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    The following issues have been resolved:
  • SMTP test: for some SMTP servers could return wrong "Bad" status
  • HTTP test: new handler for resource allocation error
  • HMScript processor: script could stop execution after "LoadTestList" and "NewTestList" commands
  • Log Analyzer: fixed an error in "Adjust" function of full screen chart. Previously it handled negative values of test reply incorrectly
  • Action Profiles dialog: new button "Sort" allows you to sort action profiles in alphabetical order
  • Test Properties dialog: new common log option allows you to change logging mode (Default/Brief/Full) for each test
  • Import function: now when you specify a Master test(s) you may provide also the names of tests from the import file and/or from already loaded HML file (in older versions you have to specify Master test(s) from the same import file)
  • Now all "run external program" actions/methods use an account that was specified for the service (if HostMonitor running as Win32 service)
  • Now "good" action that depends on some "bad" action will not be executed when test changes a status good->unknown->good and "Treat unknown as bad" option is disabled
  • SMTP test: now sends QUIT command to the server
  • SNMP test: now supports OIDs with the length up to 128 parts
    The following issues have been resolved:
  • "Send message to pager (TAP)" and "Send message to numeric pagers" actions were using "auto select" device when user selected 1st installed modem
  • File actions.lst in the distributive was corrupted ("reboot" profile).
    If you have/had installed an old version of HostMonitor, please, remove the "reboot" profile.
  • Version 3.68
  • Ping test: now you can set Timeout and Packets parameters to 0. In this case HostMonitor will use default values specified on Ping/Trace page in the Options dialog
  • Trace test (inaccuracy corrected): when test fails, macro variables %TraceFull% and %TraceBrief% is still displaying the information about last passed test.
  • URL test: now HostMonitor sets "Bad" status in case when response received from a server indicates some error (e.g. Page Not Found); 'no answer" status utilized only when no response received. Earlier HostMonitor used "no answer" status in both cases.
  • LDAP test: now HostMonitor performs search for whole sub tree (not just for base object as it was earlier).
  • ODBC test: displays response time when you don't use "Check field" option. If you use "Check field" option, test displays field value (as in previous version).
  • ODBC test: multiline queries processing has been corrected
  • SMTP test (important!): fixed error that could cause the application to crash
  • SNMP test: now if you use test to check the changes of the counter's value, HostMonitor will display corresponding relative value of the counter. E.g. if you use "increases per sec" option, HostMonitor will display difference between current and previous values of the counter divided by time (in seconds)
  • DBF reports: type of the "AliveRatio", "DeadRatio", and "UnknownRatio" fields changed from integer to float
  • Log Analyzer: new "Adjust" item has been added into chart's popup menu. It adjusts vertical axis so all bars (those representing test results) selected in the last "Zoom" operation will fit on screen
  • Version 3.64
  • LDAP test: added "Results limit" option
  • ODBC test: added "If field is unavailable, set status: Unknown/Bad/Ok" option
  • New "Protect Reset/Stop/Start" option (Misc page in the Options dialog)
  • New "Do not use SQLFetchAbsolute" option (Misc page in the Options dialog)
  • New "User DSN/System DSN" option (Misc page in the Options dialog)
  • 6 new macro variables:
    - %Interval%
    - %LastTestTime%
    - %AlertThreshold%
    - %PreviousStatusTime%
    - %PreviousStatusDuration%
    - %PreviousStatusDuration_Sec%
  • Folders' new property: "Create reports before reset statistics" (located on Statistics page in the Folder Properties dialog)
  • Now while defining target files for reports you can use date macro variables (DD, MM, YY, etc)
  • Version 3.60
  • New action: Log Event
  • New action: SNMP Trap
  • New "Recursive mode" option for the "Generate reports" action
  • New macro variable %NTEventUser% (applicable for Event Log test only)
  • HTML, Compact HTML, and Custom HTML reports support new macro variables in the header/footer sections:
    - %DisabledTests%
    - %WaitForMasterTests%
    - %OutOfScheduleTests%
  • Now %HostAddr% macro variable (represents server name) is applicable for UNC test
  • Performance Counter test: now "Display mode" option has effect for Reply, MinReply, MaxReply, and AverageReply fields (before it had effect for Reply field only)
    The following issues have been resolved:
  • HTTP test mixed username & password
  • Compact HTML report in some cases could display different field than specified one (field displayed on buttons in the report)
  • Version 3.56
  • Folders: added new property "reset statistics daily / weekly / monthly / quarterly". Now HostMonitor can reset statistical information at regular basis, periodicity of operation can be specified separately for each folder or can be inherited from the parent folder.
  • Improved NT Event Log test:
    - new, much more flexible filter
    - 6 new macro variables: %NTEventSource%, %NTEventComp%, %NTEventTime%, %NTEventType%, %NTEventID%, %NTEventText%
    - added "Report about last Bad event" / "Report about all Bad events" options
    - you don't need to synchronize timers on local/remote systems anymore. Now the test works correctly even in case systems (monitored and monitoring systems) located in different time zones.
  • Improved TCP test: added "Timeout" parameter. If it's value is 0 (default value), HostMonitor uses default Windows timeout
  • Improved Ping test: added "Packet size" parameter. If it's value is 0 (default value), HostMonitor uses global "Packet Size" parameter defined on Ping/Trace page in the Options dialog.
  • Improved Custom HTML report:
    - added 21 new macro variables
    - added "Folder summary" template section. Example
  • Optimized Test Properties dialog creation: it was very slow when you work with several thousands of tests.
  • HTTP Test Properties dialog: now "Test" button displays HTTP header returned by a server
  • Version 3.50
  • New HTTP test
  • Redesigned "Full screen" chart (Log Analyzer tool):
    - show events date/time on bottom axis
    - improved 3D appearance
    - allows zoom for selected region
    - added "Set bounds" feature
    - added "Save to file" feature
    - print preview dialog
    - support more different colors for different elements
  • New Compact HTML report type (support 3 different styles)
  • New Custom HTML report type
  • Folder Tree: added new popup menu item "Resort alphabetically" (allows you resort the folders alphabetically by name)
  • Test Detail Area: added new popup menu items: Disable this folder/Enable this folder
  • Version 3.44
  • New UDP test
  • New NTP test
  • New RADIUS test
  • New macro variable (WW) supported in a log file name. WW represents current week as a number with a leading zero (01-53).
  • Version 3.40
  • New test: Script. Now you can create your own tests using different script languages such as Visual Basic Script or Java Script. HostMonitor uses Microsoft ActiveScripting technology to execute scripts that were written by you or somebody else.
  • SNMP test improved: added 3 new alert conditions to check how new value changes comparatively to the previous test results:
     "increases /sec" - HM sets "Bad" status when average increase of the counter (per second) is greater than the specified limit
     "decreases /sec" - HM sets "Bad" status when average decrease of the counter (per second) is greater than the specified limit
     "changes /sec" - HM sets "Bad" status when average change of the counter (per second) is greater than the specified limit
  • Performance Counter test improved: added 3 new compare conditions (the same that were added to SNMP test)
  • Performance Counter test improved: added new parameter "Display mode", that defines information display method. You can select one of the following options:
      as is - do not perform any conversion
      sec -> [days] hh:mm:ss - converts received value in seconds to a "[days] hh:mm:ss" format
      msec-> [days] hh:mm:ss - converts received value in milliseconds to a "[days] hh:mm:ss" format
      bytes -> Kb - converts received value in bytes to kilobytes
      bytes -> Mb - converts received value in bytes to megabytes
      bytes -> Gb - converts received value in bytes to gigabytes
  • Import function improved: now you can define tests in arbitrary order, e.g. master test definition can be located below of the dependent test (in previous versions of HM master tests must be defined before dependant tests).
  • Added 4 new columns: Comment line #2, Comment line #3, Comment line #4, and Comment line #5. These columns can display corresponding lines of the multi-line comment. Using Columns page in the Options dialog you can change field names and their order.
