Purpose of schedules: time restriction for a test or an action execution.
For example, if you want to check your server only from Monday to Friday select the "Monday-Friday, 24 hours" schedule in the Test Properties dialog. If you do not specify a schedule for a test, HostMonitor will check the host 24 hours per day, 7 days per week (using the interval specified when you created the test).

Also Schedules can 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 in the Action Properties dialog and select an appropriate schedule.

You can create your own schedules and modify standard schedules using Schedules dialog. To bring up this dialog use menu Profiles->Schedules or appropriate buttons in the Test Properties and Action Properties dialogs.

As you can see, editing schedules is very easy. To manipulate with the list of schedules use 3 buttons:
New
Create new schedule
Copy
Make a copy of selected schedule
Rename
Change name of the schedule. You can rename schedules without having to worry that the link between the test and the profile will be broken. To link tests, actions and profiles HostMonitor uses internal IDs that are unique and non-changeable throughout the lifetime of an object.
Delete
Remove selected schedule

Note: "Sort by" popup menu allows you to sort schedules by name or by creation time. "Columns" popup menu allows the changing of the number of columns (1,2 or 3) for the list of schedules.

To edit a schedule, select the time region (using the left mouse button) and click one of the buttons:
Check
Marks the selected time interval as 'Allowed' for the start of tests and actions (highlighted in green)
Uncheck
Marks the selected time interval as 'Not allowed' for the start of tests and actions (highlighted in red)
Invert
Changes time interval to an opposite ('Allowed' becomes 'Not allowed' and the other way around)

Tune
You may define schedules with up-to-the-minute precision. To use this feature click on "Tune" button or select "Edit intervals" item from popup menu. In a popup window appearing, you will be able to check and modify list of time intervals. To change "From" or "Till" time just type new time, to change day of the week press F2 and select day from drop-down list or type one of the following words to specify day of the week:

• Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, San, Holiday
• type the word 'any'. HostMonitor will replicate time interval for every day of the week (including holidays)
• type the word 'work'. HostMonitor will replicate time interval for Monday-Friday
• type set of day numbers, e.g. '123' (Monday..Wednesday) or '12345678' (Monday-Sunday and Holidays) and so on

Holidays
Also you may specify separate schedules for holidays. The list of holidays is available for modifications for years ahead. Click "Holidays" button and HostMonitor brings up dialog window with the one year calendar that has all holidays marked by red background. To mark or unmark any day as a holiday select a day and press Space key. To see/modify holidays for another year, select a year using "up-down" control at the bottom of dialog. Use "Clear All" button to clear the list of holidays (holidays for current, all past and future years will be unmarked).

Color palettes

You can use fully customizable color schemes for the program's interface, for HTML log files and HTML reports. For different folders and reports you can use different color palettes. 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 (you can change both fore- and background colors):

• underlying layer;
  
• table header (HTML reports/logs only);
  
• folders;
  
• system messages (HTML logs only);
  
• HTML links (HTML reports/logs only);
  
• test colors are status-dependent, so you can use different colors to display tests with different statuses:
  • "Not testes yet";
    
  • "Good" items;
    
  • "Bad" items;
    
  • "Unknown" tests;
    
  • "Warning" test items;
    
  • Acknowledged "Bad", "Warning" or Unknown" test items;
    
  • "Checking.." items (when "Checking status should not alter the colors" option is disabled);
    
  • "Disabled" tests;
    
  • "Waiting for master";
    
  • "Out of schedule" test items.

Multiple message templates can be created for the 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.

Macro variables are supported in message templates to be substituted with their actual values at the message generation time. This way you may use single template for thousands of test items.
If template is used for "Send e-mail" action, you may use special directive like <<IncludeFile=path_to_the_file>> (e.g. <<IncludeFile=c:\HostMonitor\template1.htm>> or <<IncludeFile=%CommentLine3%>>). When HostMonitor detects such directive, it inserts content of the file into mail and then resolves macro variables (it means you may use macro variables in external file as well). Please note: size of external file should not exceed 16K.

For each mail template you may choose content type: Text or HTML. If you choose HTML, HostMonitor will resolve test related macro variables according to HTML encoding rules. For example test name "<local comp>" will be translated to "&lt;local comp&gt;". User defined variables and folder related variables are substituted as is. This allows you to use folder comments and user defined macro variables to store certain elements of HTML code (can be used as styles).

