GFI Releases Freeware Version of GFI Network Server Monitor 6
London, UK, 18 May 2005 – GFI is launching a freeware version of GFI Network Server Monitor 6, its network monitoring product that automatically scans networks and servers for failures, and allows administrators to fix and identify issues before users report them. GFI Network Server Monitor can issue alerts by email, pager or SMS and can automatically perform required actions, such as rebooting a machine, restarting a service or running a script. The freeware version, worth US$250, enables these features for three servers, as well as all the additions recently introduced in the latest version of the product. New features include a totally new interface for fast and easy configuration, the capacity to monitor Linux servers, and the ability to check service availability by simulating a real service request (such as an actual terminal server login).
Monitoring Linux servers
Extensive checks for monitoring Linux servers have been included in GFI Network Server Monitor 6, released earlier this year. Administrators can now monitor CPU usage, printer availability, file existence, process running, folder size, file size, users’ and groups’ membership, disk partition check and disk space in a Linux environment too. They can also add any required check by creating an SSH script.
Monitors terminal servers and services by performing actual logins and tests
GFI Network Server Monitor can check the status of a terminal server by actually performing a complete login to check if the session is established correctly. Similarly, it actually tests the status of a service as opposed to simply deducing the status from generated events. This is in stark contrast with other monitoring solutions, such as Microsoft MOM, that rely solely on events generated by the service. GFI Network Server Monitor’s monitoring method is by far superior and is the soundest way to ensure network uptime.
New configuration interface
Version 6 includes a straightforward configuration interface that permits checks to be organized into folders and enables them to inherit folder properties such as notifications, maintenance times, dependencies and more. GFI Network Server Monitor’s new user-friendly interface greatly eases configuration.
New quick start wizard
GFI Network Server Monitor 6 includes a monitoring check wizard that can automatically create a set of checks for an organization’s important servers in a few quick steps. Administrators can simply install and configure it to suit their network requirements in a few minutes, rather than having to undergo training as is the case with some competing products.
“Our offer of a free three-server version of GFI Network Server Monitor provides small businesses, which would not normally make the investment, with an automatic network server monitoring solution. Administrators can monitor and receive alerts about critical machines such as their mail server, web server and file server for free,” said Andre Muscat, Product Manager at GFI.
About the freeware version
The GFI Network Server Monitor freeware version can be downloaded from http://www.gfi.com/nsm/. The download is a full version of GFI Network Server Monitor 6 (11.9MB) that times out after the 60-day evaluation period, unless a special freeware key for a three-server version is entered; this key is emailed to downloaders automatically after they download the product. The product manual can be viewed online or downloaded at http://www.gfi.com/nsm/nsm6manual.pdf. User-to-user support is available at http://forums.gfi.com.
About GFI Network Server Monitor (commercial version)
GFI Network Server Monitor monitors the network for failures or irregularities, allowing administrators to identify issues and fix unexpected conditions before users report them. GFI Network Server Monitor maximizes network availability by monitoring all aspects of a network’s servers (including UNIX/LINUX servers), workstations and devices (routers, etc). When it detects a failure, it can alert the administrator by email, pager or SMS, as well as taking corrective action by, for example, rebooting the machine, restarting the service or running a script. Any amount of rules can be configured and each can be customized to suit one’s needs and network set-up. GFI Network Server Monitor is competitively priced: Pricing begins at US$499 to monitor 10 servers. More product information and a trial version are available at http://www.gfi.com/nsm/.
About GFI
GFI is a leading provider of network security, content security and messaging software. Key products include the GFI FAXmaker fax connector for Exchange and SMTP mail servers; GFI MailSecurity email content/exploit checking and anti-virus software; GFI MailEssentials server-based anti-spam software; GFI MailArchiver an email archiving solution; GFI LANguard Network Security Scanner (N.S.S.) security scanning and patch management software; GFI Network Server Monitor that automatically sends alerts, and corrects network and server issues; GFI LANguard Security Event Log Monitor (S.E.L.M.) that performs event log based intrusion detection and network-wide event log management; and GFI LANguard Portable Storage Control that enables network-wide control of removable media. Clients include Microsoft, Telstra, Time Warner Cable, NASA, DHL, Caterpillar, BMW, the US IRS, and the USAF. GFI has offices in the US, the UK, Germany, Cyprus, Romania, Australia and Malta, and operates through a worldwide network of distributors. GFI is a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner and has won the Microsoft Fusion (GEM) Packaged Application Partner of the Year award.