  • Now Search function (available thru menu Search) can extend search to other (non current) folders
  • Version 3.32
  • SNMP test improved. Added 6 new alert conditions to check how new value changes compare to the previous test:
     "increases by" - HM sets "Bad" status when value increases by specified number or more
     "decreases by" - HM sets "Bad" status when value decreases by specified number or more
     "changes by" - HM sets "Bad" status when value changes by specified number or more
     "increases by (%)" - HM sets "Bad" status when value increases by specified (or greater) percentage
     "decreases by (%)" - HM sets "Bad" status when value decreases by specified (or greater) percentage
     "changes by (%)" - HM sets "Bad" status when value changes by specified (or greater) percentage
  • Performance Counter test improved. Added 6 new compare conditions (the same that were added to SNMP test)
  • Now when new log file is creating HM records information about all test. It helps LogAnalyzer to produce more precise statistics
  • HM converts seconds to "days hh:mm:ss" format for the "System Up Time" and "Estimated Time" performance counters
    The following issues have been resolved:
  • Count Files test in service mode (HM started as a service) did not impersonate user's account. Fixed
  • Performance Counter test did not update statistic counters (Min Reply, Max Reply, Average Reply, etc). Fixed
  • Export utility recorded wrong value for ReverseAlert parameter. Fixed
  • Dial-up to the network action: fixed problem with password and resources releasing
  • Version 3.30
  • New test: RAS. Allows you to check remote RAS server using dial-up connection.
  • New test: Performance Counter. Important: please read the notes before using this test.
  • New function: "Export to text file". Allows you to export tests' parameters to text file. Available thru the "File" menu
  • Improved function: "Import from text file" function supports new optional parameters.
    New common test parameters:
    - Disabled = <yes|no>
    - ScheduleMode = <Regular | OneTestPerMonth | OneTestPerWeek>
    - ScheduleDay = <number_of_the_day>
    - ScheduleTime = <hh:mm:ss>
    - PrivLogMode = <Default | Brief | Full>
    New "URL" test parameters:
    - CRC = <crc_value>
    - urlUseFrames = <yes|no>
    - urlUseImages = <yes|no>
    New "File Availability" test parameters:
    - MinAge = <minutes>
    - MaxAge = <minutes>
    New "ODBC Query" test parameters:
    - CheckField = <LessThan | MoreThan | EqualTo | DifferentFrom | Contains | DoesntContain>
    - FieldRow = <num_of_the_row>
    - FieldCol = <num_of_the_column>
    - CompareStr = <numeric_or_string_value>
    Of course now "Import" function supports new "RAS" and "Performance Counter" tests. To check list of parameters you can use new "Export to text file" function: just create test(s) and export it to a text file.
  • Problem fixed: on some systems Process test hangs
  • Version 3.26
  • Schedules became more flexible. Previous versions of HostMonitor were allowing schedules with accuracy of an hour. Now you can define schedules with time intervals as small as one minute (e.g. from 01:10 till 01:13). For more information, please refer to Profiles->Schedules section of this documentation.
  • Real time folders' colors. Now Folder Tree can be set-up to display folders using different colors according to the selected color scheme, depending on the tests' results.
  • Send E-Mail action: now macro variables are supported in "From" field
  • Problem fixed: External test did not inherit user permissions when HostMonitor started as service
  • Version 3.22
  • New test "Count Files" implemented to check number of files in the specified directory.
  • New test "Trace" allows you to trace route to the specified host and start alert actions when route changed.
  • New test specific macro variables: %TraceFull%, %TraceBrief% (available for Trace test only).
  • Version 3.20
  • HMScript: added new command "SetTestParam "
  • Import function, UNC test: now you can use percentage to define free space amount
  • Import function, UNC test: now you specify username and password
  • Import function, External test: added new parameter "WindowMode".
  • Import function: added new common test parameters (available for all kind of tests) SyncCounters, SyncAlerts, MasterTest-Alive, MasterTest-AliveOrUnknown, MasterTest-DeadOrUnknown, MasterTest-Dead
  • Import function: supports multi line comments. You can separate lines using sequence "^M". E.g "Comment = 1st test^MSecond comment line^M3rd comment line"
    The following issues have been resolved:
  • CPU Usage test displayed wrong value for multi-processors systems under Windows 2000/XP. Fixed.
  • HML Manager sometimes did not show Schedules and Alert profiles those were assigned to the tests. Fixed.
  • NT Event Log test did not display event description on some systems. Fixed.
  • Import function worked incorrectly with DNS test. Fixed.
  • Other minor corrections.
  • Version 3.19
  • Multi-line test comments, new macro variables (%CommentLine1%, %CommentLine2%, etc)
  • New macro variables that can be used in an external HTML header/footer: %GoodTests%, %BadTests%, %UnknownTests%, and %TotalTests%
  • New examples of HTML header and footer:
    Summary.html - contains external header with tests' statuses summary
    Summary2.html - contains external footer with summary of the tests' statuses
  • Version 3.18
  • "Send e-mail" action: now HostMonitor supports macro variables in "To" field (destination address)
  • Sybase test: now the program checks servers one by one (to avoid problems with DB-lib in multithread environment)
  • URL test: HostMonitor could return false test result when checked page contents using proxy with authentication. Fixed
  • several corrections in interface and reports module
  • Version 3.16 Beta
  • Now available new on-line documentaion and new help system included in HostMonitor download.
  • URL test: added 2 new options (located on Miscellaneous page in the Options dialog; options have effect for all URL tests):
    - Accept SSL/PCT certificates with invalid host name
    - Accept SSL/PCT certificates with invalid dates
  • UNC test: new option "Connect As"
  • Corrected "Restart service" action. Action did not restart service on remote systems if HostMonitor running as a service
  • HML Manager: now it displays file creation/modification date using local time (previous version used UTC (Coordinated Universal Time))
  • Other minor corrections
  • Version 3.14 Beta
  • HML Manager, the utility for managing tests across multiple HML files, has been enhanced and is now included in the HostMonitor download. HML Manager can be started from HostMonitor's File menu, or launched as a separate program through the HostMonitor program group
    The following issues have been resolved:
  • DNS test did not work properly with servers specified by name (it worked correctly with IP addresses though)
  • with the "store statistics in HML file" option disabled, the program would mistakenly reset the test interval
  • several problems related to dependent tests have been fixed
  • Version 3.12 Beta
  • The new Test->Copy menu command is added that lets you create a copy of selected tests in a folder of your choice.
  • Now you can define a list of master tests for a group of selected tests in one shot
  • Now each "good" action has a new option: "Action depends on "bad" one". You can make "good" actions depend on a "bad" action
  • Now you can change the display name of a field via the added "Change column name" button on the Columns page in the Options dialog.
  • Problem with the "Reset 'Recurrences' when test gets disabled" option has been fixed. The program used to always reset the counter, regardless of whether the option was selected.
  • Version 3.10 Beta
  • 5 new tests: SMTP, POP3, IMAP, DNS, LDAP
  • new macro variable %HostAddr% - represents the host name (or IP address) of the target system for the following tests: Ping, TCP,  Oracle, Interbase, MS SQL, MySQL, Sybase, Postgre,  Process, Service, NT Log, CPU Usage, SNMP,  SMTP, POP, IMAP, DNS, LDAP
  • test option "Synchronize status & counters" renamed to "Synchronize counters"
  • test option "Synchronize alerts" renamed to "Synchronize status & alerts"
    The following issues have been resolved:
  • the program would start unnecessary "good" actions when a test's status changed to "good" after being OutOfSchedule or WaitForMaster
  • the "Append from HML file" function did not work properly with dependent tests
  • Version 3.02 Beta
  • Log Analyzer: new popup menu item "Print image"
  • Log Analyzer: new popup menu item "Copy image to Clipboard"
  • New item in "Help" menu: "WWW Forum" - link to the online www forum at ks-soft.net
  • Reports: sort order supported. Items in reports are now sorted the same way sorting is done in the program window, based on program settings and folder properties
  • File/Folder Availability test: fixed problem which appeared when you try to test folder creation/modification time

