Copyright: Copyright © 2000, Lucent Technologies


Version

This MyVitalAgent Help system was last updated 12/19/00.


What is MyVitalAgent?

The consumer version of MyVitalAgent is a powerful desktop program that lets you monitor and test the end-to-end performance of your Internet applications for dial-up or LAN-based network connections. MyVitalAgent monitors your Internet applications, performing real-time analysis of each and every transaction in which the client system is involved. With the MyVitalAgent tests, you can easily troubleshoot network transaction processes.

With MyVitalAgent installed on your desktop, you can test remote access connectivity. By monitoring every step in the remote connection process, you can isolate specific call failures and demarcate where they occurred.

Tips

♦	After you install MyVitalAgent, it is automatically loaded every time you start your system. To verify that it is running, look for the MyVitalAgent cross icon in the system tray.

♦	Even if you close the MyVitalAgent dashboard, MyVitalAgent continues monitoring for you.

See Also

Understanding MyVitalAgent

Understanding the MyVitalAgent dashboard

Working with the MyVitalAgent dashboard


Understanding MyVitalAgent

The consumer version of MyVitalAgent calculates and presents performance statistics based on monitoring data flow between the client, network, and server. Specifically, MyVitalAgent does the following:

•	Demarcates application performance to help you identify the primary delay on any given transaction.

•	Pinpoints problems and delays with root cause analysis technology.

•	Demarcates transactions by client, network, and server with its patented passive flow analysis.

•	Provides visibility into remote access performance and availability, including busy signals, modem disconnects, and modem connect speeds.

•	Reveals unusual or exceptional events that might otherwise escape detection.

•	Supports a wide range of popular TCP/IP-based Internet applications.

MyVitalAgent is designed to adhere to the following important principles:

•	Minimal intrusion (changes to existing software) in the network and server.

•	Minimal perturbation (changes to the system performance as a result of measurement).

•	Minimal resource consumption.

See Also

What is MyVitalAgent?

Understanding the MyVitalAgent dashboard


Dashboard title bar

The following icons appear on the dashboard title bar:

Item	Description
	Click to display a menu that can be used for such tasks as closing or minimizing the MyVitalAgent dashboard.
	Click to close the MyVitalAgent dashboard without shutting down the MyVitalAgent program.
Note

♦	To shut down (exit) the MyVitalAgent program, right-click on the MyVitalAgent system tray icon and then select Exit from the pop-up menu.

See Also

Understanding the MyVitalAgent dashboard

Working with the MyVitalAgent dashboard


View menu options

The following options are available from the View menu on the dashboard:

View Option	Description
Application	Opens the Application sub-menu from which you can select an Internet application for MyVitalAgent to monitor. The following applications can be monitored: DNS, EMail, FTP, RealPlayer, Web, and WebSecure. You can also select Modem to monitor and test your modem connection.
Activity Pane	Select to see the status of your current online and network activity.
Traffic Pane	Select to see how fast you are currently transferring data over the network.
Transaction Time Pane	Select to see how long a transaction took and what percentage of the delay was attributable to the client, network, and server.
Modem Pane	Select to see the connect speed, total connect time, and the amount of compression your modem is using.
Open All Panes	Select to display the Activity, Traffic, Transaction Time, and Modem panes on the MyVitalAgent dashboard.
Auto-Switch on Activity	Select to automatically display the currently active application in the MyVitalAgent dashboard when new activity is detected.
Stay On Top	Select to keep the MyVitalAgent dashboard as the top window on your desktop.
Show Toolbar	Displays the tool bar at the top of the MyVitalAgent dashboard.
Preferences	Opens the MyVitalAgent Preferences window. Use this window to change such preferences as how to detect your modem and the day of the month on which modem-time reporting is to start.
See Also

Understanding the MyVitalAgent dashboard


Window menu options

The following options are available from the Window menu on the dashboard:

Window	Description
Application Report	Opens the MyVitalAgent Application Report window.
Call Log	Opens the MyVitalAgent Call Log window.
Diagnosis	Opens the MyVitalAgent Diagnosis window.
See Also

Understanding the MyVitalAgent dashboard


Help menu options

The following options are available from the Help menu on the dashboard:

Help	Description
About	Displays your version of MyVitalAgent and licensing information.
Help	Opens the MyVitalAgent Help system.
Network Information	Opens a dialog box that displays network information about your computer.
MyVitalAgent Information	Starts the browser and displays a Web site with links to additional information about MyVitalAgent.
See Also

Understanding the MyVitalAgent dashboard


Understanding the MyVitalAgent dashboard toolbar buttons

Refer to the following table for a description of the buttons on the dashboard toolbar:

Button	Description
	Starts the MyVitalAgent modem tests. Note: This button is enabled only if Modem is selected in the application selector pane and if your modem is supported by MyVitalAgent.
	Opens the MyVitalAgent Health Log.
	Opens the MyVitalAgent Call Log.
	Opens the MyVitalAgent Application Report window.
	Opens the MyVitalAgent help system.
See Also

Working with the MyVitalAgent dashboard

Understanding the MyVitalAgent dashboard


MyVitalAgent dashboard panes

Click one of the following topics to learn more about the MyVitalAgent dashboard panes:

•	Application selector pane

•	Activity pane

•	Traffic pane

•	Transaction time pane

•	Modem pane

See Also

Working with the MyVitalAgent dashboard

Understanding the MyVitalAgent dashboard


Understanding the application selector pane

The MyVitalAgent application selector pane, shown below, consists of the application name, selector arrows, and a set of vertical bars.

You can cycle through the applications that have been active during the current MyVitalAgent session by clicking the left or right arrow. When you switch to another application, the results of the end-to-end monitoring of that application are displayed in the dashboard.

Monitored applications	Description
One active application	The application is automatically displayed in the MyVitalAgent dashboard. The small bar to the right changes from purple to white.
Multiple active applications	Use the application selector arrows to display a different application in the MyVitalAgent dashboard. To have MyVitalAgent automatically switch to the currently active application when new activity is detected, from the main menu, select View and then select Auto-Switch on Activity. When multiple applications have been active, the bars displayed on the right side of the Application selector pane represent the following: • White bar. Represents the application that is currently displayed in the MyVitalAgent dashboard. • Light blue bars. Represent applications that are currently active. • Dark purple bars. Represent applications that are not currently active but were previously active during this MyVitalAgent session.
Notes

♦	Although all applications are monitored concurrently, only one application at a time is displayed in the MyVitalAgent dashboard.

♦	To display a list of supported applications that you can monitor, from the main menu, select View and then select Application.

