Version 2.5 User's Guide
Configuring PageSentry	Previous | Next Contents

PageSentry is easily configured. In fact, if your Mac is already configured for Internet access, there is very little left to do before getting started. PageSentry is configured via the Preferences option under the Setup menu and consists of four sections: Logging, TCP/IP, Notifiers, and Extra.

Logging Preferences Tab

PageSentry logs the activities of your Sentries and Pulses using either a Simple or a Verbose description. Figure 2 shows the Logging Preferences dialog box.

Figure 2: The Logging Preferences dialog box.

You may select from the following choices for Sentry logging: None, Simple, Verbose, and Log Successful Tests, which is checked by default. Log Successful Tests will greatly increase the size of your log files, so you may want to uncheck this option.

The logging options for the Pulse are the same as for Sentry logging, except for the ability to turn off the logging of successful tests, since pulses do not perform tests at all.

TCP/IP Preferences Tab

You may adjust the time allowed for PageSentry to connect to the various Internet servers you are monitoring before possibly timing out and reporting errors. This is an important feature because a Sentry monitoring a server over a slow network connection or on a slow network needs more time to connect to the server and perform the test action (retrieve a page, download a file, etc.) than if the connection were on a faster network. Figure 3 shows the TCP/IP Preferences dialog box.

Figure 3: The TCP/IP Preferences dialog box.

The TCP/IP preferences are explained below along with their default settings:

Resolve Domain Names (60 Seconds)

The time allowed for PageSentry to complete a DNS lookup before reporting an error. Note that this timeout is not specific to testing Domain Name Servers, but rather affects the DNS lookup for all test types. (For example, to test the HTTP server at "www.maxum.com", a DNS lookup must be performed to find the server first.)

Initial Connection (60 Seconds)

The time allowed for a Sentry to connect to a server before reporting an error or issuing a second connection attempt.

Single Packet Response (60 Seconds)

The time allowed for PageSentry to receive the first packet in response to a Sentry's request for data before reporting an error.

Complete Transaction (120 Seconds)

The total amount of time PageSentry will allow for a complete Sentry transaction before reporting an error.

Failed Test Retry (5 Seconds)

When PageSentry detects an error, it will always re-run the test to verify that the server is not responding correctly. The "Failed Test Retry" preference allows you to set the delay between the first test and the second.

The time allowed for each of these settings is measured in seconds. If a particular transaction cannot be completed within the set time, an appropriate error will be logged and a Sentry will notify you of the problem.

You may select the "Reset Factory Defaults" button to erase your changes to these settings and restore PageSentry's defaults.

Notifiers Preferences Tab

PageSentry includes several options that allow you to customize failure notifications for your specific application. These options are particularly useful when PageSentry communicates with other applications, allowing you to customize how the data is received by paging software, e-mail gateways, or other programs.

E-Mail subjects can also be customized for each Notifier; however, the preferences selected will determine the format of the subject when the Notifier subject is left blank, as well as for "Back Up" notifications.

Figure 4: The Notifier Preferences dialog box.

Include Extended Information In E-Mail Subject

Some e-mail to pager gateways send the "Subject" field of e-mail messages to the pager. This option allows you to have a complete summary of the server failure sent in the subject of the message so that it will appear on your pager. The option is also handy for telling, at a glance of the subject, what the problem is, though the e-mail subject may be quite long. When this option is checked, the subject field of the mail message will include the name of the Sentry, the problem URL or address, and the complete description of the error.

Use Shortened E-Mail Messages

PageSentry's standard e-mail messages are only a few lines long, but you may select a shortened version, primarily to make integration with e-mail to pager and other gateways easier.

Include Notifier In Sentry Names

Normally, the name of the Notifier is not included in failure notifications. If you would like to know not only which Sentry has detected an error, but the Notifier that is being run, check this option.

Always Send Back Up Notification

For each Notifier, you have the option of specifying a notification delay, which causes PageSentry to wait for a period of time after detecting a server error before it sends the failure notice (See "Defining Notifiers" for details). When a notification delay has been set, it is possible for a server to fail and then return to service before the failure notification is sent, eliminating the need to send it at all. Normally PageSentry will not send a "back up" notification when it has not sent a failure notification. If you would like to be notified when a server fails but returns to service before the Notifier was triggered, check this option and you will receive the "back up" notice even when the failure message was not sent.

Extra Preferences Tab

In the Extra Preferences dialog, you can configure seven additional options, as shown in Figure 5, below.

Figure 5: The Extra Preferences dialog box.

Reduce Status Window Updates

Normally, the Status Window reflects the status of Sentries in real time, updating the "Time To Check" field every second for each Sentry. Checking this box will cause the window to update the Time To Check for all Sentries every 10 seconds, or when a Sentry actually performs a test. Updates also occur whenever you single-click on a Sentry. Reducing the update frequency is particularly useful for users who use remote control software such as Timbuktu.

Synchronize Sentry Times

When checked, this option causes all Sentries to execute within 20 to 40 seconds of launching PageSentry. From then on, PageSentry will run all Sentries within the 20 second period, provided the test times are the same or even intervals. While this is helpful for using dial-up connections to monitor servers, we do not recommend using this option when running more than 10 Sentries, as it will cause activity peaks rather than an even distribution of testing by PageSentry. Note: After checking this option, you must restart PageSentry for the change to take effect.

Ask "Are You Sure" When Quitting

On quitting PageSentry, a dialog box will prompt you to confirm the action. This prevents inadvertently quitting PageSentry with accidental keystrokes, and it adds functionality for users who control PageSentry with automated processes.

Use Short Date in Message

E-mail and PageNow messages configured to use the Date token display the date in the form "Sunday, February 1, 1998". This option causes messages to show a shorter form: "2/1/98".

Use Short Time in Message (No Seconds)

As above, selecting this option causes the time shown in messages using the Time token to be displayed without seconds: "12:38 PM" versus "12:38:52 PM".

Use Local Time Format in Logs

This option simply causes entries in the log files to be notated with the local time format selected for the machine that PageSentry resides on, as defined in the Date and Time Control Panel. This format will be the abbreviated format. When this option is not checked, the Internet standard date format is used.

Beep When Any Sentry Is In Error

When this feature is enabled, a system beep sound will be played every 10 seconds whenever any Sentry is currently reporting an error. In other words, when any Sentry detects a failure, PageSentry will audibly beep until the tested service is restored. The cause of the audible PageSentry warning can be found by looking for the red "ERR" lines in the PageSentry status window.

Alternate Mail Server

If an e-mail Notifier is unable to send e-mail via its configured server (if the server is down, for instance), PageSentry will attempt to send mail via this alternate server.

Copyright © 1995-98 Maxum Development Corporation 820 South Bartlett Road - Suite 104 Streamwood, IL 60107 http://www.maxum.com/ Rev. 2/18/98	Previous | Next Contents