  • Version 3.00 Beta

The all-new HostMonitor 3.0 is now available! Find out how the exciting new features and capabilities can make the life of a network administrator less stressful than ever before.
  1. Much more flexible alert profiles
  2. 12 new actions
  3. 5 improved actions
  4. Folders
  5. Color profiles
  6. Mail profiles
  7. Report profiles
    Changes related to tests:
  8. New status values
  9. New option: "Treat Unknown status as Bad"
  10. New option: "Reverse alert"
  11. New property: "Private log"
  12. New property: "Related URL"
  13. New property: "Irregular schedule"
  14. Dependencies
  15.    New option: "Synchronize counters"
  16.    New option: "Synchronize alerts"
  17. Improved tests
  18. New test: ODBC query
    Other
  19. Advanced logging
  20. New global options
  21. 25 new statistics columns
  22. 27 new macro variables
  23. Other

  1. Much more flexible alert profiles
    Alert profiles may now contain a number of alert actions that can be launched in a predefined order depending on the test results.

    Example 1: You want a fresh network stats report to be posted on your intranet web server every time the test finds the server to be up and running. This can be done simply by adding the following action to the alert profile:
      Action: Generate reports
      Start when: 1 consecutive "good" result occur
      Retries: until status changes

    Example 2: When some critical service dies, you want the server to automatically reboot. If that does not help, an e-mail should be sent to the on-call technician. If, however, the server remains silent during the next three tests, the network administrator is to be paged until the server is brought back up. To implement this behaviour, create an alert profile with three actions defined like these:

    1. Action: remote reboot
      Start when: 1 consecutive "bad" result occur
      Retries: 1
    2. Action: send e-mail
      Start when: 2 consecutive "bad" results occur
      Retries: 1
    3. Action: send message to pager
      Start when: 5 consecutive "bad" results occur
      Retries: until status changes

    Schedules can now be applied to actions the same way they were used for tests. With schedules, actions can be customized per time of the day. For instance, an action profile can be set up to page both the IT manager and the network administrator during regular office hours, and to page the administrator alone the rest of the time, while doing nothing else but writing to the log on weekends. To make this possible, simply check the "Time restriction" option and select an appropriate schedule.