See Also

Understanding the MyVitalAgent dashboard

Application selector dashboard arrows


Understanding the Activity pane

The Activity pane reports the status of your current online and network activity (for example, “Retrieving page”), and animates your current transaction. This lets you monitor the performance of your Internet applications from an end-user perspective.

MyVitalAgent identifies the different service provider portions of the client-server path. These portions of the network path are referred to as the service provider domains. Frequently, a client-server path through the Internet is likely to traverse several different service providers.

Tips

♦	Colored icons represent the health of the various components in your end-to-end path.

♦	The client-network-server flow is indicated by blue dots.

♦	You can also use MyVitalAgent to monitor the performance of your proxy servers in the path.

♦	If you double-click on a red dashboard icon, the MyVitalAgent Diagnosis window opens with a diagnosis of and prescription for the problem.

♦	You can close the Activity pane by right-clicking on the Activity pane and selecting Close Pane from the displayed menu.

See Also

Understanding the MyVitalAgent dashboard

Identifying objects in the Activity pane

Understanding the MyVitalAgent demarcation algorithm

Interpreting the MyVitalAgent dashboard animation


Understanding the MyVitalAgent demarcation algorithm

MyVitalAgent’s demarcation algorithm splits the routers in the client-server path into the following groups:

•	Internet Service Provider (ISP) routers

•	The rest of the Internet

The routers that belong to the Intranet and ISP are identified through two demarcation points:

•	The ISP entry demarcation point (the ISP entry router).

•	The ISP egress demarcation point (the ISP egress router).

MyVitalAgent identifies ISP entry and egress demarcation points by using the results from an initial discovery and exploration of paths to various points in the Internet.


Understanding the Traffic pane

The Traffic pane shows you how fast you are currently transferring data over the network.

recv and send graphs

The recv (receive) and send graphs indicate any activity detected on the network/dialup interface of the client. The receive graph reports the receive rate during each interval. The send graph reports the transmit rate during each interval.

Transfer rates for the previous several seconds scroll from left to right with the passage of every second. If the blue lines have white tips at the top, your connection is using compression to speed up the data transfer.

RECEIVED and SENT digital displays

The RECEIVED digital display shows the amount of data the MyVitalAgent client has received in the current transaction (the default is bytes). The SENT digital display shows the amount of data the MyVitalAgent client has sent in the current transaction (the default is bytes).

Note that bytes received include TCP overhead (for example, headers). Therefore, the counter may not always agree with application counters. Application counters typically report net traffic excluding overhead.

AVERAGE, SPEED LIMIT, and CURRENT digital displays and speedometer

The AVERAGE digital display shows the average transfer speed for all transmissions during the current transaction (the default is Kbps).

The SPEED LIMIT digital display shows the maximum transmission speed possible to the server currently being accessed.

You can change the speed limit display by right-clicking on the Traffic pane and selecting Speed Limit from the displayed menu. To change the speed limit display, select one of the following:

•	Automatic. Allows the transmission speed to be set automatically. MyVitalAgent uses special techniques to determine the fastest possible connection.

Depending on various Internet access circumstances, MyVitalAgent might not be able to accurately determine the speed limit. In this case, the speedometer is inactive. For a consistent display, reset the MyVitalAgent speed limit display by selecting one of the other options from the Speed Limit menu.

•	LAN. Sets the speed limit display to the speed of your Local Area Network (LAN).

•	56 kbps, 128 kbps, 256 kbps, or 1.5 Mbps. Sets the speed limit display to the selected transmission speed.

The CURRENT digital display shows the current transfer speed (in Kbps) in a logarithmic (base 2) scale. The minimum speed is 1 Kbps and the maximum speed is 4096 Kbps.

The speedometer shows a graphical representation of the CURRENT transfer speed.

Note

♦	The modem speed shown in the digital display could be higher than the actual speed of the modem. MyVitalAgent displays the speed based on information provided directly from the modem.

Tip

♦	You can close the Traffic pane by right-clicking on the Traffic pane and selecting Close Pane from the displayed menu.

See Also

Understanding the MyVitalAgent dashboard


Understanding the Transaction time pane

MyVitalAgent monitors every application transaction from beginning to end so you know how long it took and what percentage of the delay was attributable to the client, network, and server. The Transaction time pane shows the transaction time and the source of the delays.

CLIENT, NETWORK, and SERVER gauge and percentages

The CLIENT, NETWORK, and SERVER gauges gives a real-time indication of the estimated percentage of transfer time attributable to each. Combined, these measurements always total 100%.

TRANSACTION digital display

The TRANSACTION digital display reports the total time taken for the current transaction. The transfer time is shown in minutes (min), seconds (sec), and tenths of seconds, except for times that are 10 minutes or greater.

A transaction is any set of data, such as data generated for the opening of a Web page or receipt of Email.

Tip

♦	You can close the Transaction pane by right-clicking on the Transaction pane and selecting Close Pane from the displayed menu.

See Also

Understanding the MyVitalAgent dashboard


Understanding the Modem pane

The Modem pane shows you the connect speed and the amount of compression your modem is using.

COMPRESSION gauge

The COMPRESSION gauge provides an estimate of the amount of compression your modem is currently using. The compression gauge setting is updated every second and is only active during transfers. The white arrow slides back and forth to indicate the level of compression.

SESSION and THIS MONTH digital displays

The SESSION digital display shows the total time your modem has been in use during the current session in hours (hr) and minutes (min). The THIS MONTH digital display shows the cumulative total of modem time for the current month in hours (hr) and minutes (min). (You can change the starting date of the monthly cycle in the MyVitalAgent preferences dialog box.)

CONNECT digital display

The digital display reports the initial baud rate connection speed of your modem in Kbps.

Speedometer

The speedometer displays the connection speed as a percentage of the maximum possible connection speed for your modem. If the modem provides inaccurate information, the speedometer is not active.

Tip

♦	You can close the Modem pane by right-clicking on the Modem pane and selecting Close Pane from the displayed menu.

See Also

Understanding the MyVitalAgent dashboard


Specifying modem preferences

To specify your modem preferences, follow these steps:

1.	Right-click on the MyVitalAgent system tray icon.

2.	From the displayed pop-up menu, select Modem Setup.

3.	Use the displayed Windows Modem Properties dialog box to change your modem information. For example, if you click the Dialing Properties button, you can change the calling location and dialing details.

Note

♦	If you need more information about using Windows dialog boxes, refer to your Microsoft Windows documentation or Help system.