Also you can specify a particular character set for your templates. This comes in especially handy if you work in a multilingual environment.



To manipulate with templates use 4 buttons:

New	Create new template.
Copy	Copy selected template. This is useful if you want to make small modifications for the existing template.
Rename	Change name of the template. You can rename mail templates without having to worry that the program will lost the link to the template; HostMonitor uses internal IDs that are unique and non-changeable throughout the lifetime of an object.
Delete	Remove selected template.
Usage report	Such reports tell you which action profiles use selected mail template.
Mark unused	With this option enabled templates that are not used by any action profile will be displayed in grey color.

Note: "Sort by" popup menu allows you to sort profiles by name or by creation time. "Columns" popup menu allows the changing of the number of columns (1,2 or 3) for the list of profiles.

Report manager

HostMonitor can generate reports at regular intervals and/or when some tests change their status. 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. Also reports can be generated at user request at any time through the Reports menu in HostMonitor's main window. Reports can be in either HTML, DBF, WML, or Text formats. With reports, you can easily check the status of your network from anywhere using a Web browser or your WAP cell phone. Example
For more information how to use reports please, refer to "Logs&Reports" section of this documetation.

The highly flexible Report Manager allows you to create and customize reports to your preferences in a variety of ways.



The configurable report parameters include:

Report type
Choose one of the available report types:

- HTML	-	HTML file format. Test items will be represented in the table, each test item will be recorded as one row in the table. Example
- WML	-	WML (Wireless Markup Language) file format
- DBF	-	DBF (Data Base File) format
- Text	-	Text file
- Dashboard	-	HTML file format. Every folder is represented by a row in the table. Each cell of the row represents tests of a certain type from within that folder (e.g. Ping, CPU Load, Service, Drive Free Space). Example1, Example2
- Compact HTML	-	HTML file format. Each test will be represented by small button. You will be able to click mouse on those buttons to retrieve detailed information about the test. Example1, Example2, Example3
- Custom HTML	-	HTML file format. HostMonitor will use HTML templates provided by you to create report. Example1, Example2
- SLA	-	SLA reports in HTML or XML format

All reports have some common properties:

Test method filter
"Include the following test methods" list allows you to select the test types that should be included in the report (e. g., you may select all test methods except Ping and CPU Usage tests). Click the mouse button on the check box next to a field name to mark/unmark the item. Use "Mark all" popup menu item to select all available fields, use "Clear all" popup menu item to deselect all items.
To exclude some specific test items from the report use "Exclude from reports" test property.

Sorting mode
You may setup HostMonitor to sort test items in the report in the same way it sorts test items on screen (this option is selected by default). So, test items will be sorted in the order specified on Columns page in the Options dialog, unless the folder overrides global options and uses its own sorting mode (e.g. different folders may use the same set of report profiles but different sort orders).
Or you may directly specify sort method for the report profile. In such case test items will be sorted by specified field regradless of global and folder-level options.

The following properties are applicable for any report except DBF, WML and Text reports:

Color scheme
Choose a color scheme that you like from a drop down list, or use button to bring up Color Palettes dialog and create the color scheme to your personal preferences.

External Header
Specify an HTML file that will be used as a header for the report. You need to specify this option only if you want to change the standard header of the report. In HostMonitor's directory "Examples\" you can find several samples of the external header:

File	Type of the report example was made for	Purpose
StdHeader.html	HTML	this external header is similar to the one that HostMonitor is using, can be used as a base for the creation of your own headers.
Summary.html HTML	HTML	external header with tests' statuses summary.
AutoRefresh.html	HTML	file contains command to auto refresh HTML page. Your browser will be refreshing the page's contents at regular intervals (by default 60 seconds, but you can change the interval).
CompactHeader.html	Compact HTML	this external header is similar to the one that HostMonitor is using for Compact HTML reports, can be used as a base for the creation of your own headers.
dbHeader.html	Dashboard	this external header is similar to the one that HostMonitor is using for Dashboard reports, can be used as a base for the creation of your own headers.

Use macro variable to show current date, time, colors of selected palette, etc.

