Sentry-go Plus Windows Server Monitor

A monitoring solution for Windows Server which features a number of customizable options.

Pros: Sentry-Go Plus is a tool that can be used to constantly monitoring the functioning of a Windows Server. The monitoring components that are required can be selected from a number of available components. Monitoring can be done on several different things: Services, Processes, web sites, FTP sites, TCP / IP ports, resource usage (printers and files), even on event logs and other log files, on database queries, and SQL queries. Monitoring is used to make sure that the required process or service is up and running. In case a fault is detected, i.e. a process or service is found to be not functioning then the monitoring tool can alert the user in several ways. These alerts can be viewed in real time using the client Console. Reports are also generated automatically and these can be viewed through the Console and also through the application developer’s website where web reports are stored automatically. Tasks are easily performed using Wizards: Microsoft Exchange Mailbox Summary Wizard, Windows Event Log Summary Wizard, File Access Audit Wizard, Windows Web Log Summary Wizard, and more.

Cons: I am not sure that the fact that web reports get saved at the developer’s website is a good idea. The other concern is that some tasks on the Console tend to create a long trail of windows that open one on top of the other. This is a recurring problem with the Console interface that tends to open more windows that it seems is necessary. It has fewer alerting options than other similar tools.

Overall: 4 stars. It has fewer alerting options than other Server monitoring tools. This is made up somewhat by the customizability. However, there is an irritating number of windows that open up during its use.

Sentry-go Plus is a low cost, expandable, network-efficient monitoring solution for Windows. With it, you purchase & plug in the monitoring components you need for your server, in order to build a complete customised monitoring solution. Monitoring features include services, processes, web & FTP sites, TCP/IP ports, event logs, log files, performance, connectivity, printing & files, database connections & queries, SQL Server locking etc. When faults are detected, automatic action can be taken in addition to the many alerting features provided. The integrated web server delivers dynamic reports to your desktop directly from the monitor itself, whilst publishing options allow key reports to be accessed externally from your own web site. The monitor is backed up by a client Console which allows support personnel to access all Sentry-go Plus! monitors in the environment either locally or remotely. From here you can see the status of each monitor, view alerts in real time, access available web reports, view and update configuration information, copy configuration values between monitors and view real-time activity details direct from the monitoring service. To help you diagnose & resolve detected faults, Sentry-go Plus! also directly links to Sentry-go Solutions, a web site dedicated to providing technical information & resources and aimed at helping you understand and correct errors more quickly & easily.