See Also

MyVitalAgent system tray menu options


Specifying network preferences

To specify your network preferences, follow these steps:

1.	Right-click on the MyVitalAgent system tray icon.

2.	From the displayed pop-up menu, select Network Setup.

3.	Use the displayed Windows Network properties dialog box to change your network information.

4.	Click OK to save the changes and to close the Windows Network Properties window.

Note

♦	If you need more information about using Windows dialog boxes, refer to your Microsoft Windows documentation or Help system.

See Also

MyVitalAgent system tray menu options


Specifying IP preferences (Windows 95 and 98)

The IP Configuration dialog box (for use with Windows 95 and 98 systems only) displays host information and Ethernet adapter information (such as the NIC card information).

Display the IP Configuration dialog box and make changes, as follows:

1.	Right-click on the MyVitalAgent system tray icon.

2.	From the displayed pop-up menu, select IP Setup.

3.	In the Ethernet Adapter Information pane, you can select an alternative adapter if one is available. You can also release or renew the lease of the IP address for a specific adapter or all of the adapters by clicking one of the buttons.

4.	Click OK to save the changes and to close the IP Configuration dialog box.

Note

♦	If you need more information about using Windows dialog boxes, refer to your Microsoft Windows documentation or Help system.

See Also

MyVitalAgent system tray menu options


Specifying Internet preferences

To specify the Internet preferences, follow these steps:

1.	Right-click on the MyVitalAgent system tray icon.

2.	From the displayed pop-up menu, select Internet Setup.

3.	Use the displayed Windows Internet properties dialog box to change your Internet information.

4.	Click OK to save the changes and to close the Windows Internet Properties window.

Note

♦	If you need more information about using Windows dialog boxes, refer to your Microsoft Windows documentation or Help system.

See Also

MyVitalAgent system tray menu options


List of MyVitalAgent components

Click one of the following topics to learn more about it:

•	Understanding the MyVitalAgent Application report

•	Understanding the MyVitalAgent Call Log

•	Understanding the MyVitalAgent Diagnosis window

•	Understanding the MyVitalAgent Health Log

•	Running the MyVitalAgent tests


Application report toolbar options

Refer to the following table for a description of the options that are available on the Application report toolbar:

Item	Description
Measurement period drop-down list	Select a time period (either Today, This Week, or This Month) to update the Traffic pie chart and Performance bar graph for the selected period.
	Click to open the MyVitalAgent help system.
See Also

Understanding the MyVitalAgent Application report


Traffic pie chart

Shows the breakdown of network traffic by the top five applications. The traffic for the five most frequently used applications (for example, FTP, Web, WebSecure, and DNS) is shown. If you have used more than five applications, a sixth category called Other reports the network traffic for those additional applications. This chart helps you identify the recently used applications that have generated the most network traffic.


Performance bar graph

Shows the average throughput for the applications shown in the Traffic pie chart. By default, the time span of the report is for the past 30 days. You can select a different time period from the Measurement period drop-down list. The Performance bar graph lets you track application performance over time.


Call Log menu options

Refer to the following table for a description of the options available from the Call Log menu:

File menu	Description
Print	Prints the MyVitalAgent Call Log.
Close	Closes the MyVitalAgent Call Log.
View menu	Description
Open All	Displays the detail panes for all the entries in the MyVitalAgent Call Log.
Close All	Closes the detail panes for all the entries in the MyVitalAgent Call Log.
Help menu	Description
Help	Opens the MyVitalAgent Help system.
See Also

Working with the MyVitalAgent Call Log


Call Log fields

Refer to the following table for a description of the fields in the Call Log:

Item	Description
Start Time	Time the call started.
Connection Speed	Connection speed of the modem.
Call Duration	Length of the call.
Call Status	Status of the call (such as Connect, Disconnect, or Idle) and errors (such as No dial tone or Busy).
Average Throughput	The aggregate average receive and transmit rates.
Phone Number	Remote access phone number you dialed.
Note

♦	A colored light in the MyVitalAgent Call Log detail pane indicates the success (health) of each call. A green light indicates a successful call, whereas a red light indicates a problem. Click the arrow to the left of the light to display more information about this call.

See Also

Working with the MyVitalAgent Call Log


Diagnosis pane

The Diagnosis pane (Dx) describes the problem detected by MyVitalAgent.

See Also

Prescription pane

Opening the MyVitalAgent Diagnosis window

Understanding the MyVitalAgent Health Log


Prescription pane

The Prescription (Rx) pane offers possible solutions for the problem that was detected by MyVitalAgent.

See Also

Diagnosis pane

Opening the MyVitalAgent Diagnosis window

Understanding the MyVitalAgent Health Log


MyVitalAgent Health Log menu options

Refer to the following table for a description of the options that are available from the MyVitalAgent Health Log menus:

File menu	Description
Print	Prints the displayed test results to your default printer.
Close	Exits the MyVitalAgent Health Log.
View menu	Description
This Session	Select to display events from this MyVitalAgent session only.
Past Day	Select to display events for the previous day.
Past Week	Select to display events for the last seven days.
All	Select to display all of the events in the Health Log.
Hide Low Severity	Select to display data for only severe events.
Show Acknowledged	Select to display acknowledged and unacknowledged events.
Refresh	Select to refresh the log to show the latest events.
See Also

Understanding the MyVitalAgent Health Log

Opening the MyVitalAgent Health Log


MyVitalAgent Health Log buttons

Refer to the following table for a description of the buttons found on the MyVitalAgent Health Log:

Button	Description
Diagnosis	Click to display the MyVitalAgent Diagnosis window.
Acknowledge	Click to acknowledge the selected event in the MyVitalAgent Health Log. If you click Acknowledge and the Show Acknowledged option on the View menu is not selected, only unacknowledged events and new events are displayed. The acknowledged event no longer appears.
Acknowledge All	Click to acknowledge all new events in the MyVitalAgent Health Log. When all events are acknowledged, the light to the left of each entry turns green. If the Show Acknowledged option on the View menu is not selected, the log is cleared. Only new, unacknowledged events display.
See Also

Working with the MyVitalAgent Health Log

Opening the MyVitalAgent Health Log


Opening the MyVitalAgent Diagnosis window

Open the MyVitalAgent Diagnosis window as follows:

1.	From the MyVitalAgent dashboard, click [image]. The MyVitalAgent Health Log opens with a list of the recent problems displayed.

2.	Select the entry you want to diagnose and click Diagnosis.

Note

When there is an active problem, you can also open the Diagnosis window in the following ways:

♦	By right-clicking on the MyVitalAgent system tray icon and selecting Diagnosis.

♦	By selecting Diagnosis from the dashboard Window menu.

