Contact Info

contact@activexperts.com 31625044454

Crumbtrail

ActiveXperts.com » Support » All » Network Monitor

ActiveXperts Network Monitor Support Pages

[ NETWORK MONITOR - INSTALLATION ]

Q6500006 - I want to reinstall the software and use the default Data Folder 'C:\ProgramData\ActiveXperts\Network Monitor\'. However, Setup does not accept this Folder saying the the Folder is already in use. What should I do?
A:

Setup tries to rename the previous Folder to 'C:\ProgramData\ActiveXperts\Network Monitor.saved', in order to allow you to Restore from this Folder after installation. Apparently, the rename fails.
There are a few common reasons why the Folder cannot be renamed:

If you cannot figure it out, cancel Setup, reboot the system, and try again.

[ NETWORK MONITOR - LICENSING ]

Q7900090 - Does the software include the source code?
A:

No, we do not ship or sell the sourcecode of any of our products.

[ NETWORK MONITOR - MONITORING ENVIRONMENTAL - TEMPERATURE/HUMIDITY/MORE ]

Q6830020 - Can you provide me with a list of all AVTech devices supported by your software?
A:

For a list of supported Sensatronics models, click here.

Q6830025 - We use a Sensatronics EM1 device. We do know the default IP address of this device. How can we set it?
A:

To configure the unit:

Q6830027 - Do you have a list of Sensatronics OID's that can be monitored by Network Monitor? We use the EM1 model.
A:

For a list of Sensatronics EM1 OID's, click here.

[ NETWORK MONITOR - MONITORING UNIX/LINUX MACHINES ]

Q7150010 - I have a UNIX machine, but when monitoring through your RSH function, I get a message "Unable to connect to remote computer". What's up?
A:

Most probably, RSH is not configured properly on the remote UNIX machine. Be sure to setup your .rhosts file correctly on your UNIX server.

The .rhosts file typically permits network access on UNIX/LINUX systems. The .rhosts file lists computer names and associated logon names that have access to remote computers. When you run rcp, rexec, or rsh commands remotely with a proper .rhosts file, you do not need to provide logon and password information for the remote computer. The .rhosts file is a text file in which each line is an entry. An entry consists of the local computer name, the local user name, and any comments about the entry. Each entry is separated by a tab or space, and comments begin with a pound sign (#). For example: 

host7 #This computer is in room 31A

The .rhosts file must be in the user's home directory on the remote computer. For more information about the specific implementation of the .rhosts file on a remote computer, see the remote system documentation.

When troubleshooiting RSH, try the Windows built-in RSH client command utility to test if the RSH configuration is working fine.

Q7150015 - We are running Network Monitor and seem to get a lot of "uncertain, permission denied" on Unix RSH scripts. Could you please point me to the right direction?
A:

Problems regarding RSH are usually due to the configuration of the RSH daemon on the remote server (.rhosts file), so check the RSH configuration on the Unix machine first.

Then, isolate the problem by using the standard Windows built-in RSH tool. Let's assume that the remote UNIX machine called PLUTO, you can issue the following command from the command line: 

RSH PLUTO ls
Q7150020 - I need technical instructions about how to setup the RSH daemon on LINUX. Do you know any reference?
A:

Click here for instruction about how to setup the RSH daemon on LINUX.

[ NETWORK MONITOR - MONITORING VBSCRIPT ]

Q7200010 - Is it possible to debug my VBScript based checks?
A:

There's an online ActiveXperts VBScript Guidelines page available here. It tells you how to write new VBScript checks, how to test these scripts and how to use the ActiveXperts VBScript debugger.

Q7200020 - When running a custom VBScript script, it gives me an error on WScript.Echo. How can I use WScript.Echo?
A:

WScript.Echo only works for a script that is called by a command line interpreter (i.e. CSCRIPT or WSCRIPT). You should avoid all console-related functions.
The online Network Monitor VBScript Guidelines explain how to write VBScript checks for ActiveXperts Network Monitor, and provides information about troubleshooting.