  2. New actions:
    Send message to pager (SNPP)   sends a message to a pager using the SNPP protocol; unlike TAP, which employs the modem, SNPP is built on top of TCP/IP to send messages via an Internet connection.
    Send message to ICQ   sends a message through an ICQ web server to the specified ICQ user.
    Stop service   stops a Win32 service on the local or remote system.
    Start service   starts a Win32 service on the local or remote system.
    SQL Query   executes an SQL query against the specified ODBC data source.
    Send data to TCP/UDP port   sends data to the specified host using TCP or UDP.
    Syslog   sends data using the Syslog protocol.
    SNMP Set   sets data on the local or remote system using the SNMP protocol.
    Dial-up to network   dials-up to a network.
    Diconnect from network   drops the specified dial-up connection.
    Repeat test   repeats the test. This action can be helpful in situations when the condition being checked is not stable.
    Change test interval   changes the test interval.

  3. Improved actions:
    Send e-mail   a) For each action, a separate mail template can be specified. Thus, an e-mail to the IT manager might contain some general information on the servers, whereas the one intended for the administrator would provide an elaborate report with a high level of detail.
    b) A character set can be specified for a mail template.
    c) The built-in mailer now supports authentication (Plain, Login, MD5, POP before SMTP).
    Send message to pager   For each action, a mail template can be specified.
    Execute external program   External program's initial window status (normal, minimized, maximized, hidden, non-active, etc.) can be specified.
    Generate reports   Reports may include all or some of the tests contained in the specified folder and its subfolders. The powerful Report manager provides maximum flexibility in configuring report profiles, allowing the administrator to pick a report type, select fields to include, create filters, etc.
    Execute HMS script   Enhancements have been made to the HostMonitor scripting language, like the added support for subfolders and macro variables.

  4. Folders
    New to version 3.0, folders bring a new level of control and flexibility to network monitoring. Learn how to organize tests in a tree-like structure (pretty much like you organize files on your hard drive) and take advantage of the property inheritance mechanism.

    The folder tree is displayed in the left-hand panel of the HostMonitor main window. Appearing on the right side, in the list view area, are tests contained in the current (selected) folder and (if the appropriate option is selected) its descendent subfolders. Sure enough, all tests are performed based strictly on their schedules, regardles of whether they are currently displayed or not.

    Each folder may contain tests and/or nested subfolders, and has a number of properties:

    • visible fields - a list of test attributes to display;
    • sort order - a list of attributes to sort by;
    • Color palette - a customizable color scheme;
    • reports - up to 6 individual reports can be associated with a folder.

    A new folder automatically inherits properties defined for the parent folder (the top folder inherits the common settings defined in the Options dialog). Once a folder is created, you can change its properties as needed, rename or delete the folder, create tests and nested subfolders, and so on. HostMonitor supports Drag & Drop operations, allowing you to easily move folders around, change their display order, and move tests from one catalog to another.

    For example. you can set up a folder representing your company, define a set of report profiles (for the administrator, IT manager, technical support crew, etc.), then create several subfolders, one for each of the company's offices, and you are done! HostMonitor will be automatically generating uniform reports for all company offices (each report will contain test results specific to the office).

    In another example, folders can be created based on a test type (Ping, CPU Usage, etc.). For each folder, define a different set of visible columns, depending on the type of test. Thus, for a ping test folder a logical choice would include the "Reply" field, whereas for a CPU Usage folder catalog the "Average reply" field might make sense.

  5. Color profiles
    Fully customizable color schemes are available now for a variety of program windows, HTML log files and reports. Color schemes can be assigned to either a catalog or a report type. For example, a report designed for the IT manager might have an entirely different look and feel as compared to the one intended for use by the network administrator. Similarly, reports designed for the field offices may differ in palette from those used by the headquarters.

    The following elements have customizable color attributes (both fore- and background):
    - underlying layer;
    - table header (HTML reports only);
    - folders;
    - system messages (HTML logs only);
    - test colors are status-dependent:
      - "Not testes yet";
      - "Good";
      - "Bad";
      - "Unknown";
      - "Test in progress";
      - "Disabled";
      - "Waiting for master";
      - "Out of schedule ".

  6. Mail profiles
    Multiple message templates can now be created for e-mail, pager and ICQ notification. For instance, you can set up HostMonitor to send general server status emails to the manager, and fire off an elaborate problem report to the administrator in case of a network failure.
    As before, macro variables are supported in message templates to be substituted with their actual values at message generation time. For a list of the new macros introduced in version 3.0 please see new variables.
    The other new feature allows you to specify a particular character set for your templates. This comes in especially handy if you work in a multilingual environment.

  7. Report profiles
    The highly flexible Report Manager allows you to create and customize reports to your liking in a variety of ways.
    The configurable report parameters include:
    - report type: HTML, WLM, DBF or text;
    - field list (e. g., test name, status, average response time, downtime, etc.);
    - test type filter (e. g., exclude any ping tests);
    - status filter (e. g., only include tests with a "Host is alive" or "Unknown" status);
    - color scheme (for HTML reports only);
    - HTML header and/or footer file (for HTML reports only).

    Below is a list of the macro variables that can be used in an external header/footer:
    %Date% current date
    %Time% current time
    %DateTime% current date & time
    %BGColor% background color
    %TextColor% text color
    %LinkColor% hypertext link color
    %VLinkColor% visited link color
    %ALinkColor% active link color

    It is also worth noting that each folder may contain its own list of reports, and each of the reports can be set up with a launching schedule specific to that folder.