See Also

Understanding the MyVitalAgent Diagnosis window

Working with the MyVitalAgent Health Log

Opening the MyVitalAgent Health Log


MyVitalAgent Health Log results table

Refer to the following table for a description of the information provided in the Health Log results table:

Column Name	Description
Where	Where the problem occurred (for example, Client, Server, or Network).
Application	The application used.
What	A brief description of the problem (for example, Low throughput or Page not found).
When	The date and time of the most recent occurrence of the problem.
Who	The source of the problem (for example, the DNS entry or IP address).
Count	The number of times the same problem was detected over the past 30 minutes.
See Also

Understanding the MyVitalAgent Health Log

Opening the MyVitalAgent Health Log


Dashboard menu options

The following options are available from the MyVitalAgent dashboard menu:

•	View menu options

•	Window menu options

•	Help menu options


Exiting MyVitalAgent

Perform the following steps to exit MyVitalAgent:

1.	Right-click on the MyVitalAgent system tray icon [image].

2.	From the pop-up menu, select Exit. MyVitalAgent closes and is no longer running.

See Also

Working with the MyVitalAgent dashboard


Starting MyVitalAgent

If you have exited MyVitalAgent, you can restart it by performing the following steps:

1.	From the Windows Programs menu, select Startup.

2.	From the Startup menu, select MyVitalAgent. The MyVitalAgent system tray icon [image] appears.

See Also

Working with the MyVitalAgent dashboard


Displaying the MyVitalAgent dashboard

Display the MyVitalAgent dashboard by clicking the MyVitalAgent system tray icon [image].

See Also

Working with the MyVitalAgent dashboard


Accessing the system tray icon

The system tray icon is located in the Windows system tray, which is often found in the bottom right corner of the screen.

See Also

Interpreting the MyVitalAgent system tray icons

MyVitalAgent system tray menu options described


Understanding the MyVitalAgent dashboard

Click any part of the MyVitalAgent dashboard to learn more about it, and then click Back to return to this topic.

See Also

Working with the MyVitalAgent dashboard

Interpreting the icons in the MyVitalAgent dashboard


Changing the MyVitalAgent preferences

You can change the following MyVitalAgent preferences from the Preferences tabs:

Preferences tab	Description
Modem	Displays the modem that is being monitored. Although MyVitalAgent automatically detects the modem to monitor (if one is installed), you can specify a different modem on this tab.  If more than one modem is installed, select a different modem by clearing the Automatic Selection check box and then, from the list of installed modems, selecting the modem to be monitored.
Month Start	The starting date of the month. This date is used to determine the start of the monthly time period for which a cumulative total is displayed in the THIS MONTH digital display in the Modem pane.  To change the default of 1 to a different date, enter the new date in the Month Starts On  field.
Broadband	Select DSL or Cable Modem as the type of broadband connection you are using or select None, if you do not have a broadband connection. If you select DSL or Cable Modem, a modem icon displays as part of the animation shown in the Activity pane.
Note

♦	Access the Preferences tabs by choosing View and Preferences from the MyVitalAgent dashboard main menu.


Understanding the MyVitalAgent Application report

The MyVitalAgent Application report provides a breakdown of the traffic and performance by application.

Click any part of the MyVitalAgent Application report window (below) to learn more about it, and then click Back to return to this topic.

See Also

Opening the MyVitalAgent Application report


Understanding the MyVitalAgent Call Log

The MyVitalAgent Call Log tracks your modem calls over the past month. A colored light to the left of each entry indicates the success (health) of the call. A green light indicates a successful call while a red light indicates a problem. This log also provides the start time of the call, the modem’s connection speed, the call duration, the status of the call, the average throughput, and the remote access phone number.

Click the arrow located to the left of the call entry to view a call detail pane with additional call information. You can also access additional modem-related information from the Modem log. Access this log by clicking the double arrows to the left of the Modem log entry.

Click any part of the MyVitalAgent Call Log (below) to learn more about it, and then click Back to return to this topic.

See Also

Opening the MyVitalAgent Call Log


Understanding the MyVitalAgent Health Log

The MyVitalAgent Health Log describes the problems encountered with your online connections over the past week. Colored lights indicate the severity of each problem; yellow and red lights indicate warnings and severe (critical) problems, respectively. A green light indicates that you clicked either Acknowledge or Acknowledge All.

Notes:

♦	If you click Acknowledge and the Show Acknowledged option on the View menu is not selected, only unacknowledged events and new events are displayed. The acknowledged event no longer appears.

♦	If you click Acknowledge All and the Show Acknowledged option on the View menu is not selected, only new, unacknowledged events are displayed.

While this log is open, an icon appears on the Windows taskbar.

Click any part of the MyVitalAgent Health Log (below) to learn more about it, and then click Back to return to this topic.

See Also

Opening the MyVitalAgent Health Log

Understanding the MyVitalAgent Diagnosis window


Understanding the MyVitalAgent Diagnosis window

You can quickly diagnose problems by opening the MyVitalAgent Diagnosis window. If MyVitalAgent has encountered a problem over the last two minutes, certain icons in the Activity pane turn red. The MyVitalAgent system tray icon also turns red. MyVitalAgent records information about this problem in its Event Log.

Click any part of the MyVitalAgent Diagnosis window (below) to learn more about it, and then click Back to return to this topic.

Notes

♦	If there are no recent problems, the MyVitalAgent system tray icon is not red and the Diagnosis menu option is grayed out.

♦	Red dashboard icons turn gray again upon a subsequent successful operation. The MyVitalAgent Diagnosis window maintains the event for two minutes.

See Also

Understanding the MyVitalAgent Health Log

Opening the MyVitalAgent Health Log


About MyVitalAgent

The MyVitalAgent About window provides the following information:

•	The version of MyVitalAgent

•	The Copyright statement

•	To whom the software is licensed

•	The ID of the machine on which MyVitalAgent is installed

•	The type of license

•	The product code

Note

♦	Access the About window from the MyVitalAgent Help menu.


About Network Information

The Network Information window provides detailed information about your network connection.

Note

♦	Access the Network Information window from the MyVitalAgent Help menu or by pressing Alt+F6.