Q7200025 - I want to use double-quotes as parameters for my script. How can I do this?
A:

To pass a regular string parameter to your VBScript function, you should use double-quotes , e.g.:
  "\\myserver\c$"

If you want to have a double-quote as part of the string passed to the function, you should escape the double-quote character by a double-quote, e.g.:
  "ActiveXperts Software, ""Innovators in Communications""."

[ NETWORK MONITOR - MONITORING WINDOWS / WMI (DCOM) ]

Q7250010 - For one of my Windows servers, I get the error: "Unable to connect to [myserver]; WMI Error 0x800706BA: The RPC server is unavailable". We're using WMI through DCOM.
A:

Most common reason are:

For enabling/disabling DCOM, see FAQ #Q7250017

The solutions are described below.

Firewall Settings

If you use a third-party firewall on the monitored server, check the appropriate settings. If you do not use a third-party firewall, type 'Windows Defender Firewall' in the Search bar of the monitored server, and open the 'Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security' application.
If you have your Public Profile switched on, you will get an 'RPC Server is unavailable' error, so switch it off! If it does not work, also try the Private Profile and the Domain Profile.

UAC Settings

Make sure that UAC (User Account Control) is not causing you problems. UAC is enabled by default. Try to switch it off on the monitored server and see if the problem still persists. To disable UAC:

Alternate credentials

If you have created a local Administrator account on a monitored Windows 2022/2019/2016/2012/2008 server, and you use this account as alternate credentials without turning off UAC, it will definitely not work! Only the built-in local Administrator has sufficient rights. If you want to make use of another local Administrator, make sure UAC is turned off.

DCOM Server Process Launcher

On the monitored server, also check the 'DCOM Server Process Launcher'. This is a service that should be set to 'Automatic Start', and should always be running.
Check the settings in the Services applet of the operating system.

WMIC

Check WMI without ActiveXperts by running the Windows built-in WMIC utility from the command-line (replace myserver with the hostname of your server):

WMIC /node:computername PATH Win32_Processor WHERE DeviceID='CPU0' GET LoadPercentage

To use alternate credentials, execute (replace myserver, account and password ):
WMIC /node:computername /user:user /password:password PATH Win32_Processor WHERE DeviceID='CPU0' GET LoadPercentage

Q7250020 - For one of my Windows servers, I get the error: "Unable to connect to [myserver]; WMI Error 0x80070005: Access is denied". We're using WMI through DCOM.
A:

In most situation, the credentials do not suffice. Make sure that the credentials, used for the ActiveXperts Network Monitor Engine service to login, have full permissions on the monitored server. Or use alternate credentials for the particular check, so that ActiveXperts doesn't use the service credentials but the alternate credentials instead to login and monitor the remote server.

To verify, check WMI without ActiveXperts by running the Windows built-in WMIC utility from the command-line (replace myserver with the hostname of your server):

WMIC /node:myserver PATH Win32_Processor WHERE DeviceID='CPU0' GET LoadPercentage

To use alternate credentials, execute the following command (replace myserver, account and password ):
WMIC /node:myserver /user:account /password:password PATH Win32_Processor WHERE DeviceID='CPU0' GET LoadPercentage

[ NETWORK MONITOR - MONITORING WINDOWS / WMI ]

Q7240040 - I'm not able to monitor any Win32_PerfRawData counters. However, I'm sure they are installed on the monitored system. I can also see those counters in the Administrative Tools\Performance tools. What should I do?
A:

This problem occurs because Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) uses AutoDiscovery/AutoPurge (ADAP) to build its internal performance counter table. If a particular service on the monitored computer was not started when the WMI ADAP process is started, the performance counters are not transferred to WMI.

Please run the following command from the command line on the monitored computer:

  wmiadap /f

and then restart the wmi-service.

[ NETWORK MONITOR - ALERT NOTIFICATIONS - SMS ]

Q7520060 - Which GSM modem do you recommend for ActiveXperts Network Monitor?
A:

ActiveXperts supports any modem that is compliant with both ETSI GSM 07.05 and ETSI GSM 07.07 standards.