External footer
Specify an HTML file that will be used as a footer for the report. You need to specify this option only if you want to change the standard footer of the report. HostMonitor's directory "Examples\" contains 2 samples of the footer:

• StdFooter.html - this external footer is similar to the one that HostMonitor is using, can be used as a base for creating your own footers.
  
• Summary2.html - contains external footer with tests' statuses summary.

"Simple" HTML, WML, DBF, TXT reports

These reports show simple list of tests (table) and test properties. You may define the following properties for each report:

Status filter
Use left listbox to select the status set. To create the report HostMonitor will use tests with the selected statuses only (e. g., include tests with a "No answer" or "Unknown" status only). Click mouse button on the check box next to a field name to mark/unmark the item. Use "Mark all" popup menu item to select all available fields, use "Clear all" popup menu item to deselect all items.
To exclude some specific test items from the report use "Exclude from reports" test property.

Fields list
The right listbox in the Report Profiles dialog contains list of fields that you can include in the report (e. g., test name, status, average response time, downtime, comment, related URL, etc.). Click mouse button on the check box next to a field name to mark/unmark the item. Use "Mark all" popup menu item to select all available fields, use "Clear all" popup menu item to deselect all items.
You can change fields order in the report by dragging items with a mouse (click left mouse button on the item and drag it to a new place). Also you can change the name of the field, using Columns page in the User Preferences dialog (use <Default> profile for such operation!).

Dashboard reports

Dashboard is actually an indicator panel. One glance at the dashboard will give you comprehensive overview of all tests in all folders (example).
Every folder is represented by a row on the dashboard. Each cell of the row represents tests of a certain type from within that folder (e.g. Ping, CPU Load, Service, Drive Free Space). Number inside cell and their color depend on the tests results:

Color*	Meaning of the color of the cell	Meaning of the number in the cell
N	Some test(s) have "bad" status (non-acknowledged)	Number of "bad" test items
N	No "bad" tests but some test(s) have "warning" status (non-acknowledged)	Number of "warning" test items
N	No "bad" or "warning" tests but some test(s) have "unknown" status (non-acknowledged)	Number of "unknown" test items
N	There are some "bad", "warning" or "unknown" items, all of them acknowledged	Number of acknowledged tests
N	No "bad"/"unknown" tests but there are "WaitForMaster" test item(s)	Number of tests with "Wait.." status
N	ALL tests are disabled	Number of disabled tests
N	All tests have "OutOfSchedule" status	Number of "OutOfSchedule" tests
N	No "bad"/"unknown"/"WaitForMaster" items, some (all) tests are "good"	Number of "good" test items
0	No tests of this type in the folder	0 - no tests

* Of course colors used for report depend on color palette you have ñhosen.

Click on the cell to see the list of tests of specific method (Ping, Process, etc) that have "bad", "unknown", or "WaitForMaster" status (from the specific folder of course). Report may display up to 10 test items of each status. E.g. if you click on "red" cell that represents Ping tests for "USA Office" folder, you will see "bad" (as well as "unknown" and "waitformaster", if any) ping tests within that folder.

Dashboard report has a few more parameters (than regular HTML report):


Display N sublevel(s) of the folder
This parameter defines how many sublevels of the folder tree will be displayed.
For example if you create report for the root folder with "Display 2 sublevel(s) of the folder" option, HostMonitor will create a table that displays tests of the root folder, it's direct descendants (1st sublevel) and descendants of root descendants (2nd sublevel). If the folder tree contains more levels of subfolders, information about test items from deeper subfolders will be included in the last displayed level of subfolders.

Display summary row at the top/bottom of the datasheet
Choose where the summary row will be displayed.

Display N latest "bad" / "good" / "bad&good" / "any" events at the top
Display N latest "bad" / "good" / "bad&good" / "any" events at the bottom
These optional settings allow placing information about latest events of specified kind at the top and/or at the bottom of the report. You may choose what kind of events will be displayed. E.g. "bad" event records provide information about failed tests; "good" events provide information about recovered items, and so on.
The term "event" means a log record that was added with every test status change. If logging mode for some test is set to "Reply" or "Full", HostMonitor adds new record when either the test status or "Reply" field value the test changes.

Include "AutoRefresh" option
With this option enabled HostMonitor will include into report command for HTML browser to refresh HTML page every N sec.