MyVitalAgent system tray menu options

Right-click on the MyVitalAgent system tray icon to access the following pop-up menu options:

Menu option	Description
Dashboard	Opens the MyVitalAgent dashboard.
Application Report	Opens the MyVitalAgent Application Report window.
Call Log	Opens the MyVitalAgent Call Log window.
Diagnosis	Opens the MyVitalAgent Diagnosis window.
Health Log	Opens the MyVitalAgent Health Log window.
Modem Setup	Opens the Windows Modem Setup window that you use when specifying modem preferences.
Network Setup	Opens the Windows Network window that you use when specifying network preferences.
IP Setup	Opens the IP Configuration dialog box that you use for IP configuration and Ethernet adapter information. (This option is available on Windows 95 and 98 only.)
Internet Setup	Opens the Windows Internet window that you use when specifying Internet preferences.
MyVitalAgent Help	Opens the MyVitalAgent help system.
Preferences	Opens the MyVitalAgent Preferences dialog box.
About MyVitalAgent	Provides MyVitalAgent version information and product code.
Exit	Shuts down the MyVitalAgent program.
See Also

Interpreting the MyVitalAgent system tray icons


Glossary
A	There are no entries for this letter.
B

bandwidth	The maximum transmission speed of a path or connection that is usually measured in Kbps or megabits per second (Mbps). More bandwidth indicates that more data can be transmitted per second. Capacity is sometimes used to refer to bandwidth.
C

cross icon	When MyVitalAgent is running, the MyVitalAgent cross icon appears in the system tray. Note that the color of the MyVitalAgent icon changes color to indicate the overall health of your current online session.  • Green indicates good health.  • Red indicates poor health.
D

dashboard	Term used to refer to the main MyVitalAgent window.
E

egress router	Another name for an exit (last) router in a group of intranet, ISP, or Internet backbone routers along your end-to-end path. Also referred to as the exit router.
Email application protocols	Email applications respectively use the SMTP and POP3 protocols to send and receive Email messages. MyVitalAgent monitors the performance of such Email transactions for you, and displays the results in the MyVitalAgent dashboard.
F

frame  (data packet)	A packet used to transmit data over a network.
G	There are no entries for this letter.
H

hot spots	MyVitalAgent continually monitors the components in your end-to-end path. When a problem exists with any of these components, it is considered a “hot spot.”  Do one of the following to diagnose a problem: • Click or double-click the red MyVitalAgent system tray icon. • Right-click the red MyVitalAgent system tray icon and select Health Log from the pop-up menu. • Double-click a red icon in the Activity dashboard pane. • Click [image] in the MyVitalAgent dashboard toolbar.  • Select Window and Diagnosis from the MyVitalAgent dashboard menu.
HTTP proxy	A server used for security and access control (for example, to access the Internet around a firewall) and local caching of popular Web pages. MyVitalAgent lets you monitor the performance of your proxy servers that are in your end-to-end paths.
HTTP server	A server that stores hypertext documents and sends them to such HTTP clients as an Internet browser. A Web server is an example of an HTTP server.
hyperlink (link)	A path that connects one part of a Web document to another part of the same document or to separate document or location on the World Wide Web.
I	There are no entries for this letter.
J	There are no entries for this letter.
K

kilobit (Kbps)	Kbps is kilobits per second. A kilobit is one thousand bits, or units of information. There are eight bits in a byte. Computer memory is usually measured in kilobytes or megabytes while data transmission is typically measured in kilobits per second or megabits per second (one million bits per second).  For example, if you are transferring data over the network at a rate of 22.1 Kbps, then the data is being transferred at a rate of 22,100 bits per second.
L	There are no entries for this letter.
M

main menu	The menu displayed at the top of the MyVitalAgent dashboard.
N	There are no entries for this letter.
O	There are no entries for this letter.
P

POP	Acronym for point of presence. POP3 is the protocol used to retrieve Email messages. MyVitalAgent monitors the performance of such Email transactions for you.
Q	There are no entries for this letter.
R

response time	The amount of time to respond to a request. MyVitalAgent measures the response time of the network and remote server in your current end-to-end path.
S	There are no entries for this letter.
T

throughput	The total traffic between network stations (your desktop computer and a remote application server) per unit of time. MyVitalAgent tracks the throughput of the server involved in the current end-to-end path. It reports the speed of the current transaction along with your average speed.
U	There are no entries for this letter.
V

MyVitalAgent cross icon	See cross icon.
MyVitalAgent session	A session begins when MyVitalAgent is started and ends when MyVitalAgent is exited.
W	There are no entries for this letter.
X	There are no entries for this letter.
Y	There are no entries for this letter.
Z	There are no entries for this letter.


Getting started with MyVitalAgent

To start using MyVitalAgent, click one of the following topics:

•	MyVitalAgent sample session

•	Working with the MyVitalAgent dashboard

•	Opening the MyVitalAgent Application Report

•	Opening the MyVitalAgent Call Log

•	Opening the MyVitalAgent Health Log

•	Opening the MyVitalAgent Diagnosis window


MyVitalAgent sample session

This sample session shows you how you can use the MyVitalAgent dashboard to pinpoint problems with Email transactions.

1.	Verify that MyVitalAgent is running by checking for the MyVitalAgent system tray icon [image] and then displaying the dashboard on your desktop.

2.	Start your Email application and send or receive messages.

3.	Check the TRANSACTION time digital display in the Transaction time pane on the MyVitalAgent dashboard.

From this reading, you might concur that the Email transaction is taking longer than it should.

4.	Check the CLIENT, NETWORK, and SERVER gauge and percentages in the Transaction time pane.

This reading indicates a high percentage of the delay is related to the server.

Based on the information provided by the Transaction time pane, you conclude that the server is overloaded.


Working with the MyVitalAgent dashboard

The MyVitalAgent dashboard lets you monitor the performance of your Internet applications for dial-up or LAN-based network connections. At a glance, it tells you:

•	How fast data is being transferred

•	The delay experienced during the data transfer

Opening and closing dashboard panes

•	You can open one or more dashboard panes by selecting them individually from the View menu.

•	You can open all of the dashboard panes by selecting View and Open All Panes.

•	You can close individual dashboard panes by right-clicking on the pane and then selecting Close Pane from the pop-up menu.

Closing the dashboard

You can close the MyVitalAgent dashboard without shutting down MyVitalAgent. To close the MyVitalAgent dashboard, click [image] in the MyVitalAgent title bar or press Alt+F4.

Tips

♦	If there is a problem with any of the components in your end-to-end path, the component’s icon turns red in the Activity pane.

♦	To diagnose a problem, double-click the red icon in the Activity pane.

♦	Check the Glossary for a list of terms.

♦	For information about additional options on the View menu, click here.

See Also

Exiting MyVitalAgent

Starting MyVitalAgent

Understanding the MyVitalAgent dashboard

Understanding colors in the MyVitalAgent dashboard

Interpreting the icons in the MyVitalAgent dashboard


Understanding colors in the MyVitalAgent dashboard

MyVitalAgent uses colored icons in its Activity pane to help you quickly identify problems that are impacting the performance of your Internet applications. Gray indicates a healthy state. Red indicates a problem. For instance, when there is a problem with the remote server, its dashboard icon turns red. An icon turns blue when the cursor is pointing to it.