Please note this doesn't necessarily mean that a modem that is compliant to these standards is automatically a good modem. There are many cheap modems around, with different firmware versions etc.

ActiveXperts recommends a Cinterion GSM modem. Q7520065 - Is it possible to change the SMSC address stored in my GSM modem ?
A:

You can set the service center address with AT+CSCA in two ways:

  1. Using HyperTerminal; Start Windows' HyperTerminal and type the AT+CSCA command with the requested parameter (see below)
  2. Put the AT+CSCA string in the initialization string of the modem: Network Monitor Manager's Tools->Notifications menu, then select the SMS-tab, Configure Modem button, and then the Advanced button

The syntax for the AT+CSCA command:

  AT+CSCA="--service centre address goes here--"

[ NETWORK MONITOR - MONITORING WINDOWS / WMI (DCOM) ]

Q7250005 - What ports do I need to open in the firewall to enable communication between the ActiveXperts Network Monitor server and the monitored Windows servers? We're using WMI through DCOM.
A:

WMI through DCOM uses TCP ports 135 and 445, as well as dynamically-assigned ports above 1024.

If you monitor Windows machines through a firewall, it is recommended to use WMI over WinRM, because that uses only one port (default: 5986 for secure HTTPs access, or 5985 for non-secure HTTP access).

[ NETWORK MONITOR - MONITORING (MISCELLANEOUS) ]

Q7300007 - What ports do I need to open in the firewall to enable communication between the ActiveXperts Network Monitor server (the Engine) and the ActiveXperts Network Monitor Manager?
A:

Communication between Network Monitor Manager (the graphical application) and the ActiveXperts Network Monitor Engine service is based on a Windows share. You must allow Windows Sharing through the firewall.

Windows Sharing (or more correctly RPC/DCOM) uses TCP ports 135 and 445 as well as dynamically-assigned ports above 1024.

The best practice is to use a packet sniffer like the Microsoft Network Monitor or SolarWinds to see which ports are required.

Q7300010 - Do I need to restart the ActiveXperts Network Monitor Engine service after I've made changes to the configuration?
A:

No; the ActiveXperts Network Monitor Engine service automatically detects changes to the configuration and reads the new configuration in memory.

Q7300070 - Every Saturday at 10:00 PM, a backup of all servers in our network is made. We want to prevent ActiveXperts Network Monitor from sending out e-mail notifications during the backup hours. How can we accomplish this?
A:

To accomplish this, configure one or more 'Maintenance Schedules' in the 'Maintenance' tab in the 'Options' menu. Select 'day of week' and choose 'Saturday'. Also enter time and duration.
All errors during this period won't be considered as a failure.

[ NETWORK MONITOR - LICENSING ]

Q7900005 - What are the licensing options for ActiveXperts Network Monitor and what are the costs?
A:

To learn about the different license options for ActiveXperts Network Monitor, click here.

Q7900030 - I want to purchase ActiveXperts Network Monitor. Do I need to purchase any commercial ActiveXperts components to cover all functionality?
A:

No, you don't. An ActiveXperts Network Monitor license automatically includes an ActiveXperts SMS Component license, an ActiveXperts Email Component license, an ActiveXperts Network Component license and an ActiveXperts Scripting Component license. You can even use these components inside your custom ActiveXperts Network Monitor scripts.

Q7900035 - If I buy a license, do I need to pay for future releases?
A:

An ActiveXperts Network Monitor licenses is perpetual, i.e. a permanent long life license. A customer can use the software version forever. However, in order to receive product upgrades and support services, customer needs a valid maintenance support contract.

Maintenance is free during the first year!

After this free Maintenance period, Licensee is offered a maintenance renewal automatically via e-mail. The price for the Maintenance Agreement is approx. 15% of the price that was paid for the product, per year.

ActiveXperts' Maintenance Agreement entitles customers to use ActiveXperts' technical support services, and to receive all product upgrades, free of charge, during a specified Agreement duration. The Maintenance Agreement applies to all ActiveXperts products.

Read the Maintenance Agreement in PDF format.

