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"ServerCam" "The Server Console Video Cam" Console Recording And Playback For NetWare Servers CIRCUIT MASTERS SOFTWARE, INC. 14235 Bissonnet # 77 Houston, Tx 77083 U.S.A. Sales: (713) 242-9353 Fax: (713) 242-4632 Customer Support: (409) 335-6126 BBS: (409) 335-4786 CIS: 72103,2327 "SERVER CAM" PRODUCT MANUAL TO OUR VALUED CUSTOMERS, Thank You for making the ServerCam choice. This powerful product has been specifically developed to allow you to increase productivity in your network environment and gain maximum network up-time. Once ServerCam has been implemented into your facility, we feel confident that you will be pleased with the additional amount of extra time that you will have to spend in other important areas. We place a very high value on feedback from our User's. Any input, comments or suggestions that you may have to offer could result in an improved Product. Your input will be most appreciated and certainly considered in our future releases. Take a moment and drop us a line or send us a fax. Our fax number is 713-242-4632 and your comments are welcome. Circuit Masters Software, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced, copied, transmitted, transcribed or translated in any form or by any means without prior written permission of Circuit Masters Software, Inc.. Circuit Masters Software, Inc. provides this manual "as is", without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, including to , the limited warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. Circuit Masters Software, Inc. may make improvements and/or changes in the products) and/or the programs described in this manual at any time and without notice. Changes are periodically made to the information herein. These changes will be incorporated in new editions of this publication. Updated 03-12-95, V1.20. (c) Copyright 1994, 95 Circuit Masters Software, Inc. ServerCam is a Trademark of Circuit Masters Software, Inc. **************************************************************************** **************************************************************************** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ! Recently, Server Sentry was test driven by a writer from Network World. The detailed results of the Product Evaluation can be found in Network World magazine, the "LAN World" section, Feb. 13, 1995 issue, page L1. The topic was: "HOT LAN TOOLS RELIEVING NET MANAGEMENT BURDEN" "Network managers responsible for NetWare file servers shouldn't do without Server Sentry. It is simply fundamental for handling ABENDS in a timely, effective way" states Mark Gibbs, a consultant and writer based in Ventura, CA. **************************************************************************** **************************************************************************** This fully functional demo copy of our "Server Cam" software product represents the Server Cam program, in its entirety. This document will be updated regularly until the production version is complete. This fully functional demo will time out in thirty (30) days from the date in which you install it. You have permission to print 1 (one) copy of this documentation solely for the purpose of evaluating the ServerCam Demo product. CONTENTS Chapter 1 Program Overview Introduction 1-2 Copyright/Trademark Acknowledgements 1-2 Features 1-2 Program Overview 1-3 Chapter 2 Installation Software/Hardware Requirements 2-2 Installing 2-2 Loading The VideoCam NLM 2-4 Chapter 3 How The Video NLM Works How Screens Are Recorded 3-2 The ServerCam Interface 3-3 Stopping The Recording Process 3-4 Chapter 4 Viewing Video Image Files Viewing Video Image Files 4-2 Keys Available During Playback 4-3 Stopping Playback 4-4 Chapter 5 Miscellaneous Customer Support 5-2 Product Updates 5-3 Other Products 5-4 How To Order A Product 5-7 Chapter 1 PROGRAM OVERVIEW Introduction 1-2 Copyright/Trademark Acknowledgements 1-2 Features 1-2 Program Overview 1-3 Program Overview 1-1 INTRODUCTION As a System Administrator or network manager, we know that you are constantly looking for economical solutions in which to increase productivity on your network. Maximum Network Up-Time represents increased productivity and savings for your company. ServerCam will not only enhance the overall operation of your Novell File server, but save your organization thousands on support and training costs alone. COPYRIGHT/TRADEMARK ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ServerCam is a trademark of Circuit Masters Software, Inc. NetWare is