Tips

♦	If there is a problem with any of the components in your end-to-end path, the component’s icon turns red in the Activity pane.

♦	To diagnose a problem, double-click the red icon in the Activity pane.

See Also

Interpreting the icons in the MyVitalAgent dashboard

Understanding the MyVitalAgent dashboard


Identifying objects in the Activity pane

The Activity pane graphically displays the objects in your current end-to-end path. While the MyVitalAgent client and the remote servers are always shown, other objects may be displayed in the Activity pane depending on your particular environment. For example, if your connection includes a modem, ISP, intranet, or proxy server, then the dashboard pane displays icons for these components. You can monitor the performance of applications such as Email over dial-up or LAN-based network connections. You can also monitor and test your modem connections.

By continuously monitoring activity along your end-to-end connection, MyVitalAgent reports the progress of a connection. MyVitalAgent animates and reports the following type of information:

•	The current stage of the transaction and its overall performance (health).

•	Whether data is being successfully transferred.

•	The speed and retrieval time of your current application.

•	Any recent problems encountered along your end-to-end path.

MyVitalAgent uses the Windows system tray and its dashboard to animate this application monitoring. It traces each network problem to its source—your desktop computer (the client), your modem, the intranet, your ISP, the Internet backbone, or the remote server. It quickly identifies many problems that can adversely impact the performance of your applications. After identifying problems, MyVitalAgent diagnoses the problems for you.

Tips

♦	The client-server and/or server-client traffic flow is indicated by blue dots in the Activity pane. For example, if you see a series of dots moving from the server to your MyVitalAgent client through the Internet, ISP and intranet (each represented by an icon), then the selected application is currently receiving data from the server.

See Also

Understanding the Activity pane

Interpreting the MyVitalAgent modem handshaking and connection icons

Interpreting the icons in the MyVitalAgent dashboard


Monitoring proxy servers

MyVitalAgent measures the response time of the application from the client perspective, so all end-to-end response time measurements are exactly what the client is encountering. Demarcation downstream of the proxy server is attributed to server delay.


Opening the MyVitalAgent Application report

The MyVitalAgent Application report provides a breakdown of the traffic and performance by application.

To display the MyVitalAgent Application report, do one of the following:

•	Click [image] in the MyVitalAgent dashboard toolbar.

•	Select Window and Application Report from the MyVitalAgent dashboard menu bar.

•	Right-click the MyVitalAgent system tray icon and select Application Report from the pop-up menu.

See Also

Understanding the MyVitalAgent Application report

Understanding the MyVitalAgent dashboard


Opening the MyVitalAgent Call Log

The data shown in the MyVitalAgent Call Log can help you decide whether you should upgrade to a faster modem. In addition, you can use this log to audit your monthly usage and the level of service provided by your ISP or corporation.

To open the MyVitalAgent Call Log, do one of the following:

•	Click [image] in the MyVitalAgent dashboard toolbar.

•	Select Window and Call Log from the MyVitalAgent dashboard menu bar.

•	Right-click on the MyVitalAgent system tray icon and select Call Log from the pop-up menu.

Tip

♦	To print the call log, select File and Print from the MyVitalAgent Call Log menu.

See Also

Understanding the MyVitalAgent Call Log

Obtaining details about a call

Understanding the MyVitalAgent dashboard


Obtaining details about a call

To obtain details about a modem call, perform the following steps:

1.	Open the MyVitalAgent Call Log.

2.	Click the arrow next to the call for which you want additional information. Details about the call are displayed.

3.	To view details about modem activity for the selected call, click the double arrows next to the Modem log entry at the bottom of the call detail pane.

Tips

♦	To view the detail panes for all calls, select View and Open All from the MyVitalAgent Call Log menu.

♦	To close the detail panes for all calls, select View and Close All from the MyVitalAgent Call Log menu.

♦	To print the Call Log, select File and Print from the MyVitalAgent Call Log menu.

See Also

Understanding the MyVitalAgent Call Log


Working with the MyVitalAgent Diagnosis window

When MyVitalAgent encounters a problem along your end-to-end path, the MyVitalAgent system tray icon turns red. Icons in the Activity pane also turn red to indicate a problem with a particular component in your path.

To diagnose a problem, follow these steps:

1.	From the MyVitalAgent dashboard, click the Health Log icon [image]. The MyVitalAgent Health Log opens with a list of the recent problems displayed.

2.	Select the entry you want to diagnose and click Diagnosis.

3.	View the displayed diagnosis and prescription for the selected problem.

4.	If necessary, return to the Health Log to select another problem to diagnose.

5.	Click [image] or press Alt+F4 to close the MyVitalAgent Diagnosis window.

Tips

♦	If the most recent transaction completed successfully but there was a previous error during the last two minutes, then the green MyVitalAgent cross icon appears on a dark red background [image].

♦	If you double-click on a red dashboard icon, then the diagnosis for the related problem is displayed. However, if you use another way to open the MyVitalAgent Diagnosis window, then the diagnosis and prescription for the most recent problems are displayed.

♦	If there are no recent problems, then the MyVitalAgent system tray icon is not red and the Diagnosis menu option is grayed out.

See Also

Opening the MyVitalAgent Diagnosis window

Understanding the MyVitalAgent Health Log

Understanding the MyVitalAgent dashboard


Application selector arrows

By clicking the arrows in the Application selector pane, you can switch between any of the applications you have used during this MyVitalAgent session. This lets you specify which monitored application you want to view in your MyVitalAgent dashboard. For example, to view your Web activities, click the application selector arrows until Web is displayed.


Notes about MyVitalAgent accuracy

♦	MyVitalAgent uses analysis techniques that calculate performance measurements as closely as practical within the limits of the Microsoft Windows and network environments. Due to these limits, and because MyVitalAgent was designed to minimize diagnostic traffic over the network, some of the results calculated by MyVitalAgent are close approximations, not absolute measurements.

♦	In some instances, MyVitalAgent provides the best estimate of performance for a specific attribute based on a sampling of available data. In other cases, MyVitalAgent is able to more precisely calculate the attribute based on available data.


Components of a path

In addition to monitoring the performance of the client and remote server, MyVitalAgent also monitors your Internet Service Provider (ISP), intranet, proxy server, and Internet if they are in your path. The color of the MyVitalAgent system tray icon indicates the overall health of your current end-to-end connection.