Q7900050 - Where can I purchase the product?
A:

For detailed sales information, check the Sales webpage.

Q7900055 - I've purchased a copy of ActiveXperts Network Monitor. I receveid a License Key. Where can I fill in this License Key to activate my license?
A:

It's very simple: just launch the ActiveXperts Network Monitor Manager application, click on the Help menu and select the License Information menu item. Here, you can enter the license key.

After the license key is entered, it will prompt to Activate the license key. See also

[ NETWORK MONITOR - MONITORING HTTP(S) ]

Q6900015 - I want to monitor multiple HTTP(s), but I want to control which TLS and SSL protocols are allowed: Can this be done?
A:

Yes, you can enable/disable these secure protocols individually for each web site that you check. The following protocols are supported: TLS1.0, TLS1.1, TLS1.2, TLS1.3, SSL2 and SSL3.

Be careful with SSL2: some servers deny web requests when the client (like ActiveXperts Network Monitor) allows an SSL2 session. For that reason, SSL2 is disabled by default.

[ NETWORK MONITOR - LICENSING ]

Q7900070 - How much does a maintenance contract cost?
A:

During the first (1) year after purchase, Maintenance is free. After this free Maintenance year, Licensee may purchase Maintenance. The price for the Maintenance Agreement is approx. 15% of the price that was paid for the product.

Customers choose between one-, two- and three years Maintenance Agreement renewal. Please read the Maintenance Agreement document for more details.

Q7900080 - My maintenance contract already expired. Can I still renew it?
A:

Renewals that come in after the maintenance has expired will be backdated to start from the old expiry date. Also, you are only able to get Technical Support and Software Maintenance if your support contract is valid.

[ NETWORK MONITOR - INSTALLATION ]

Q6500005 - I want to upgrade to the latest version. What is the procedure for upgrading?
A:

ActiveXperts lets you import any configuration created with an earlier version. That means: all checks, global settings, statistical database and custom scripts.

On ActiveXperts client workstations (if any):

On the central ActiveXperts monitoring server:

  1. Uninstall 'ActiveXperts Network Monitor' using the 'Add/Remove Programs' applet in the Control Panel. NOTE: The ActiveXperts Program Data folder (default: C:\ProgramData\ActiveXperts\Network Monitor\) will be preserved so you can Restore it in Step 6.
  2. Reboot the server.
  3. Download the latest version of ActiveXperts Network Monitor from the ActiveXperts Download Site
  4. Run the installation; the installation will rename the previous ActiveXperts Program Data folder. Default rename will be:
    C:\ProgramData\ActiveXperts\Network Monitor.saved\.
  5. After installation is complete, you'll be prompted to Restore your previous configuration using a Wizard.
    Note that if you cancel this Wizard, you can always use 'File->Configuration->Restore Configuration' at a later stage.
  6. Optionally, Manually Restore custom scripts (if any). If you use custom scripts (.vbs, .ps1, .cmd or .sh), copy the files manually to the scripts directory. Default script folder:
    C:\ProgramData\ActiveXperts\Network Monitor\Scripts\

If you install Network Monitor in the same directory as the previous Network Monitor version, the configuration is automatically converted. Otherwise, you need to import the previous configuration.
IMPORTANT: If you want to use the same Data Folder (default: 'C:\ProgramData\ActiveXperts\Network Monitor') but the Folder is in use, please see FAQ #6500006.

To (re)install the manager application on remote PC(s), you must (re)create the share in the Remote Manager tab of the 'Remote Management' dialog (Tools menu).

Q6500007 - When I run the Installer, I get the following error message: "Error installing iKernel.exe (0xa00)". What's wrong?
A:

Most probably, you don't have administrator rights on the machine where you install the product. Local administrator rights are required to install ActiveXperts Network Monitor on the computer.