If you want to create a customized external header for Dashboard report, please note:

• HTML header must contain list of styles for the table header, folder items and for each possible test status
  <style type="text/css">
    td.Header { ..style definition.. }
    td.Folder { ..style definition.. }
    td.NotTested { ..style definition.. }
    td.Ok { ..style definition.. }
    td.Bad { ..style definition.. }
    td.ClassWarn { ..style definition.. }
    td.Unknown { ..style definition.. }
    td.ClassACK { ..style definition.. }
    td.Disabled { ..style definition.. }
    td.WaitForMaster { ..style definition.. }
    td.OutOfSchedule { ..style definition.. }
    td.NoTests { ..style definition.. }
  </style>
• Header must contain "showinfo" function, this function is called every time when user clicks on a cell. It shows the list of test items. By default this function defined as
  <script language="JavaScript"> <!--
  function showinfo(info) { alert(info); }
  --> </script>
  

• header must contains list of styles for the folder items and each possible test status
  <style type="text/css">
    input.Folder { ...style definition... }
    input.NotTested { ...style definition... }
    input.Alive { ...style definition... }
    input.Ok {...style definition... }
    input.NoAnswer { ...style definition... }
    input.Bad {...style definition... }
    input.BadContents {...style definition... }
    input.Warning { ..style definition.. }
    input.Unknown { ...style definition... }
    input.UnknownHost { ...style definition... }
    input.Checking { ...style definition... }
    input.Resolving {...style definition... }
    input.ACK {...style definition... }
    input.Disabled {...style definition... }
    input.WaitForMaster {...style definition... }
    input.OutOfSchedule {...style definition... }
  </style>
• header should contain "showinfo" function, this function called every time user click on buttons (those represent test items) to display detailed test information. By default this function defined as
  <script language="JavaScript"> <!--
  function showinfo(info) { alert(info); }
  --> </script>
• header must contain "<form>" tag

Custom HTML report is the most flexible report type. However it needs more time from you to configure the report profile. HTML and Compact HTML reports allow you to change header and footer of the reports, custom HTML report allows you to change everything. Define your own HTML template using special macro variables and HostMonitor will generate HTML report using parameters of the tests and folders instead of macro variables.

Each section (header, summary, gap, etc) allows you to use following macro variables:

• Regular macro varaibles (the same varaibles those used for external header/footer for regular HTML report);
• User defined variables
• Date & time variables

SLA reports

When "Store historical data in the file" option (located in "Test list properties" dialog) is enabled, HostMonitor collects additional statistical information for each test item. Such information can be displayed by SLA reports, "Test history" window, Web Service interface, etc.

You may setup HostMonitor to generate SLA reports using XML or HTML file formats. HTML SLA report can be created in forms of text table or list of charts. Examples:
- Table report 1
- Table report 2
- Performance charts
- Availability charts
- Availability prediction

SLA report profiles provide additional properties:

Mode
Select file type for the report: XML or HTML

Chart
When you setup HTML SLA report, you may setup report without charts or choose one of several types of charts:
- Availability
- Performance
- Availability + average reply

Folder summary
With this option enabled HostMonitor will calculate average alive/dead ratio and average reply values for each folder included into the report; folder summary information is based on each test item within the folder.

Show folder comment
With this option enabled HostMonitor will display comments assigned to each folder included into the report. You may specify number of specific line of the comment (as folder comment is multy-line text).

Show test comment
With this option enabled HostMonitor will display comments assigned to each test item included into the report. You may specify number of specific line of the comment (as test item comment is multy-line text).

Include disabled items
This option tells HostMonitor to include or exclude currently disabled items into the report

Consider items as bad when
HostMonitor may mark report items (tests, folders and summary items) as "bad item" using color specified for "bad" items by selected color palette. With this option enabled you may specify when item should be considered as "bad" item. You may select one of the following parameters to be checked and compared with the number (e.g. "max reply > than 1000" or "average reply < 20"):
- "dead" ratio
- "alive" ratio
- min reply
- max reply
- average reply

Display statistics for
Each SLA report (each file) may include set of "sub-reports" - information regarding specific period of time:

- Prediction: next 7 days   - Today - Yesterday - Last 24 hours - Last 48 hours - This week

- Last week - Last 7 days - Last 14 days - This month - Last month - Last 30 days

- Last 60 days - This year - Last year - Last 12 months - Last 24 months

"Prediction: next 7 days" mode tells HostMonitor to calculate and show statistical counters for future 7 days. HostMonitor analyzes previous 30 days of test results trying to predict future test results. HostMonitor shows counters (textual information) for next 7 days while charts show data for last 7 days and next 7 days (using different color for past and the future). Of course software cannot tell you what really happens in the future, its just assumption based on historical data.