End-to-end monitoring

MyVitalAgent provides complete end-to-end, top-to-bottom visibility into each of your client-network-server transactions. The dashboard icons report the current health of the components in your path. When a component is a problem, it turns the corresponding icon in the dashboard to red. To diagnose the problem, double-click the red icon.


Hot spots

MyVitalAgent uses color in its dashboard to allow you to quickly identify potential points in your path that might be a problem. By double-clicking a red icon in the Activity pane, you can obtain additional information. These potential problem points are also called hot spots.


Hunt group

Trunk hunting is a method used to switch incoming calls to the next consecutive or available number in a hunt group. If the first number called is busy or unavailable, the call is automatically switched to the next number in the hunt group.


Kbps

Abbreviation for kilobits per second. A kilobit is one thousand bits and is a unit of measurement to indicate the speed at which data is being transferred. For example, if you are retrieving data from the network at a rate of 22.1 Kbps, then the data is being retrieved at a rate of 22,100 bits per second.


Understanding the Modem log

The MyVitalAgent Modem log provides detailed troubleshooting information about a particular modem call. This information includes the dialing sequence, handshake information, and the activity that occurred (such as Start of call, Testing dial tone, Modem in use).

Click here for instructions for accessing the Modem log.

See Also

Understanding the MyVitalAgent Call Log


Passive flow analysis

MyVitalAgent breaks each session down into its three basic components—client, network, and server—to isolate performance hot spots and indicate where to add bandwidth capacity.


Recent problems

MyVitalAgent uses its Event Log to store information about problems it has encountered. Use the MyVitalAgent Diagnosis window to view the diagnosis and prescription of the problems in the log. If there are no recent problems, then the MyVitalAgent system tray icon is not red.


Response time

The amount of time to respond to a request. MyVitalAgent measures the response time of the network and remote server in your current end-to-end path. The MyVitalAgent Application Report shows the traffic and performance (average throughput) of the five applications with the highest traffic volume.


Root cause analysis

Technology that lets you isolate problems so you know where to focus your troubleshooting efforts.


Six stages of a remote connection process

MyVitalAgent monitors the following six stages of a remote connection process:

1.	Checking for dial tone.

2.	Dialing the remote access number.

3.	Handshaking.

4.	Log in/authentication. Checking if the user is an authorized user.

5.	IP negotiation. Obtaining an IP address for your desktop computer for this dial-up session.

6.	Connected.

By monitoring every step in the remote connection process, MyVitalAgent is able to isolate specific call failures and demarcate where they occurred. Once a connection is established, MyVitalAgent tracks the complete end-to-end path between the client and the destination server for the duration of the call to assess the health and performance of applications running across the link.


Interpreting the MyVitalAgent cross colors

At startup, the MyVitalAgent program icon (also called the MyVitalAgent cross icon) appears in the Windows system tray. The MyVitalAgent cross icon changes colors to indicate the overall health of your current online connection, as shown in the following table:

Icon	Colors	Definition
	Green cross on blue background	Indicates the overall health of your current online connection is good (no problems).
	Gray cross on blue background	Indicates a dormant state. MyVitalAgent is not monitoring an application or online connection.
	Red cross on red background	Indicates the overall health of your current online connection is poor.
	Green cross on dark red background	Indicates the current transaction was completed successfully but a problem occurred during the last two minutes.
Tips

♦	Click or double-click [image] or [image] in the system tray to diagnose problems.

♦	While the MyVitalAgent program is running, the MyVitalAgent cross icon appears in the system tray.

See Also

Accessing the system tray icon

Interpreting the cross icons for the connection process and data transfer

Interpreting the MyVitalAgent system tray icons

MyVitalAgent system tray menu options


Vital signs of your online activity

By continuously monitoring the performance of your applications end-to-end, MyVitalAgent tells you exactly what is happening at every critical point. Consequently, you can easily check the following vital signs of your online activities:

•	The response time of such Internet applications as Email and Domain Name Service (DNS).

•	The transaction time of your current Internet application.

•	The failures that are occurring when you are running applications over an intranet or the Internet.

•	The server and network delays that are occurring when you run your most frequently used applications.


Running the MyVitalAgent tests

If you are using a U.S. Robotics Sportster or Courier modem, the following tests are available in MyVitalAgent:

•	Modem

•	Loopback

•	Phone line

Run the MyVitalAgent tests, as follows:

1.	Do one of the following to display the Modem application in the Application Selector pane:

•	In the Application Selector pane of the dashboard, click the right or left arrow until the Modem pane is displayed.

•	From the dashboard View menu, select Application, and then select Modem.

If you are using a U.S. Robotics Sportster or Courier modem, the modem test icon [image] becomes active.

2.	Click [image] to start the MyVitalAgent tests.

3.	Check the Activity pane for the test results (OK, N/A (not applicable), or FAIL).

Tips

♦	Use the MyVitalAgent Call Log to obtain detailed information about your modem calls.

♦	You can open the Diagnosis window if a test fails.


Modem test

If you are using a U.S. Robotics Sportster or Courier modem, the modem test tests for the presence of a modem on your system.

See Also

Running the MyVitalAgent tests

Phone line test

Loopback test


Phone line test

If you have a U.S. Robotics Sportster or Courier modem, the phone line test tests for the following:

•	If there is a phone line plugged into your computer’s modem

•	If dial tone is present

See Also

Running the MyVitalAgent tests

Modem test

Loopback test


Loopback test

If you have a U.S. Robotics Sportster or Courier modem, the loopback test tests for the following:

•	If your modem is functioning properly.

•	If your modem is able to receive and send calls.

•	If your modem is able to detect a dial tone on your phone line.

See Also

Running the MyVitalAgent tests

Modem test

Phone line test


Call detail pane

The call detail pane provides detailed information about the selected call. The call detail pane displays data such as the transmit and receive throughput speed, the amount of time it took to connect and log in, and the remote IP address accessed.

Note

♦	To view the call detail pane, click the arrow located to the left of a call entry on the MyVitalAgent Call Log.

See Also

Understanding the MyVitalAgent Call Log


Opening the MyVitalAgent Health Log

Do one of the following to open the MyVitalAgent Health Log:

•	On the MyVitalAgent Dashboard, click [image].

•	From the MyVitalAgent system tray menu, select Health Log.