Changes related to tests:

  1. New status values
    • "Unknown" has a new meaning: the program is unable to retrieve the necessary information (e. g., cannot retrieve CPU usage data from a remote machine). What used to be tagged as "Unknown" now has a status of "Not tested yet".
    • "Waiting for master" means the test is defined as dependent, i. e. based on another (master) test's results, and the current status of the master test precludes the dependent one from being launched.
    • "Out of schedule" - tests are marked with this status if the time to launch the test falls into a disabled time frame according to the schedule specified for that test.

  2. New option: "Treat Unknown status as Bad"
    The new "Treat Unknown status as Bad" option can be applied to tests. With this option enabled, if test results cannot be obtained, actions are triggered by HostMonitor the same way as if the test returned a "Bad" status.

    The option is not applicable to some of the test types. Please refer to the table below for the meaning of "Unknown" status for diferent test types:
    Test Option applicable "Unknown" status condition
    Ping test Yes Host name cannot be resolved into IP address
    TCP test Yes Host name cannot be resolved into IP address
    URL request No  
    Disk free spaceYes Disk drive information is unavailable (e. g., the drive is unmapped)
    Folder/File size Yes File/folder doesn't exist
    File exists No  
    Compare files No  
    File CRC Yes File doesn't exist or read error
    UNC Yes Resource is unavailable (option is applicable for free space check only)
    Oracle No  
    Interbase No  
    Ms SQL No  
    My SQL No  
    Postgre SQL No  
    Sybase No  
    Process Yes Information (list of processes) cannot be retrieved
    Service Yes Connection to CS Manager cannot be established
    SNMP Yes Information cannot be retrieved
    NT Events LogYes Information cannot be retrieved
    CPU Usage Yes Information cannot be retrieved
    External testYes HostMonitor cannot execute external program (program doesn't exist) or program doesn't return ERRORLEVEL within a specified time
    ODBC Query Yes SQL query fails, or the data field specified is not found in the result set


    Please note: the HostMonitor icon displayed in the System Tray may have one of the three colors:
    - blue - all tests performed have been successful;
    - yellow - "Unknown" status tests have occured;
    - red - "Bad" status tests have occured.

  3. New option: "Reverse alert"
    When this option is selected, HostMonitor regards test results that are normaly considered benign, as abnormal ones, and vice versa.
    This can be useful in some situations. For example, CPU Usage test returns a "Ok" status if the processor load ratio is below a predefined value. With the "Reverse alert" option turned on, the test will work the other way around, so the administrator will be alerted when the processor load is below a predefined value.

    Here is how the conversion works for different status values:
    Original status Reverse status
    Alive Bad
    Dead Ok
    Ok Bad
    Bad Ok
    BadContents Ok
    Other status values are not affected.

  4. New test property: "Private log"
    As before, HostMonitors records test data in a single log file shared by all tests. Additionally, for each test you can now define its own, "private" log file. The type of a private log is determined based on the file extension: HTML for .htm*, DBF for .dbf, plain text for any other extension.
    Private logs can be configured to work in one of the following modes:

    • Brief - record information on a changed status;
    • Full - record all test results, regardless of whether the status changes or not;
    • Default - use the common settings defined in the Options dialog.
    If a private log is specified, the popup menu for that test will contain the item, "View private log".
  5. New test property: "Related URL"
    For each test, a related URL can be specified. By adding this property to the list of visible columns or to a report, you will make the related URLs appear in the test list view or report sheet. In HTML reports, URLs appear as hyperlinks. In the list view, tests with a related URL will have a popup menu item that launches the associated program (typically, your default Internet browser).

  6. New test property: "Irregular schedule"
    As before, tests in version 3.0 can be configured to execute in regular time intervals, for instance, every 10 minutes. In addition, the new property, "Irregular schedule", allows you to have your tests run on a given day of week or month, at the time specified, like at 8:30 AM every Monday, or at 10:00 PM on the 1st of each month.

  7. Dependencies
    For each test, you can now define a list of other tests it depends on, or Master tests. Choose the condition to perform the dependent test based on the status of a Master test:
    - "Alive";
    - "Alive" or "Unknown";
    - "Dead";
    - "Dead" or "Unknown".
    As an example, consider a network configuration where the accessibility of the company's several web servers depends on the state of a single router. When the router is down, there is probably little sense in trying to do the dozens of tests designed to collect information on the web servers.
    That was, of course, a very simplified example. With this new feature, you can implement quite sophisticated dependencies involving a number of master tests which, in turn, depend on other tests' results. For more information on dependencies, please, see the following options: "Syncronize counters", "Syncronize alerts", "Consider status of the master test obsolete after N seconds".

  8. New option: "Synchronize counters"
    This option only applies to tests that have one or more master tests. When the option is turned off, and some test is not being launched because its launch condition has not been met, HostMonitors simply marks such a test with the "Wait for Master" status. If, however, the option is turned on, the dependent test receives the status of the master test, and its statistics information is accordingly updated. Thus, if a router on which other tests depend has been tested to a "No answer" status, the same status will be assigned to all dependent tests with the "Synchronize counters" option on, which in turn will increment their respective counters like "Dead time", "Failed tests", etc.

  9. New option: "Synchronize alerts"
    This options is applicable only if "Synchronize counters" is also selected. When the option is turned on, besides synchronizing counters, HostMonitor also does action dispatching based on the status propagated from the master test.

    Example: On your corporate network you have 10 web servers and 1 router that is critical to the entire network. A router Ping test is set up to page the administrator if the router does not respond. So when the router goes down, and the "Synchronize alerts" option is turned off, HostMonitor sends a message to the administrator's pager and suspends all dependent tests. If "Synchronize alerts" is on, in addition to the router problem notification, actions defined on the dependent tests will be fired off as well.

  10. Improved tests:

    • Ping test: A packet loss threshold can be specified for a Ping test, based on which the test status is determined. That is, in the previous versions of HostMonitor a test was considered failed if no echo packets were received (100% loss). Now you can set the option, "Status is bad when N (or more) % of packet lost".
      The other new feater is, the "Reply" field can be set up to represent either the reply time, percentage of lost packets, or percentage of received packets.
    • External test: A window state of the program to launch can be specified (e. g., Normal, Minimized, Maximized, Hidden, Non-active, etc.)