Q6500012 - I want to uninstall ActiveXperts Network Monitor manually. What are the steps?
A:

The best way to uninstall ActiveXperts Network Monitor is by using the 'Add/Remove Programs' applet from the Operating System.
However, if you want to uninstall manually for some reason, use following steps to uninstall Network Monitor manually:

Q6500015 - I'm unable to upgrade to the latest version. The installation keeps asking me to uninstall the software. Even after I uninstalled the product, it keeps telling me that. What is the problem?
A:

ActiveXperts uses the InstallShield product for its installations. Only on rare occasions, InstallShield does not update its registry key after uninstall, so it will prompt you to uninstall the next time you start the installation. You can use this workaround:

Now, InstallShield won't ask to uninstall anymore.

Q6500017 - I want to re-install ActiveXperts Network Monitor. Can I install the product in the same folder on the filesystem as my previous installation?
A:

There are two folder involved: the Program Data folder, default:
  C:\ProgramData\ActiveXperts\Network Monitor\
and the Program Files directory folder, default:
  C:\Program Files\ActiveXperts\Network Monitor\

On Uninstall, the Program Data folder is preserved, while the Program Files folder is deleted.

On Reinstall, if the same Program Data is selected, the installer will rename the previous Program Data folder (adding extension: '.saved') and allow you to continue using the selected name. When the installation is complete, the Manager will launch the Restore Wizard and suggest the '.saved' data folder to restore from.

Q6500020 - I want to monitor several servers in my network. Do I need to install agents (or server-side software) on those servers?
A:

ActiveXperts Network Monitor is agentless; no agents will be installed on the monitored servers. You only need to install the ActiveXperts Network Monitor Engine service on 1 central server in your network.

Q6500025 - Does the installation of ActiveXperts Network Monitor require a reboot of my server?
A:

No, a reboot is not required.

Q6500035 - During installation, ActiveXperts Network Monitor Setup asks for Administrator credentials for its service. Is this required?
A:

If you want to monitor member servers or domain controllers in your Active Directory domain, it's strongly recommended to enter Domain Administrator credentials.

For many tasks (like disk space checking, event log monitoring, and so on), Local Administrator rights are required on the monitored computers. By default, Domain/Enterprise Administrators are Local Administrators on domain member servers. If you do not enter a Domain- or Enterprise Administrator account during installation, you must configure an Administrator account for each check that requires it in the ActiveXperts Network Monitor software.

Q6500050 - The ActiveXperts Network Monitor Engine service fails to start. How do I know the reason for that?
A:

To see why the ActiveXperts Network Monitor Engine service did not want to start, use the Windows Event Viewer.

Check the Application Log located in the 'Windows Log' of the Event Viewer, and search for the 'AxNmSvc' Event Source.
One of the most common reasons is, that you have assigned wrong credentials to the ActiveXperts Network Monitor Engine service. Use the Services Control applet to assign the right these credentials. Make sure that this account had (Domain) Administrator rights on the server where the ActiveXperts Network Monitor Engine service is running.

Q6500052 - I want to change the ActiveXperts Network Monitor Engine service credentials. How can I do that?
A:

Please do the following:

  1. In Windows, open the 'Administrative Tools' folder.
  2. Double-click 'Services'.
  3. Right-click the 'ActiveXperts Network Monitor' service, and then click 'Properties'.
  4. On the 'Log On' tab, select the account and provide the password (if necessary). Click 'Apply'.
  5. On the 'General' tab, click the Stop/Start button to restart the service.
Q6500055 - I want to move our ActiveXperts Network Monitor Engine service to another server. How to achieve this?
A:

These are the steps to accomplish the migration to a new sever:

  1. Export the current configuration to save place. To do so, choose 'Configuration->Backup Configuration' from the 'File' menu in the Manager;
  2. On the new server, Restore your configuration in the same way as described in FAQ Item 6500005
Q6500060 - I want to install ActiveXperts Network Monitor on a server that is also used for other purposes. Will it conflict with other software?
A:

No, it won't. ActiveXperts Network Monitor doesn't install/replace any Windows systems DLL's. It makes use of Microsoft runtime libraries, but these are installed in ActiveXpert's installation directory and will only be used by ActiveXperts. ActiveXperts does not install components in the Windows directory or one of its subdirectories.

