondents had to say:
So basically you want to have your cake and eat it too! Responses to this poll were actually lower than usual which could potentially be from not having the opportunity to use a dashboard on a day-to-day basis, or possibly managing a smaller environment that would not benefit from such a utility. Either way, it is always interesting to see which performance metrics and information are deemed most important to our readers.
May Curiosity Poll - Smart Phone Curiosity Poll II
A year has gone by since we first asked about the use of smart phones with remote admin tasks. The time has come to ask again and compare results. So we're wondering... With smart phones, iPhones, Blackberry's and more attached to hips of IT pros everywhere, Do you use your cell phone/smart phone/blackberry for remote admin tasks?
Vote today and next month we'll compare results from one year to the next!
The "ELM 411" - Notifications From a Closed/Secured Network
Network computing provides a vast array of communications possibilities to the IT management world, but what happens if you have a closed or secured network that is inaccessible by wire or from "the web"? How do you know what's going on without actually being there? No electronic communications in or out. Hmmmm....
This scenario recently came up with one of clients in a secured environment. They needed to be able to notify systems management staff about events and conditions taking place within a sealed environment. These notifications needed to land on the desks out in their operations room where the IT staff actually worked. Other similar scenarios may play out like this in a sealed/secure environment:
Scenario 1
Some "operators" work in the sealed room but do not perform maintenance tasks, etc. (segregation of duties)Scenario 2
Physical separation - Staff perform most daily tasks/work outside of the sealed server room.So how did we pull it off? Read on.
One of the Notification Methods within ELM that is extremely valuable, but often overlooked is the Command Script Notification. This little beauty can execute a command, a command line application, a batch file, or a script. You may pass event information in the form of variables, leveraging information in the event, such as the computer name or the message details field in any batch files or scripts that are executed.
ELM supports Windows Script Host (WSH) and generic command line (cmd.exe) files. WSH is a language-independent scripting host for 32-bit Windows platforms. WSH supports scripts written in Microsoft Visual Basic Scripting Edition (VBScript) or JScript. You may also use Perl and Python scripts, or any other script type that includes a script engine. WSH can also serve as a controller of ActiveX scripting engines.
The solution in this sealed environment scenario was for TNT Software support engineers to come up with a command script that sent the notification information to a local printer. Here's how it works.
ELM generates a text file utilizing a command script.
(click here to view the text of the actual script)
The command script then launches the text file in Notepad.
And sends the file to the default printer.
If numerous notifications are sent the print jobs simply store in the printer's queue until they can be printed.
The IT staff then checks the printer on a frequent/scheduled interval in the secured environment to see if there is any activity. The paper based notifications can then be distributed accordingly for analysis and corrective actions.
Another creative approach with ELM solving the sealed environment notification challenge.
We hope that you found this article useful and wish you continued success with your ELM deployment!
NOTE: All ELM 411 articles are written based on ELM Version 5.5 and instructions may not be accurate for previous ELM Versions. If you would like assistance upgrading to ELM 5.5 so you can use these tips - please contact support@tntsoftware.com.
Share your own ELM tips!
Have a tip or trick with our ELM products you'd like to share with our newsletter subscribers? Send your ideas and any applicable screen shots to info@tntsoftware.com with "ELM 411" in the subject line. We'll take a look and if usable you'll see it published here in the ELM 411 section of upcoming newsletters!
Mom - oh how we owe you...
My Mother taught me LOGIC... "If you fall off that swing and break your neck, you can't go to the store with me.
My Mother taught me MEDICINE... "If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they're going to freeze that way."
My Mother taught me TO THINK AHEAD... "If you don't pass your spelling test, you'll never get a good job!"
My Mother taught me ESP... "Put your sweater on; don't you think that I know when you're cold?"
My Mother taught me TO MEET A CHALLENGE... "What were you thinking? Answer me when I talk to you...Don't talk back to me!"
My Mother taught me HUMOR... "When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me."
My Mother taught me how to BECOME AN ADULT... "If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up."
My mother taught me ABOUT SEX... "How do you think you got here?"
My mother taught me about GENETICS... "You are just like your father!"
My mother taught me about my ROOTS... "Do you think you were born in a barn?"
My mother taught me about the WISDOM of AGE... "When you get to be my age, you will understand."
My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION... "Just wait until your father gets home."
My mother taught me about RECEIVING... "You are going to get it when we get home."
And my all time favorite thing- JUSTICE "One day you will have kids, and I hope they turn out just like YOU...then you'll see what its like."
Don't forget Mother's Day May 9!
Sources: Author(s) Unknown