RMA for Windows question

All questions related to installations, configurations and maintenance of Advanced Host Monitor (including additional tools such as RMA for Windows, RMA Manager, Web Servie, RCC).
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nate-boit
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Joined: Thu Sep 28, 2006 2:50 pm

RMA for Windows question

Post by nate-boit »

I wish to have HostMonitor at a centralized location and monitor event logs from around 70 Windows servers on various remote networks.

Do i need to purchase 70 RMA licenses for this task, or can i just specify the IP and admin credentials for each test?

I figure i will need to buy the RMAs, but i just wanted to make sure before i make the big purchase.
KS-Soft
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Post by KS-Soft »

It depends... If system where HostMonitor is installed is able to connect to remote servers, you don't need RMA at all. If remote networks protected by firewalls, you need at least 1 RMA for each network.

Regards
Alex
nate-boit
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Joined: Thu Sep 28, 2006 2:50 pm

Post by nate-boit »

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If remote networks protected by firewalls, you need at least 1 RMA for each network. 
Can you please explain this a little more? Specifically how to monitor multiple computers on remote networks with only one RMA on the network.

And how to monitor remote servers that do not have public IP addresses. I have remote access to atleast one server on every network via public IP, but that server might not always be the server i am trying to monitor. I might need to monitor a different server with private IP only.

Your thoughts?
KS-Soft
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Post by KS-Soft »

Can you please explain this a little more? Specifically how to monitor multiple computers on remote networks with only one RMA on the network.
Single RMA may monitor several systems in the same network. Just like single HostMonitor can monitor many servers.
And how to monitor remote servers that do not have public IP addresses.
If you install RMA inside of private network, RMA will be able to use private IP addresses.

Regards
Alex
JuergenF
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Post by JuergenF »

KS-Soft wrote:Single RMA may monitor several systems in the same network. Just like single HostMonitor can monitor many servers.
@nate-boit
Don't fix too much to the word "same network".

Hostmonitor and RMA (but not with all kinds of tests - see http://www.ks-soft.com/hostmon.eng/rma- ... .htm#intro for available tests)
can monitor all the servers that it can reach using the IP protocol. Therefore I would not talk about "same network" but about "servers that are reachable".

So what is needed first: IP-routing from monitoring server to "to be tested" server
Additionally it depends on the test you'd like to perform.
A ping is very easy. Openenig a share or remote Eventlog a bit more difficult (need other IP/UDP ports and login credentials)
... and firewalls and/or access lists have to be watched carefully

In easy words:
1. Log in to the server you would like to run HM or RMA on.
2. Try to perform the things that HM (RMA) should do - in your case
2.1. Open EventViewer
2.2. Connect to "other computer" from EventViewer

If that is possible - even with another account - HM and RMA can do that too.

I hope it's a bit clearer now.

Best regards

Juergen
nate-boit
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Joined: Thu Sep 28, 2006 2:50 pm

Post by nate-boit »

Thanks to both...
I understand how it all works a little better after actually putting RMAs on remote servers and implementing tests using the agents.

Another critical question i had was this: Is there a way for the remote agents to talk to HostMonitor, as opposed to HostMonitor talking to the remote agents?

What it seems like to me is that HostMonitor is communicating with each RMA, but before that can happen it has to get past the remote firewall, in which case port 1055 has to be opened on every firewall and we would have a lot of documentation and explaining to do. If the RMA would talk to us at the central HostMonitor location, we could just open that port on our firewall and everything would be good.

So basically is there a way for the RMA to initiate the session, or "check in", with HostMonitor as opposed to the other way around.

How it is now:
Hostmonitor ------------||--> RMA

How we want it:
Hostmonitor <--||--------------- RMA

|| = Firewall :D
JuergenF
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Post by JuergenF »

As far as I know: No.

http://www.ks-soft.com/hostmon.eng/rma-win/index.htm
How to use

O.k., now when you have your agents installed in different networks, how to use them?
HostMonitor since version 4.0 supports a list of remote agents and can perform tests not only by itself but also may send a request to the agent which will then execute the test. Every test in HostMonitor has now an additional property: "Test by". By default it has the value "HostMonitor"; it means that the test will be executed by HostMonitor. Alternatively you may choose an agent from drop down list and the test will be performed by that agent.
HM is the central point of configuration and triggers each test (sends the request to perform and the information what to test to the RMA agent)

The agent is dumb. It only knows "how to perform a specific method". All information about a special test is send by HM to RMA.
KS-Soft
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Post by KS-Soft »

JuergenF is right. Agent cannot connect to HostMonitor. Will be implemented some day

Regards
Alex
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