Important note: If you have a lot of test items, we would recommend to generate HTML SLA reports with charts using built-in Scheduler (e.g. start "Generate reports" action once a day). We do not recommend using "Generate reports" action (for reports with charts) in action profile assigned to some frequently performed test items. That's because generation of thousand charts can take significant time.

Connection Manager

When you check the remote system, some test methods (like CPU Usage, Process, Service, NT Event Log and several others) need to establish connection with that remote system using a user name and password. Connection Manager provides one convenient place to store account information necessary to perform connections to remote systems.

As you already have noticed, many tests have "Connect as" option that allows you to provide an account name and password necessary to establish communication. But if, for example, you need to check 20 different processes on the same server, you will need to specify that password for every test separately. With the help of Connection Manager you only need to create a single record for the account. This is also very convenient when the password for that account is changed from time to time (check also Password Generator).

Another advantage of Connection Manager - it allows you to provide account information for test methods that normally were designed to work with local files but may also be used to test remote shares as well. Test methods Folder/File Size, Count Files, File Availability, File Integrity, Text Log, and Compare Files do not have "Connect as" option. However when the path to the file/folder is specified in UNC format, Connection Manager may establish connection prior to the execution of these tests.

Also you may specify "Reconnect if necessary" option for an account. With this option selected when the system (where HostMonitor is running) is already connected to the remote system with a user account that doesn't have enough permissions to perform the test, Connection Manager may reconnect the system using specified account.

And one more advantage: if HostMonitor is unable to establish connection with the remote system, Connection Manager may log the response from that remote system; information such as why the connection was rejected will be stored.


So, what information you need to provide for each record:

Resource (UNC)
Specifies an UNC path to the resource with which HostMonitor are going to establish the connection. E.g. if you plan to use an account for CPU Usage, Process or Service test methods that require a connection to the remote system, you may use just the name of target system (like \\primaryserver). Or you may specify a full path to the share (e.g. \\primaryserver\web\sharefolder1), this makes more sense for file related tests such as Folder Size or File Integrity.

Server or Domain
Specifies the DNS or NetBIOS name of a remote server or domain that will authorize connection.

Please note: You may provide "default" account that will be used by HostMonitor for every resource not included in the list. To do so, type * as resource name. Then you may provide name of the server/domain or type * instead of server name. In 1st case HostMonitor will send authentication information to the specified server; in 2nd case (unc=* and sever=*) HostMonitor will connect to the server that was specified as test parameter.

Login
Provides a user name that is used for the connection.

Password
Specifies a password to be used when establishing the network connection.

Method
This parameter defines HostMonitor's behavior in case when the connection with specified remote system is already established but with different (than specified) account. Choose one of the options:

• Keep active connection
• Reconnect if necessary

• Mark accounts for which you want to change passwords (if you already have used Password Generator some time ago, it will remember the list of marked accounts and you may skip this step). If you want to mark multiple accounts, hold the Shift key while selecting the first and the last items to select a range of records and then press Space to mark/unmark selected records.
• Specify the length of passwords. Password Generator will generate random passwords (of specified length) using upper and lower case letter characters 'A'..'Z'; 'a'..'z', and numbers '0'..'9'
• Optionally you may mark "Log results into" selector and provide a file name that will be used for the log.
• Also you may use "Display passwords" option. In this case Password Generator will display new passwords for each account.
• Click "Generate new passwords" button

When Password Generator connects to the server and successfully changes a password, it also changes the password for the account that was specified in Connection Manager utility. This way, all accounts will be synchronized.
However it will not change passwords for test items that use "Connect As" option.

IMPORTANT: When you click "Generate new passwords" button you should remember that:

1. All changes that were made in Connection Manager utility will be saved
2. You will not be able to restore old passwords automatically (THERE IS NO UNDO)!
3. If selected accounts are in use by some users (or another applications), they will not be able to use these accounts after new passwords will be generated!