a registered trademark of Novell, Inc.. All other trademarks are of their respective manufacturer. FEATURES Record real-time video images Playback with included utility VCR like controls for fast forward, rewind, pause, etc. Video Image Compression up to 75% Low resource utilization Superior support and training tool Program Overview 1-2 PROGRAM OVERVIEW ServerCam is a Netware Loadable Module that emulates a time-lapse video recorder connected to the server console. i.e.. every command that is typed, every screen that is selected, updated, created, destroyed, etc. is recorded in real-time for later playback. When a Server Cam video file is played back, using the VidView program that is included, you see events exactly as they happened, and when they happened. You can use VCR like controls such as Fast Forward, Reverse, Pause etc. to view the video at your own pace. Just like a time-lapse video recording, date and time information is optionally displayed on the screen during playback, along with an optional frame counter. Program Overview 1-3 This break-through technology has many powerful uses; Surveillance Quality Control Problem Solving Documentation Training While these are just a few of it's uses, we're sure that ServerCam will become an indispensable tool for your Network Management tool-box. Program Overview 1-4 Chapter 2 INSTALLATION ServerCam Software/Hardware Requirements 2-2 Installation 2-3 Loading The ServerCam NLM 2-6 Installation 2-1 SERVER-CAM SOFTWARE/HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS ServerCam requires that the file server be running Novell NetWare version 3.1x or higher. For Netware v3.1x Servers, CLIB v3.12h or greater is recommended. For Netware v4.02 Servers, CLIB v4.01e or greater is recommended. INSTALLING SERVER-CAM * Place the ServerCam diskette in the file server's A:Drive. From the server console, * TYPE LOAD A:CINSTALL License Information Form = = > Installation 2-2 * Complete the License Form, filling in the Organization and Company Name fields. * Enter the license key number that was sealed with your ServerCam Diskette. => Note: If this is a demonstration version, the license key # should remain with the default "blank". Once the initial install is complete, the program is registered. * Press <ESC> to SAVE the License Registration Information Once the license information has been saved, it cannot be changed. Installation 2-3 LOADING THE VIDEO.NLM To LOAD the VIDEO.NLM, type the following command at the server console: * LOAD VIDEO The following actions are performed at the VIDEO.NLM startup. 1. All active server screens are registered. 2. A SYS:\CAM\CONSOLE.VID file is created or opened for append. 3. A Video Cam screen is created. 4. All screen activities are recorded. Installation 2-4 Chapter 3 How The Video NLM Works How Screens Are Recorded 3-2 The ServerCam Interface 3-3 Stopping The Recording Process 3-4 How The Video NLM Works 3-1 HOW SCREENS ARE RECORDED This section attempts to describe how screens are recorded. On a Novell v3-4x file server there may exist many different screens, all of which may be updated simultaneously, however only one screen is displayed on the file server monitor at a time. Under normal circumstances and good programming etiquette, a screen is not updated unless it is displayed on the server monitor. However, an exception to this are messages that are generated on the System Console screen. The VIDEO.NLM has been developed to record only changes that take place on the screen that is currently displayed on the monitor, or whenever the System Console Screen is updated. All screen data is compressed before being written to disk, which conserves the amount of space required to store the video images. Under normal circumstances, one video image frame consumes 4k, compared to an average size of 1k using compression. How The Video NLM Works 3-2 THE SERVER-CAM INTERFACE After the VIDEO.NLM is loaded, a screen similar to the one shown below is displayed, and the screen image recording process is begun. The statistics on this screen are defined as follows: Total Frames Recorded - Number of screen images that have been written to the video file. Disk Space In Use - Number of bytes of disk space occupied by the video file. Frame Collisions - Number of times a screen update was called with duplicate image data. Invalid Screen Handles - Number of times a screen update was called but the handle was invalid. Current Server Screens - Number of screens currently active on the file server. Last Frame - The last date and time a screen image