  11. New test: ODBC query
    This test allows you to check the availability of an ODBC data source, run an SQL query, and analyze the value of a specified data field in the result set returned. To set up a test, simply pick one of the ODBC data sources defined in your system, and fill in the Login, Password and Timeout fields. Optionally, provide an SQL query and a condition to check. If no condition is specified, the two possible test status values are "Alive" and "No answer". If a condition is provided, test status can be either:
    - "Ok" - if the condition is met;
    - "Bad" - if the condition is not met;
    - "Unknown" - if the query fails, or the data field specified is not found in the result set.

  12. Advanced logging
    As was mentioned above, in addition to the common log, test-specific private logs can now be defined. Another new option allows you to log test information into an ODBC data source. The query to logging test data is entirely up to you. Use the macro variables available in version 3.0 to put in as much detail as you want. For instance, your log SQL command might look like this:
    INSERT INTO HMLOG (DATE1, TIME1, TEST_NAME, STATUS, REPLY) VALUES (%Date%, '%Time%', '%TestName%', '%Status%', '%Reply%')
    Note: An appropriate database table has to be created before you start using the ODBC logging.

    Also new in version 3.0 is the ability to separate system messages (generated by HostMonitor) from test status records. To enable this, set the "System log: use different log file XXXXXX" option.
    The settings for these new options are located on the new page, "Advanced options", in the Options dialog.

  13. New global options:
    • Show tests in subfolders (recursive)
    • List of visible columns and their order
    • List of sorted columns
    • Store statistics in HML file - this option tells HostMonitor to write all statistical information into a file, so that the statistics build up across multiple program sessions. If the oprion is turned off, when an HML file closes down, the statistics pertaining to its tests get reset. Please note that statistics for any or all of the tests can be nullified at any time using the "Reset ..." menu command.

    • Store "Recurrences" in HML file - this is an important option, because it's the "Recurrences" field that the programs looks at to determine what actions and when to fire off. Therefore, if the option is deselected, upon closing an HML file or shutting down HostMonitor, the counter will be reset, so that when the program is restarted, actions will be triggered as tests are first performormed. With the option turned on, recurrence counters will be saved on shutdown, and at the next startup the program will pick up where it left off, as if the program execution was not interrupted.

    • Reset "Recurrences" when test gets disabled
    • Remember current folder
    • Consider status of the master test obsolete after N seconds - this parameter is used by the program to determine whether the Master test status is up to date. Before starting a dependent test, HostMonitor checks the status values of the Master tests defined on it. The parameter mandates for how long a Master test status is considered to be current.

    • Startup delay - this parameter is only applicable if HostMonitor is started as a Win32 service. It comes in handy if you want to monitor some other services that might start after HostMonitor does. With this option turned on, the actual monitoring is deferred at HostMonitor startup for the amount of time specified.

    • When service is being stopped: save changes in HML file; discard all changes
    • Authentication method (Plain, Login, MD5, or POP before SMTP), login and password for primary and backup SMTP server
    • Record info about successful actions
    • Record info about failed actions
**
Note: In the HostMonitor terminology, "Bad" status means one of the folowing:
- "No answer";
- "Bad";
- "Bad contents".
Similarly, "Good" status means either:
- "Host is alive"
- "Ok"

  • Version 2.00 Alpha

  1. 25 new columns providing detailed test information
    In adition to the static test parameters (test name, interval, status, etc.), a number of dynamic statistics data fields are now maintained and can be viewed in real time. Here is a list of the new fields introduced in version 2.0:
    Column name Field description
    Recurrences The number of consecutive tests resulting in the same status as the current one
    Last status The previous test status
    Last reply The previous test result value (test-specific)
    Related URL Related URL
    Master test Master test name
    Schedule The name of the associated schedule
    Alert profile Alert profile name
    Private log The specified private log file name
    Alive % "Good" to overall tests ratio, in percent
    Dead % "Bad" to overall tests ratio, in percent
    Unknown % "Unknown" to overall tests ratio, in percent
    Total time The time the test has been in monitoring
    Alive time The overall time the test has had a "Good" status
    Dead time The overall time the test has had a "Bad" status
    Unknown time The overall time the test has had an "Unknown" status
    Total tests Overall tests performed
    Passed tests The number of "Good" tests
    Failed tests The number of "Bad" tests
    Unknown result tests The number of "Unknown" tests
    Average reply The average value of the results obtained
    Min reply The minimum value of the results obtained
    Max reply The maximum value of the results obtained
    Status changed at The time when the status last changed
    Status changes count The number of times the status has changed
    Created at The time when the test was created
    Modified at The time when the test was last modified
    Please note that statistics for any or all of the tests can be nullified at any time using the "Reset ..." menu command.

  2. 27 new macro variables
    Like in the previous versions, macro variables can be used in message templates, in the command line to execute an external program, etc. The table below lists the new macros introduced in version 2.0.
    Macro variable Description
    %TestName%' The name of the test. Has the same value as %HostName%, which has been retained for backward compatibility
    %LastStatus% The last test status returned
    %LastReply% The last test result value
    %PrivateLog% The specified private log file name
    %RelatedURL% Related URL
    %Folder% The name of the folder containing the test
    %FullPath% The full folder path name
    %Recurrences% The number of consecutive tests resulting in the same status as the current one
    %MasterTest% Master test name
    %TotalTests% Overall tests performed
    %TotalTime% The time the test has been in monitoring
    %FailedCnt% The number of "Bad" tests
    %PassedCnt% The number of "Good" tests
    %UnknownCnt% The number of "Unknown" tests
    %AliveTime% The overall time the test has had a "Good" status
    %DeadTime% The overall time the test has had a "Bad" status
    %UnknownTime% The overall time the test has had an "Unknown" status
    %AliveRatio% "Good" to overall tests ratio, in percent
    %DeadRatio% "Bad" to overall tests ratio, in percent
    %UnknownRatio% "Unknown" to overall tests ratio, in percent
    %AverageReply% The average value of the results obtained
    %MinReply% The minimum value of the results obtained
    %MaxReply% The maximum value of the results obtained
    %StatusChangedTime% The time when the status last changed
    %StatusChangesCnt% The number of times the status has changed
    %CreatedTime% The time when the test was created
    %ModifiedTime% The time when the test was last modified
    In addition, the %SimpleStatus% macro can now take one of the three values: UP, DOWN, UNKNOWN

  3. Group test operations
    Test operations (Delete, Enable, Disable, Refresh) can now be performed on a group of selected tests. To select multiple tests use key combinations: Shift + Arrow key for a group of contiguous tests, Ctrl + Arrow key for arbitrary tests.
    Additionally, some common test parameters can be edited for a group of selected tests: alert profile, schedule, test interval, comment, related url, private log, etc.