See Also

Understanding the MyVitalAgent Health Log

Accessing the MyVitalAgent system tray


Interpreting the MyVitalAgent results

Click one of the following topics to learn more about the information displayed by MyVitalAgent:

•	Interpreting results in the MyVitalAgent dashboard

•	Interpreting the MyVitalAgent system tray icons


Interpreting results in the MyVitalAgent dashboard

Click one of the following topics to learn more about the data displayed on the MyVitalAgent dashboard:

•	Understanding the MyVitalAgent dashboard

•	Interpreting the icons in the MyVitalAgent dashboard

•	Interpreting animation in the MyVitalAgent dashboard

•	Interpreting the MyVitalAgent modem dialing icons

•	Interpreting the MyVitalAgent modem handshaking and connection icons

•	Interpreting the MyVitalAgent connection process and data transfer icons


Interpreting the icons in the MyVitalAgent dashboard

The icons shown below can appear in the MyVitalAgent dashboard. These icons represent the components in the current end-to-end path that MyVitalAgent is monitoring. These icons also let you monitor your modem activities.

MyVitalAgent uses colored icons to allow you to quickly identify potential problems. When the following icons are red, they represent potential problems. Double-click a red icon to obtain additional information.

MyVitalAgent dashboard icons

	Your computer, which represents the client portion of your current client/server connection.			The HTTPS client, which represents the client (your computer) that is currently connected to the HTTPS server.
	Your modem, if you are connecting to the internet with a dialup modem or if you have a DSL or cable modem connection.			Internet backbone, if you are connected to the Internet.
	Your phone line, if you are connecting to your intranet or an ISP with a modem.			Your ISP, if you are connected to the Internet using an ISP.
	Your intranet, if you are connected to a four-lane intranet. This icon indicates a local area network (LAN) connection.			Your intranet, if you are connected to a  two-lane intranet. This icon indicates a wide area network (WAN) connection.
	Database server being accessed.			Email server being used.
	The proxy server being used (if there is one in your end-to-end path) and the remote server you are currently connected to.			HTTPS server you are currently connected to.
	A blue dashboard icon of any kind indicates that the cursor is pointing to the icon.			A red dashboard icon of any kind indicates there is a problem with that object in your end-to-end path (for example, a red server icon indicates a server problem). Double-click a red icon to diagnose the problem.
Tips

♦	Blue dots in the Activity pane indicate the client/server or server/client traffic flow. For example, if the animation shows dots moving from the server to your MyVitalAgent client through the Internet, ISP and intranet, then the selected application is currently receiving data from the server.

♦	The MyVitalAgent Application Report provides a breakdown of traffic and performance by application type.

♦	Red icons are also called hot spots.

See Also

Working with the MyVitalAgent dashboard

Understanding colors in the MyVitalAgent dashboard


Interpreting the MyVitalAgent dashboard animation

View the animated icons in the Activity pane to monitor your online activities. The contents of this pane vary depending on your environment (for example, whether you have an intranet, ISP, proxy server, or Internet connection).

Tips

♦	The client-network-server flow is indicated by blue dots in the Activity pane.

♦	If there is a problem with any of the components in your current path, the corresponding Activity pane icon turns red.

♦	On the MyVitalAgent dashboard, you can move the cursor over an icon to display the location represented by the icon.

See Also

Understanding the Activity pane

Understanding the MyVitalAgent dashboard

Working with the MyVitalAgent dashboard

Interpreting the icons in the MyVitalAgent dashboard

Understanding colors in the MyVitalAgent dashboard


Interpreting the MyVitalAgent system tray icons

The results of the continual end-to-end monitoring of your applications are displayed in the Windows system tray.

Click one of the following topics to learn more about it:

•	Interpreting the cross icons in the Windows system tray

•	Interpreting the cross icons for the connection process and data transfer

•	Interpreting MyVitalAgent modem dialing icons

•	Interpreting the MyVitalAgent modem handshaking and connection icons

•	Interpreting the cross icons for a connection process and data transfer


 Interpreting the MyVitalAgent modem dialing icons

The following icons display in the Activity pane and in the Windows system tray as a connection is being dialed using a modem:

Modem dialing icons	Description
	Appears briefly to represent the phone going off hook and accessing dial tone.
	The modem is dialing. A white dot moves across and down the icon to indicate that the number is being dialed.
	The number has been successfully dialed.
	A dialing error occurred.
See Also

Interpreting the MyVitalAgent modem handshaking and connection icons

Interpreting the icons in the MyVitalAgent dashboard

Interpreting the MyVitalAgent system tray icons

Interpreting the cross icons in the Windows system tray

Interpreting the cross icons for the connection process and data transfer


Interpreting the MyVitalAgent modem handshaking and connection icons

The following icons display in the Activity pane and in the Windows system tray during the handshake and connection part of the dialing process when a modem is used.

Modem handshaking  and connection icons	Description
	Handshaking is underway. Icons change as the handshake proceeds.
	Log in (authentication). Icons change as the program checks if the user is an authorized user.
	IP negotiation. Icons change as your desktop computer is being assigned an IP address for this dial-up session.
	Modem is connecting. Icons change as the modem is connected.
See Also

Interpreting the MyVitalAgent modem dialing icons

Interpreting the icons in the MyVitalAgent dashboard

Interpreting the MyVitalAgent system tray icons

Interpreting the cross icons in the Windows system tray

Interpreting the cross icons for the connection process and data transfer

Interpreting MyVitalAgent modem dialing icons

Interpreting the cross icons for a connection process and data transfer


Interpreting the cross icons for the connection process and data transfer

The following MyVitalAgent cross icons appear in the dashboard and in the Windows system tray during connection and data transfer:

Connection process icons	Description
	First stage of connection is underway (for example, a DNS query).
	Second stage of connection is underway (for example, attempting to connect to the remote server).
Data transfer icons	Description
	Left-to-right animation. Indicates that data is being predominately transferred from your desktop computer. Right-to-left animation indicates that data is predominately being transferred to your desktop computer.
	Glowing cross icon. The current transfer succeeded.
	Red cross on red background. The current transfer failed.
	Green cross on dark red background. The current transfer succeeded, however, there was a recent transfer error.
See Also

Interpreting the icons in the MyVitalAgent dashboard

Interpreting the MyVitalAgent system tray icons

Interpreting the cross icons in the Windows system tray

Interpreting MyVitalAgent modem dialing icons

Interpreting the MyVitalAgent modem handshaking and connection icons


MyVitalAgent balloon help

MyVitalAgent has balloon help for its digital displays and charts. To display the balloon help, move your cursor over the dashboard object. If balloon help is available for the object, a brief description is displayed.


Active application

MyVitalAgent automatically starts monitoring the applications currently running on your network. Although MyVitalAgent concurrently monitors multiple applications, only one application is displayed at any one time within the MyVitalAgent dashboard.