was written to disk. Video File Name - The name of the file currently used to store video images. Current Screen Requests - The number of screen images currently in queue to be compressed and written to disk. How The Video NLM Works 3-3 STOPPING THE RECORDING PROCESS To STOP screen updates from being recorded the VIDEO.NLM must be unloaded from the server's memory. At the file server's console prompt enter the following command: * UNLOAD VIDEO Issuing this command will cause the VIDEO.NLM to shutdown it's screen recording facilities and close the video image file. The saved video image file can be played back using the VIDVIEW utility found in the file server's SYS:\CAM directory that was created during the installation process. How The Video NLM Works 3-4 Chapter 4 Viewing Video Image Files Viewing Video Image Files 4-2 Keys Available During Playback 4-3 Stopping Playback 4-4 Viewing Video Image Files 4-1 VIEWING VIDEO IMAGE FILES After recording screen images with the VIDEO.NLM, you can play them back on any PC using the VIDVIEW program. To RUN the vidview program, * Change to the SYS:\CAM directory on the file server Enter the following command: * VIDVIEW The following screen will be created: => => This screen lists all of the Video image files located in the current directory. Video image files are identified by the .VID extension. Each file is listed with the first and last frame date / time stamp, total number of frames, and the number of bytes the file occupies on the disk. The following keys are available from this file list. ENTER - View Video File DEL - Erase Video File UP/DOWN - Scroll through list ESC - Exit VIDVIEW To BEGIN VIEWING a video file, * Select the file to be viewed, press <ENTER>. The VIDVIEW screen will be cleared and the screen image of the file server will be => => displayed similar to shown below. Notice in the upper right hand corner of the screen there are two numbers separated by a colon. This is the frame counter, the left hand number represents the frame number currently displayed, the right hand number represents the total number of frames in the video recording. Notice in the lower right hand corner of the screen the date and time information. This represents the actual date and time the screen image was recorded. During playback this "clock" will continuously be updated to reflect the actual time when the recording took place. Viewing Video Image Files 4-2 KEYS AVAILABLE DURING PLAYBACK Video images are played back in real-time, i.e. if a screen was updated once at 2:00pm and not again until 11:30pm, VIDVIEW would allow the same amount of time to elapse before the next screen update is displayed. Therefore it is often desirable to navigate through the video image recording using fast forward, reverse and pause controls. The following keys are used to navigate the video image: > Fast Forward Display each screen rapidly in forward motion. < Reverse Display each screen rapidly in reverse motion. / Play Play video in real-time in forward motion. Space Pause, temporarily stop playback. ESC Exit playback F2 Select Options from pop-up menu. If you are unsure about which keys are assigned to a particular function, * Press <F2> to use the POPUP MENU as shown below => => Some other options available from the pop-up menu are: Disable Clock - Removes the clock display from the lower right hand corner of the screen. Disable Counter - Removes the counter display from the upper right hand corner of the screen. Viewing Video Image Files 4-3 STOPPING PLAYBACK When you have FINISHED viewing a video image file, * Press <ESC> to return to the VIDVIEW Main Menu. Otherwise, once the video image file has been displayed from first to last frame, playback will automatically end. DELETING A VIDEO IMAGE FILE To DELETE A video image file, * Select the desired file from the file list, * Press <DEL> Upon pressing the delete key, confirmation will be required before the file is actually erased as shown below => => EXITING VIDVIEW To EXIT the VidView program, * Press <ESC> from the main file list Confirmation will be required before exiting, as shown below => => Viewing Video Image Files 4-4 Chapter 5 Miscellaneous Customer Support 5-2 Product Updates 5-3 Other Products 5-4 How To Order A Product 5-7 Miscellaneous 5-1 CUSTOMER SUPPORT ServerCam is backed by a customer support system designed to offer you prompt and courteous service. If you have exhausted all other HELP avenues and need a friendly voice to help you with your problem, follow these steps: Try to duplicate the problem, keystroke by