  4. Creating multiple tests in one shot
    A range of IP addresses rather than a single adress can be specified for a Ping or TCP test (e. g., 192.52.233.1 - 192.52.233.250). For each of the range addresses, HostMonitor will create a separate test.

  5. Encrypted HML and LST files
    Because some test settings may include a password, HostMonitor configuration files are now stored in an encrypted form. For security reasons, it is also recommended to have the "Protect all settings by password" option turned on (located on the Miscellaneous page in the Options dialog).

  6. New linking mechanism for schedules and profiles
    You can now rename schedules, alert profiles and other profiles without having to worry that the link between the test and the profile will be broken. The new linking mechanism implemented in version 2.0 uses internal IDs that are unique and non-changeable throughout the lifetime of an object.

    The following issues have been resolved:
  • SNMP test for remote systems might return an incorrect string value;
  • Pager notification would not work properly with some providers;
  • Ping packets bigger than 255 bytes were not supported.
  • Version 1.76
  • New option on Miscellaneous page: "Protect all settings by password"
  • "Remote reboot" action: now you can use macros in "Computer name" field
  • Some corrections in "CPU Usage" test
  • Fixed problem which appears when many tests try to connect to Oracle database at the same time
  • Bug fixed in "check Folder/File size" test: program calculated size incorrectly when folder contains huge file(s) (file bigger than 2GB)
  • "Check processes" test: now you can start alert actions when more than 0 copies of some process are running
  • New version does not need separate registration when started as service and as regular program
  • Now HostMonitor starts external log viewer using SW_SHOWNORMAL flag
  • Version 1.74
  • Fixed problems with Proxy authorization ("URL request" test).
  • Fixed problem in SNMP test: program returned incorrect values for last row in tables.
  • New option for SNMP test: "Automatically append the single instance sub-identifier (".0").".
    "Miscellaneous" page in Options dialog.
  • New item in "Troubleshooting" section of documentation.
  • Version 1.72
  • Version 1.70
  • Improved "URL request" test : new options "Download nested frames", "Download images".
  • Improved "Compare files" test : new option "Translate macros" - now you can use macros in path (%DD%, %MM%, %YY%, etc..).
  • New option "Agent name" on "Miscellaneous" page in Options dialog. Now you can change default agent name which HostMonitor sends in HTTP request ("URL request" test).
  • New test specific macros: %ServiceComp%, %ServiceName%.
  • Now test "by External program" displays ExitCode (which returns external program) in Reply field (so, you can use macro %Reply%).
  • Several small corrections.
  • Version 1.66
  • Log Analyzer : new menu item "Create HTML report" in popup menu.
  • "Compare files" test : worked incorrectly when file was smaller than text for search.
  • Version 1.64
  • Added menu item "Telnet" into popup menu for "Ping", "TCP", "URL request" tests.
  • Improved UNC test: now you can specify free space limit using percentage.
  • Several small corrections.
  • Version 1.62
  • Now HostMonitor support 2 SMTP servers for e-mail notifications (primary and backup).
  • Improved "Folder/file size" test. This test had limit 2 Gb, now theoretical limit 64 Tb.
  • Version 1.60
  • New test: "Compare files". Now you can can compare files by time, size, contents; search string in file; etc.
  • Now "Select test method" dialog saves/restores size and position.
  • New version of HML Manager.
  • Version 1.58
  • Options dialog: new page "Service" - now HostMonitor can impersonate the security context of the specified user when starts as service.
  • Improved test "File/Folder availability".
  • New menu item ("Trace") in tests list popup menu. Appears for "Ping", "TCP", "URL request" tests.
  • Log Analyzer: new menu item ("Erase line") in popup menu and hot key (Ctrl+Y) for panel with detailed information (left bottom panel).
  • New page "Miscellaneous" in Options dialog - options for "UNC path", "NT Events Log" tests.
  • Version 1.55
  • Improved tests "File/Folder availability" and "Folder/File size" : new option "Translate macros" - now you can use macros in path (%DD%, %MM%, %YY%, etc..).
  • Improved test "File/Folder availability" : now HostMonitor can check how old is the file.
  • Several small corrections
  • Version 1.50
  • Now you can start HostMonitor as Win32 interactive service under Windows 2000 (we don't recomend start current version of HostMonitor as service under Windows NT 4.0 !).
    New command line parameters: "/InstallService", "/UninstallService"
  • Version 1.40
  • New alert action: "Execute script".
  • Also for execute HMScript you can use new item "Execute script" in menu File.
  • HostMonitor's distributive now includes HML Manager.
  • Version 1.32
  • Some changes and corrections in SMTP mailer.
  • Improved build-in Import utility.
  • Now program doesn't ask about terminate monitoring when system is rebooting.
  • Also now available new utility HML Manager.
  • Version 1.31
  • Bug fixed: HostMonitor cannot read external HTML header/footer when path included spaces.
  • Version 1.30
  • New options page "HTLM report options".
  • Now you can define set of fields to include in report.
  • Now you can define set of tests to include in report (Ping, TCP, URL, etc).
  • Also program can add to report only "dead" hosts, only "alive" hosts, or all hosts.
  • You can use external header and footer for HTML report.
  • New buttons in "Test properties" dialog: "Exclude this test from HTML report", "Exclude this test from WML report", "Exclude this test from DBF report".
  • New option on "Interface" page in Options dialog: "Red row for 'dead' hosts".
  • Corrected: HostMonitor didn't work with some SMTP servers when you use more than one address in field "TO:".
  • Version 1.26