[ NETWORK MONITOR - CONFIGURATION & ADMINISTRATION ]

Q6600120 - I want to give read-only access to my 1st line helpdesk staff. They should be able to view the status of the network, but they're not allowed to make changes to the configuration. Is this possible?
A:

Yes that is possible. Access to the configuration of ActiveXperts Network Monitor is controlled by Operator Roles. Allow full control to any user on all configuration aspects, or allow only predefined operators to access the configuration and associate permissions to those operators.

Choose 'Options' from the 'Tools' menu, and select the 'Operators and Roles' tab. Read more in the ActiveXperts Network Monitor manual, chapter 'Operators and Roles'.

Q6600020 - I want to rename the hostname (NetBIOS) of the server where the ActiveXperts Network Monitor Engine service is running. Is there anything I need to change in the ActiveXperts configuration?
A:

You do not need to make any changes. It is recommended to restart the ActiveXperts Network Monitor Engine service, as it uses the NetBIOS hostname in its Alert Notifications, and this name is retrieved only once on service startup.

Q6600025 - Can I change the name of the workstation where a Manager application is running on?
A:

You can change the name of the Windows machine where the Manager application is running on. It will not affect the ActiveXperts Network Monitor Manager operation.

Q6600100 - When I click on the 'service' icon in the ActiveXperts Network Monitor toolbar, I cannot stop or start the ActiveXperts Network Monitor Engine service with error "Unable to execute command. Make sure you are an Administrator". What can I do?
A:

There can be two reasons for that:

[ NETWORK MONITOR - MONITORING CPU USAGE ]

Q6700010 - I'm having problems monitoring CPU usage on a remote server. How can I troubleshoot?
A:

ActiveXperts uses WMI (Windows Management Instrumentation) to collect data about (remote) Windows machines. WMI is part of Windows operating systems and installed by default. First check out the following:

WMI can use WinRM (preferred), or DCOM (legacy). In ActiveXperts, the WMI operation mode can be set per server. By default, the global WMI operation mode is used; see Tools->Options->{Windows Machines} in the Manager application.

Ensure that Windows WMI services are running on the monitoring server and the monitored server, and that firewall settings do not prevent you from accessing the remote computer via WMI.

 

Troubelshoot CPU monitoring using WMI/WinRM

Run the following Powershell command to query CPU usage using WMI through WinRM: 

Get-WSManInstance -ComputerName computername -Enumerate -ResourceURI wmicimv2/* -Filter "SELECT * FROM Win32_Processor WHERE DeviceID='CPU0'" | Select-Object -ExpandProperty LoadPercentage

or (with alternate credentials): 

# Prompt to enter the username and password
$objCred = Get-Credential 
# Call Get-WSManInstance
Get-WSManInstance -ComputerName computername -Credential $objCred -Enumerate -ResourceURI wmicimv2/* -Filter "SELECT * FROM Win32_Processor WHERE DeviceID='CPU0'" |  Select-Object -ExpandProperty LoadPercentage

To verify WMI access through WinRM, see FAQ #Q7260015

 

Troubelshoot CPU monitoring using WMI/DCOM

Run the following command to query CPU usage using WMI through DCOM: 

WMIC /node:computername PATH Win32_Processor WHERE DeviceID='CPU0' GET LoadPercentage

or (with alternate credentials): 

WMIC /node:computername /user:user /password:password PATH Win32_Processor WHERE DeviceID='CPU0' GET LoadPercentage

To verify WMI access through DCOM, see FAQ #Q7250015

[ NETWORK MONITOR - MONITORING DATABASES ]

Q6750010 - I'm having problems formatting a database connection string for our MS SQL server, how should this connection string be formatted?
A:

Check out our online Database Monitoring Guidelines to read more about how to setup an MS SQL / ADO database check.

Q6750025 - I can't get my ODBC check to work. What should I do?
A:

First check your System DSN settings, and test them from the Control Panel. Be sure you are using the right DSN with Network Monitor. Or use ADO as an alternative; ADO works similar as ODBC but doesn't require DSN configuration.