keystroke, to see exactly what was done. Document each move. Be at your computer when you call Customer Support. Have your manual and license number handy. If possible, fax us any details or pertinent information ahead of time which you feel may help us understand and resolve your problem. Call Circuit Masters Software, Inc. on our direct technical support line at (409) 335-6126. Circuit Masters Software, Inc. offers a 24 hour BBS. This service contains fully functional demo packages, update documentation, product literature, etc.. Our BBS number is 409-335-4786. Miscellaneous 5-2 PRODUCT UPDATES If any changes have been incorporated into the software that are presently not reflected in the manual/documentation, a READ.ME file will be located on the original ServerCam Installation Diskette and in the directory specified during the installation process. If applicable, you will have the opportunity to view this file upon the initial installation. The READ ME file will also be copied into the ServerCam directory. * Print this file and attach it to your User's Manual. To receive notices concerning product updates and new product releases, * Fill out and mail back the User Registration Card Mailing back this Card is the only method which will ensure that you are added to our mailing list. Miscellaneous 5-3 OTHER PRODUCTS Phantom of The Console Order #PC5000. The Original Console Scheduler. This powerful scheduler NLM automatically monitors and executes any valid NetWare command, NCF file or Phantom Command File. Simple scripting language adds workstation capabilities to the server using If...Then, while & repeat loops, macros and user defined variables. Utilize commands in scripts like: attach, break, console, copy, date delete, delay, dir dspace, edit, echo, goto, help, killuser, login, walktree, xcopy (supports the DOS partition) and many more. Use a Phantom Command file to automate most any situation. Includes DOS & Windows Interface. Access job lists, server console or execute a job to run immediately. Fully automate back-up procedures (including back-up of the DOS partition) by automatically starting & stopping NLM's. Send keystrokes directly to NLM screens, automating SBACKUP and other menu driven NLM's. Run multiple processes simultaneously. Increased security includes password protection, encrypted batch files and control of volumes when not in use. Reporting utility documents date, time, description of the job, commands executed and job results. Automatically logoff users. Perform automatic file transfers routinely or based on pre-defined criteria. Move print jobs between queues. Send broadcast messages and much more. Phantom of The Console GOLD Order # PG5000. Includes all of the features of the Basic package and much more. Avoid potentially catastrophic network scenarios by automatically responding to NetWare O/S alerts, database messages & other network monitoring packages. Avoid downtime or loss of data on the network. Automatically resolve network problems as they occur using pre-defined solutions. The Gold offers file operations such as copy, move, delete, rename, flag, etc. on remote servers, as well as local servers. harness the power of idle workstations. Execute jobs requiring DOS platforms like: database consolidation, produce reports, run client based applications, manipulate large database files, etc.. Distribute an unlimited number of interactive tasks from a server to client workstations and control these tasks from the server. Schedule jobs on the workstation and the server. Includes 5 client agents. Phantom of The Console PLATINUM Order # PP5000. The ultimate network automation solution, including all of the features of the Gold and more. Includes 2 Server Sentry NLM's, 2 Volume Sentry NLM's, 2 CORA NLM's, 2 server agents with all of the features of the Gold, and 20 client agents. Server Sentry Order # SS5000. The Intelligent Server Uptime Tool. Document & respond to ABENDs as they occur. The only monitoring tool of it's kind providing immediate assistance without user intervention. Automatically re-boot the server. Generate a chronological history file containing: all O/S registers, current stack pointer, process running at the time of the ABEND, ABEND error code, ABEND descriptions, system date & time, NetWare ABEND message format and ALL active screen images. User defined parameters trigger pager notification that is compatible with both numeric & alpha pagers. Miscellaneous 5-4 User defines which key personnel will be called based on time of day, day of week or complexity of the