  • New menu item "Import from Text file" allows you to import test setting from text file
  • Also available to download import utility: import.zip
  • Bug fixed: program didn't work with some regional date settings (like ddd/MM/YYYY, dd/MMMM/yy)
  • Bug fixed: sometimes icon changed color to blue even if some tests was "bad"
  • Version 1.25
  • New test: CPU Usage (implemented for Windows NT/2000 and Novell Netware)
  • Decrease usage of USER & GDI objects in 3 times
  • New option (Options dialog, "Behavior" page): "Don't start more than [xx] tests per second"
  • New macro %Reply%
  • New field in DBF log: "reply" (program changes format when create new DBF log)
  • Bug fixed: LogViewer & LogAnalyzer showed 0 reply values for some tests (SNMP test, check Process) when work with DBF log file (you have to delete old DBF log file)
  • Now HostMonitor for sorting by status uses sense of status (used alphabetical sorting)
  • Fixed problem with '<', '>' symbols in HTML log, in HTML & WML report files.
  • Fixed resource leaking (happened when TCP test cannot connect to host)
  • Changed behavior of Tray Icon: now icon restore blue color when all hosts is alive.
  • Version 1.21
  • URL request: now you may define timeout
  • New macro: %SimpleStatus%
  • Bug fixed: on Windows 9x program incorrect detected drive free space (cut to 2Gb)
  • Version 1.20
  • New actions : reboot, remote reboot, restart service. Now HostMonitor can restart/shutdown a local or remote computer and restart services on local or remote computer.
  • New reports : generates reports in HTML, DBF, WML formats.
  • New "Reports" page in Options dialog. HostMonitor can generates reports at regular intervals and start external program afterwards (e.g. for analyzing).
  • New "Reports" menu.
  • New "Add" button in "Tasks properties" dialog. The program adds task but doesn't close dialog and you may easy add another task.
  • Now you may use any characters (like '@', '^', ':') in password to access to HTTP, FTP, or Gopher data ("URL request" test). HostMonitor converts unsafe characters and spaces into escape sequences.
  • Version 1.10
  • New actions : send messages to pagers and beepers.
  • New "Pagers" page in Options dialog.
  • New macros: %StatusID%, %HostID%, %CommentID%.
  • New sound alert option: "Show WakeUp window and plays "dead" sound repeatedly".
  • Now HTML report includes field "Comment".
  • Now hint for tray icon contains name of tasklist. Useful if you start several copies of program.
  • Version 1.00
  • Redesigned "Alert Profiles" dialog; changed format of file "actions.lst". Setup program know how to convert this file to new format (just press button "Update").
  • Now you may use expressions for comparing URL contents.
  • bug fixed : program didn't work on some localized versions of Windows NT/2000 (e.g. Chinese edition).
  • bug fixed : big diskspace values stored incorrect in DBF log.
  • bug fixed : program didn't start monitoring when you set startup option "minimize after load".
  • new registration methods. Now you may buy different registration keys :
    key for monitoring up to 35 hosts (tasks) - $35
    key for monitoring up to 200 hosts (tasks) - $99
    key for monitoring up to 20,000,000 hosts (tasks) + registration key for IP-Tools - just $150
    We send new registration keys (for 20,000,000 tasks) for all already registered users (of course free of charge because your already registered).
  • Version 0.90
  • New test : NT Event Log
  • Now Process test can control minimal and maximal count of processes
  • Now program show Reply time for Interbase, PostgreSQL, MSSQL, MySQL, and Sybase SQL servers
  • Now program refresh list of available drives (in test: drive size) every time when you open test properties dialog
  • bug fixed in SNMP test : incorrect comparing for some data types
  • bug fixed in LogAnalyzer : incorrect time calculation for some time formats
  • etc
  • Version 0.87
  • now you can edit text for standard e-mail notification (see Options dialog, page "Standard message")
  • new macroses : %TaskComment%, %Date%, %Time%, %AlertProile%, %ScheduleName%
  • Version 0.86
  • SNMP test : now you can define Timeout & Retries value
  • now program start "alive" alerts only if before this was started "dead" alerts (for example: if program must start alert actions after 3rd bad attemts but host restores his status after 2nd program doesn't start any alert actions)
  • bug fixed : memory leak if you write log into DBF file
  • bug fixed : maximum log size measured in bytes, now in Kb
  • bug fixed : program didn't get SNMP values for long OIDs
  • new status: "Bad Contents". Program shows this status for files with bad CRC and for bad CRC/Contents of HTML(FTP) page
  • etc
  • Version 0.85
  • New test : check services (only for Windows NT/2000)
  • New test : check processes (only for Windows NT/2000)
  • New test : SNMP test
  • full screen chart in LogAnalyzer now can show reply values
  • bug fixed in LogAnalyzer : statistics window (in full screen chart) disappear after show Options dialog
  • Version 0.82
  • Bug fixed : now program again can check pages/files on HTTPS, FTP, Gopher servers
  • Version 0.81
  • Some small changes in interface
  • bug fixed : appeared after deleting one of action profiles
  • Version 0.80
  • New test : check Interbase SQL server
  • New test : check MS SQL server
  • New test : check My SQL server
  • New test : check Postgre SQL server
  • New test : check Sybase SQL server
  • Now build-in mail client can read text for sending from specified file or send specified file as attachment
  • Small changes in interface :
    - now "Add" button has menu, you may select test method form this menu
    - also you can select test from special window, not only from standard Combobox
    - etc
  • bug fixed : sometimes Schedules dialog didn't save changes
 

Latest versions
Archive: versions 8.00 - 8.86
Archive: versions 7.00 - 7.78
Archive: versions 6.00 - 6.82
Archive: versions 5.00 - 5.92
Archive: versions 4.00 - 4.86


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