Bigun is taking this reviewing stuff way too seriously. Just a simple "agree" or "disagree" will do there buddy. :) We can read.

Excellent program.. been messing with it here for the last hour. Works great.. and especially for free! Thanks!

The installer included in Setup.exe is incomplete. It tries to download additional InstallShield files from http://www.installengine.com/isengine/isscript.msi with no warning at all, so it is unusable for LAN deliberately separated from the Internet.

Running as "administrator" does not help.

The following error box when attempting to install on Vista:

Error

X String PRODUCT_NAME was not found in string table.

Program unusable ... a shame because this is a great idea.

Hi,

I don't have a LAN nor do I manage one. Consequently I don't have a server.
Also I'm not a webmaster and I don't have my own website or blog.
Perhaps this GOTD is of no use to me? Surely there is no reason for testing it, even on third party networks?

Can anyone explain the usefulness of this program to someone like me?
It surely can't tell me anything about the WAN-servers I'm connected to, i.e. my internet provider's servers? (One has to start somewhere if one wants to learn hacking ;-) - LOL.

Anyway, this tool may be a relief to some of "us". With all the video-, audio- and phototools that we have enjoyed pre (and post) Thanksgiving we can experiment for at least until New Year's Day ;-)

Greetz.
Pat.

Server Health Notifier


Several of you are so anxious to review the product of the day that you neglect to read the program's intended purpose before jumping in and commenting on what the program does and what the program fails to do. Too often the intended purpose of the program is completely missed by the reviewing party. The simple reviews that say "the program as everything it says it will do" are more accurate even if we leave out details. The problem leading to writing sloppy reviews appears amateur reviewers rushing to be the first to review the program with little regard to accuracy. Sometimes the review is so far off base that I am not so sure that the review is dealing with the same program that I am considering downloading from GOTD.

The developer describes today's offering as being a "server health notifier". It seems that if the developer has any idea of what he is talking about that the program should report on the state of health of a targeted server.

How does the following statement by a reviewer "The Bad
* One dimensional – lacking in terms of having the ability to fix or prevent the errors/problems."
address a single intended property of today's download?

And does this review do any better? "Good:
1.check your computer easily
2.show basic computer evaluate items.

My review. The program was downloaded, installed on a Windows XP Pro 32-bit system, aimed at a Windows 2003 server, the server was determined to be "healthy" when the e-mail sent to me by the program contained the report of the system resources used by the server showed the following to all be within expected limits:

Monitoring main system resources (CPU usage, Memory usage, Page file usage, etc).


I appreciate good reviews and I am willing to put confidence in what a reviewer details when I know that care was taken in reviewing the product. I know that the reviewers that I singled out today are capable of much better work.

What version is this "Server Health Notifier" that is for the giveaway today?

@1 - Not fair to say "One dimensional – lacking in terms of having the ability to fix or prevent the errors/problems."

This is presented as a "monitor" or "notifier". It's not supposed to be the function of the program to fix anything. As a sysadmin, I would rather be notified than have some 3rd party software trying to fix one of my servers.

I like it, except I can't figure out why the Web Server Connections always shows an error, no matter what I seem to set it at.

Seems to amount to little more than looking at the same variables for another computer that Windows Task Manager will show you for your own. Probably handy to be able to check on other nodes in a private network, but I'd think anyone maintaining a server would have much better tools.

I installed it fine on Win 7 and Win server 2008 R2 and monitored both OS's just fine...just so others know! Seems ok as a monitoring system, will server a purpose for me as I have a remote weather station laptop I would like to monitor. Thanks GAOTD!!

While the idea is good, this program is indeed severely limited; it only monitors one server at a time or did I miss where to add more than one probe that will run concurrently?

I wrote a 10 line Windows power shell script to ping and attempt Secure Shell logins to test users on our network from one desktop that does the same as this does for work. Added a loop and a file to read with a list of IP's and a second field to say 'ping' OR do an SSH login then logout, and it looks at all the 30 or so Windows and 80 or so Unix servers at work. Sends email to all the sys admins when something goes down. Keeps our IT manager quiet.

@Ashraf, I ran it on Windows 7 professional with no problems, it monitored the 'localhost' just fine. Didn't try to monitor a remote Windows 7 box...

Question for Developer: Does this work with Windows Home Server?

1608: Unable to create Install Driver Instance,Return code : 2147221164
Can any body help.

It is best that this does not fix antthing. It is a monitor and only that so that is all it should do.

This software is quite easy to use, but very basic compared to more professional software serving its purpose.

A local help-file is provided (Ashraf is wrong about this; check for "Server Health Notifier.chm").

@Ashraf "One dimensional – lacking in terms of having the ability to fix or prevent the errors/problems" is no bad at all because fixing problems is not a monitor-functionality, signaling possible problems is.
Mostly human action is involved to work out what to do to tackle the problem; no such thing as a "solve-all-button".

Doesn't do anything new and there seems to be nothing much "server" related. Programs that send emails only open up your computer to malware and hacking hazards - I'm not saying that this software is a danger! Just that this AND a virus/trojan could be a really lethal combination.
Then, if it can't actually fix any problems, why would you need it? $19 for what? It should be able to do something positive for that money.

Good,this software is powerfull,simple and easily configured for me.But is it better than the windows explorer?I dont know.

Hello,

The installation says error. I couldn't find it in program files. Please help

Good:
1.check your computer easily
2.show basic computer evaluate items.

bad:
1.Not support windows 7
2.not support solutions if you meet problem.
3.Interface a little ugly.

The Good
* Monitors CPU Usage, Free Physical Memory, Page File Usage, Network Usage, Dusk Usage, (number of) Threads, (a) Process, Web Server Connections.
* Can monitor local computer/server or a remote computer/server.
* Provides pop-up notifications when the "threshold" values have been passed.
* Ability to send e-mail notifications once the "threshold" values have been passed and an e-mail when the parameters have returned to normal.
* Ability to execute user defined program/command when the "threshold" values have been passed.
* Works on non-server computers also.

The Bad
* One dimensional - lacking in terms of having the ability to fix or prevent the errors/problems.
* No local Help file and developer's website only provides minimal assistance.

For final verdict, recommendations, and full review please click here.