Q6750030 - When monitoring my Oracle database, Network Monitor gives me the following error: 'Failed to load Oracle Client modules'.
A:

To monitor Oracle with ActiveXperts Network Monitor, you need to have installed one of the following Oracle clients:

If you do not want to run Oracle applications on your monitoring server, but only want to check Oracle availability through ActiveXperts, it is recommended to install the Oracle Instant Client. It is a free product, and can be downloaded from the Oracle download area.

For more information on monitoring Oracle using ActiveXperts, click here.

Q6750033 - I'm trying to monitor our Oracle database, but I can't figure out what the correct connection string is. Can you please assist?
A:

There's no fixed connection string syntax for Oracle; the format of the connection string depends on the Oracle version, the authentication method and the type of security used. Please check the following web site for more information about Oracle connection strings: www.connectionstrings.com.

Q6750035 - What databases can be monitored by ActiveXperts?
A:

There's native support for MS SQL and Oracle. Besides that, any ODBC and ADO compliant database is supported. To read more about ADO, click here.

[ NETWORK MONITOR - MONITORING DISK DRIVES/DISK SPACE ]

Q6800010 - I'm having problems monitoring Disk Drives usage on a remote server. How can I troubleshoot?
A:

ActiveXperts uses WMI (Windows Management Instrumentation) to collect data about (remote) Windows machines. WMI is part of Windows operating systems and installed by default. First check out the following:

WMI can use WinRM (preferred), or DCOM (legacy). In ActiveXperts, the WMI operation mode can be set per server. By default, the global WMI operation mode is used; see Tools->Options->{Windows Machines} in the Manager application.

Ensure that Windows WMI services are running on the monitoring server and the monitored server, and that firewall settings do not prevent you from accessing the remote computer via WMI.

 

Troubelshoot Disk Drives monitoring using WMI/WinRM

Run the following Powershell command to query a Disk Drive using WMI through WinRM: 

Get-WSManInstance -ComputerName computername -Enumerate -ResourceURI wmicimv2/* -Filter "SELECT * FROM Win32_DiskDrive  WHERE Index='0'" | Select-Object -ExpandProperty Status

or (with alternate credentials): 

# Prompt to enter the username and password
$objCred = Get-Credential 
# Call Get-WSManInstance
Get-WSManInstance -ComputerName computername -Credential $objCred -Enumerate -ResourceURI wmicimv2/* -Filter "SELECT * FROM Win32_DiskDrive WHERE Index='0'" |  Select-Object -ExpandProperty Status

To verify WMI access through WinRM, see FAQ #Q7260015

 

Troubelshoot Disk Drive monitoring using WMI/DCOM

Run the following command to query a Disk Drive using WMI through DCOM: 

WMIC /node:computername PATH Win32_DiskDrive WHERE Index='0' GET Status

or (with alternate credentials): 

WMIC /node:computername /user:user /password:password PATH Win32_DiskDrive WHERE Index='0' GET Status

To verify WMI access through DCOM, see FAQ #Q7250015

Q6800015 - I want to monitor my Disk Drives. Will ActiveXperts Network Monitor tell me when a disk is not healthy?
A:

Yes, that is exactly what the 'Disk Drive' check does. When a disk becomes 'not healthy' or unavailable, Network Monitor will let you know.

Q6800017 - When trying to monitor disk space on a remote workstation, I get the following error: "Result is: Uncertain" with Last Response saying: "Unable to retrieve space for disk [\\Wks001\C$]". What is the problem?
A:

This problem only applies to v.2016 or older. Later versions have the Drive/Disk Space Check based on WMI.
There can be a few reasons. Most probably, the problem is not related to ActiveXperts Network Monitor at all. A few reasons for not being able to monitor the disk:

Q6800020 - I have a RAID configuration (RAID5). I want to get a notification when one of the disks fails, but can't find how to configure it in Network Monitor. Please help.
A:

The operating system has access to RAID set as it were one physical drive. So, it is not a simple matter of checking a disk. A failure of a disk in a RAID can only be determined by the manufacturer's hardware driver or management software. So there are basically two options to check such a failure:

Q6800025 - I want to check disk space of my Linux and Unix servers. Is this possible?
A:

To monitor Linux and Unix disks, use an ActiveXperts SSH check. There are scripts included in ActiveXperts to monitor disk usage and disk free space, as well as various other aspects.

