Key features

GFI Network Server Monitor consists of the monitoring service called the GFI Network Server Monitor 7 Engine, the configuration and management UI program called GFI Network Server Monitor Configuration and a result monitoring service called GFI Network Server Monitor Attendant. No agent software needs to be installed on the computers that you wish to monitor. The Network Monitor Engine is multi-threading and can run 24 checks at a time. This software architecture allows for high reliability and scalability to monitor both large and small networks.

Setup monitor checks using wizards

Check setup wizards help the user to quickly set up an efficient monitoring system using the built-in checks available in just few steps. It is also possible to create a batch of checks simultaneously using the Quick Start Wizard. By default, the Quick Start Wizard can automatically generate monitoring checks for target computers running Windows or specific Linux OSs including SUSE, Mandrake, Redhat and Fedora.

Property inheritance

By default, GFI Network Server Monitor organizes all checks in folders. Through property inheritance, it is possible to specify central properties common to all checks to be contained in a folder (e.g., target computer) and have those properties propagate down to the checks contained in that folder.

Alerts administrators via email, pager or SMS

When it detects a failure, GFI Network Server Monitor can send alerts via SMS/pager, email or a network message. SMS messages are sent through either an SMS service provider (SMSC), directly through a connected GSM phone/modem or using an Email to SMS service, such as Clickatell. GFI Network Server Monitor can also choose the type of alert to be sent depending on the time that an important event (e.g. check failure) occurs and in relation to the working hours specified for the intended recipients.

In-built Exchange 2000/2003 monitoring

Out of the box, GFI Network Server Monitor checks the status of your Exchange Server by monitoring critical Exchange services and performance counters (Information Store, mailboxes, SMTP service, etc.).

Monitor your database servers (SQL/ODBC)

GFI Network Server Monitor can check for the availability of database applications. Out of the box, it can monitor Microsoft SQL server via ADO. Other databases such as Access, FoxPro, Paradox, SyBase, Informix, IBM DB2 and many more, can be monitored via ODBC.

Monitor remote Event Logs

GFI Network Server Monitor can scan Windows Event logs on local- or remote computers and look for specific Event Sources, Categories, and Event IDs as well as for patterns in the Description of the Event. In addition it can look for multiple events occurring in a specific time interval, for example antivirus alerts posted in the last 30 minutes.

Support for nested folders

Nested folders (folders contained within other folders) are available in the Enterprise/Consultant editions of GFI Network Server Monitor.

Through nested folders, you can organize monitoring checks into a hierarchical structure that reflects specialized monitoring network needs (e.g., grouping of monitoring checks by zone, companies being served, or check type grouping).

Support for SQL Server database backend

Out of the box, the Consultants/Enterprise editions of GFI Network Server Monitor can store monitoring data in MS Access as well as in an SQL Server/MSDE database backend. This new SQL Server support allows you to efficiently monitor and collect network status data from environments which generate large volumes of monitoring data. These include large networks as well as mission-critical systems. You can configure which database backend to use both during installation and after (i.e., from the configuration module).

Built-in checks for computers running Windows OS

Generic VB Script - Enables you to customize/build monitoring checks using your own VBscript functions.

OS Object performance counter - Determines the performance of applications by checking the properties of OS objects on target computers.

Command Line executable output - Executes command line applications and checks text output for specific response.

Process Properties function - Checks the properties of processes running on target computers (e.g. Memory/CPU/Handles).

Event Log function - Verifies if the specified (Windows) events, occurred on target computer(s).

File existence function - Checks for the existence of a particular file; e.g. results of scheduled batch jobs.

Disk space function - Checks for available/used disk space.

Services function - Checks if the specified Services are running on local or remote computer.

CPU usage function - Monitors and restricts processor usage.

Directory size function - Monitors and restricts the size of a specified directory.

File size function - Monitors and restricts the size of specified files.

LDAP Query - Checks the status of LDAP services on target computers.

Physical Disk Condition function -Checks the physical health of disk drives on windows based target computers.

Disk drive function - Monitors the physical status of specified disk drives.

Printer availability function - Checks for the status of printers connected to target computers.

Process running function - Checks that processes are running on specified target computers.

Users and Groups Membership function - Monitors user groups against the presence of unauthorized users.

Built-in checks for Windows applications

Generic ISA Server check - Monitors the status of ISA Server services.

Generic Exchange Server check - Monitors the status of Exchange services and important performance counters.

Generic MS SQL/ADO check - Monitors the status of MS SQL databases using ADO.