problem. Engineers, managers and financial personnel get the information immediately, as Server Sentry generates detailed "downtime cost analysis reports". ServerCam Order # SC2000 A revolutionary NLM that emulates a time-lapse video recorder connected to the server console. Each command that is typed and each screen that is selected, updated, created or destroyed, etc. is recorded real-time in a ServerCam video file. When played back you see all of the events, exactly when and as they happened on the server, in real video images (not an ASCII log file) ! VCR-like controls such as Fast Forward, Reverse, Pause, etc. allow you to view & navigate the video file at your own pace & convenience. Date/time & frame counter are optionally displayed on the screen during playback. Run surveillance on any server. Use for problem solving, training, quality control, documentation and much more. Upgrade Express Order #UE5000. The right stuff in "Electronic Software Distribution" on both the LAN and the WAN, at the price you have been waiting for. Upgrade Express offers complete enterprise control from a central location. Features include: hierarchical distribution schema, DOS & Windows interface, progress/status reporting features, user notification capabilities, keyboard/mouse record playback, copy/move/delete files, push/pull technology, hardware/software inventory, true "rollback" UNDO feature, powerful scheduling capabilities, Windows INI & text file editing, set file attributes, Windows program manager control, supports all major networks & more. Volume Sentry Order # VS5000. Automate the volume repair process on NetWare file servers. When a volume cannot mount or is dismounted due to errors, Volume Sentry takes over and runs VREPAIR to repair and mount the defective volume. Volume Sentry will retry until the volume is mounted or until a user specified number of retries has been reached. All actions are recorded into a log file. StayUp Order # SU4000. Automatically reboot NetWare services 24 hours a day. No more running from machine to machine trying to re-establish connections with the file server. StayUp is a TSR utility program which automatically reboots and re-establishes the network connection for : dedicated print servers, tape back-ups, fax servers, network bridges, mail gateways, E-Mail servers, dial-up gateways, CD-ROM servers, network gateways, unattended workstations, mainframe connections, BBS's, etc.. Runs on all versions of NetWare. Takes less than 2K of RAM. Miscellaneous 5-5 Z-Menu Order # ZM4000. The last word in menu systems. Features include: shadow menus, custom help screens, 39 programmable function keys, password support, desktop background configurable, customizable menu borders-single & double, mouse support, moveable menu windows, customizable menu header, converts Novell & Saber formats, compiled menus for added security, hotkeys access utilities anywhere within menu, desktop accessories & more. Runs on NetWare 286 V2.xx, NetWare V3,xx & V4.xx. 0K RAM overhead on item execution. CORA Order # CO5000. Console Output Recording Agent for Novell File Servers. This NetWare Loadable Module will record any screen output on the file server to a log file. This information can then be reviewed later when network personnel are available. Useful for documenting boot sequences, error recording etc. Runs on NetWare V3.x & 4.x. Miscellaneous 5-6 To Order This Product To order any of our Products, please call our toll free number at (800) 764-5444 or call (713) 242-9353. Your Purchase Order or Request For Quote will be accepted direct to fax number (713) 242-4632. Payment Terms are net 30 days. Delivery is the same day your order is received in our office. Shipping unless otherwise specified, is U.S. Express Mail (next day). We have distributors in many states and many countries. Please call for the distributor nearest you or send a fax request to (713) 242-4632. For technical assistance or customer support, please call (409) 335-6126. We can also be reached on CIS: 72103, 2327. Miscellaneous 5-7 HOW LONG HAVE YOU KNOWN ? TOP 5 PRIORITIES OF NETWORK MANAGERS ? Increase productivity Reduce downtime Reduce computing/communications costs Fine-tune network performance Plan for a growing computing infrastructure COST OF NETWORK DOWNTIME PER HOUR ? between $ 5,000.00 - $ 10,000.00 / hour between $ 10,000.00 - $ 50,000.00 / hour between $ 50,000.00 and $ 100,000.00 / hour WHAT ARE YOUR COSTS ? Circuit Masters Software, Inc.'s products offer you instant benefits, including an immediate return on your investment!