Built-in checks for databases

ODBC function - Checks the availability of a database using ODBC.

Built-in checks for network/Internet protocols and services

HTTP function - Checks the availability of HTTP and Https sites.

FTP function - Checks the availability of an FTP server/site.

IMAP function - Checks the availability of IMAP mail servers by remotely connecting to the IMAP port. It can also (optionally) check mailbox authentication as well as count the number of emails in a specific mail folder.

NNTP news server function - Checks the availability of NNTP news services.

POP3 server function - Checks POP3 servers by establishing a connection, doing a handshake and optionally authenticate and check the inbox mail count.

SMTP server function - Monitors mail servers by establishing a connection and doing a handshake in order to check if the SMTP protocol is working correctly. The SMTP check also allows mailbox authentication as well as sending of test emails.

Terminal services: Port check - Checks if the terminal port is open on local and remote servers.

NTP timeserver function - Monitors the status of timeservers.

DNS server function - Checks various types of DNS server records by retrieving record values and comparing them against specified values.

ICMP ping function - Checks a remote host for availability.

Generic TCP/IP port function - Checks if a port availability and response.

Email route function - Checks that the email services are working properly by sending a test email through an SMTP server and verifying that it has been delivered to the destination mailbox.

Built-in checks for SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol)

SNMP function - Monitors specified variables on remote computers or devices via the SNMP GET message.

Built-in checks for Linux/Unix OS

Generic Secure Shell (SSH) check - Allows you to create custom monitor functions which can be remotely executed on Unix/Linux based computers through the Secure Shell (SSH) service running on that computer.

File existence function - Checks for the existence of a particular file on Linux/Unix based computers; e.g. results of scheduled batch jobs.

CPU usage function - Checks and restricts processor usage on Linux/Unix based target computers.

Directory size function - Checks and restricts the size of a specified directory on Linux/Unix based target computers.

File size function - Checks and restricts the size of a specified file on Linux/Unix based target computers.

Printer availability function - Checks the status of network printers connected to Linux/Unix based target computers.

Process running function - Checks if a specified process is running on Linux/Unix based target computers.

Users and Groups Membership function - Monitors user groups on Linux/Unix based target computers against unauthorized users.

Disk Partition Check - Checks the state of mounted drives on Linux/Unix based target computers.

Disk space function - Checks and restricts the available hard disk space on Linux/Unix based target computers.

Daemons function - Checks the state of a particular daemon on target computers running a Linux/Unix OS.

Take corrective action automatically

When an important event (e.g., check failure) occurs, GFI Network Server Monitor can attempt to correct a problem by restarting a failed service, reboot a target computer/server or launch an executable, batch or VBScript file.

Monitor processes, services & CPU usage

GFI Network Server Monitor enables you to check for critical processes and services running on local and remote computers. You can also monitor the CPU usage of a computer to ensure that applications are running properly.

Build custom network monitor checks using scripts

Although GFI Network Server Monitor includes an extensive set of default monitoring functions, you can build your own custom checks using a scripting language such as VBscript or shell scripts for Unix environments. SSH (Secure Shell) is used for remote connections to Unix based computers. In VBscript, you can make use of WMI and ADSI. WMI is an interface to a broad range of hardware/software/OS-related properties of a computer, allowing you to perform almost any check. Using ADSI you can interface to Active Directory. GFI Network Server Monitor includes a library of sample scripts, and others are continuously being added to the GFI website.

Monitor users, groups & other Active Directory information

Use GFI Network Server Monitor to monitor directory information. For example, monitor group membership of the domain admins group. You can also check user accounts (locked out, disabled, etc.), computer accounts, groups, group membership, organizational units, and so on. A subset of NTDS (NT4-based SAM account database) can be queried too.

Additional Network Support Tools

Additional Network support tools have been included in GFI Network Server Monitor to help you troubleshoot your network. These tools include:-

Enumerate Computers function - Searches your network for a list of domains, workgroups and constituent computers.

Enumerate Processes function - Searches for processes running on local or remote computers.

DNS Lookup function - Resolves Domain Names to their corresponding IP address.

Whois function - Looks for information related to a specified domain, or IP address.

Traceroute function - Shows the network path that GFI Network Server Monitor used to reach a target computer.

SNMP Audit - Performs an SNMP Audit in order to define weak strings.

SNMP Walk - Allows you to receive SNMP information from an SNMP Server.

Reporting

GFI Network Server Monitor allows you to create reports that detail the availability of your network resources. Such reports can be created in HTML as well as in XML/CSV if they need to be imported by other favorite applications.