[ NETWORK MONITOR - MONITORING EVENT LOG ]

Q6850010 - I want to monitor multiple Event Logs in one Event Log check. Is this possible?
A:

In the standard built-in Event Log check, you can only do basic Event Log checking. To do more advanced Event Log monitoring, you should use the EventLog.vbs VBscript or EventLog.ps1 PowerShell script that ships with the product, and customize it to meet your requirements.

Q6850015 - I'm using ActiveXperts Network Monitor for monitoring all Event Logs in my network, but I noticed that the software is consuming a lot of bandwidth. What should I do?
A:

Event Log monitoring consumes a lot of network bandwidth, and can really decrease the performance of your network, especially with large Event Logs. Unfortunately, there's nothing we can do about it. Just try any WMI script by Microsoft that scans event logs over the network and you'll see. In general, do not maintain large event logs, e.g. only log events from the last week, and (important!) import your event log data in some Event Log Archiver program (there are many). Also, do not query event logs frequently, not like every 5 minutes, but for instance once every hour.

Q6850020 - Is there a way to include event details in e-mail notifications?
A:

Yes, it is possible. First of all, make use of the EventLog.vbs VBScript check or EventLog.ps1 Powershell check. The scripts Event Logs in the same way as the built-in check. With a small modification the script, you can include event details in your notifications.

Q6850030 - I am trying to monitor the Event Log with a VBScript check. However the result is always "uncertain", even when the built-in Event Log monitor shows an error. What is the uncertain state? Is this a permissions problem?
A:

Most probably, it is uncertain because there's an error in the script as a result of a 'null' object. This happens when the remote machine cannot be accessed. Please try to temporarily remove the 'On Error Resume Next' statements in the script. Network Monitor will then show the line where the script error occurs. Most probably, it is due to a WMI security problem. To read more about that, click here.

[ NETWORK MONITOR - MONITORING EXCHANGE ]

Q6870010 - I'm having problems with monitoring MS Exchange: The error I get is: "Win32_PerfRawData_MSExchangeIS_MSExchangeIS class does not exist." What should I do?
A:

This problem occurs because Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) uses AutoDiscovery/AutoPurge (ADAP) to build its internal performance counter table. If the particular Exchange service on the monitored computer was not started when the WMI ADAP process is started, the performance counters are not transferred to WMI.

Please run the following command from the command line on the monitored computer:

  wmiadap /f

and then restart the wmi-service.

[ NETWORK MONITOR - MONITORING HTTP(S) ]

Q6900010 - When I check a particular web site, Network Monitor is able to connect to the web site, but is not able to match the pattern. I checked with my browser, the pattern is there. What's the reason?
A:

Most probably, this web site contains a redirection to other pages, or it includes frames. ActiveXperts Network Monitor does NOT redirect to a linked page, it only checks the actual page, on purpose.

The easiest way to find this out, is by using HTTP Client Diagnostic Utility (Diagnostic Utilities are available from the 'Tools' menu).

You will see the contents as it is retrieved by the ActiveXperts Network Monitor Engine service, and you'll be able to find out the reason. Most probably, you should match your pattern against one of the include pages of the main page.

Q6900020 - Is the HTTP check case sensitive?
A:

It depends: on LINUX and UNIX, the URL's may be case sensitive, so must enter URL's with the right lower/uppercase characters. The HTTP contents check is NOT case sensitive.

[ NETWORK MONITOR - MONITORING FTP(S)/SFTP ]

Q6890010 - I can't monitor my Linux-based FTP servers, but I can monitor my Windows-based FTP servers. What's wrong?
A:

Most Linux flavors use case-sensitive URL's, and Windows doesn't. Please check if this is the problem.

[ NETWORK MONITOR - MONITORING MEMORY ]

Q6930020 - Network Monitor shows odd values for the 'Available Memory' check for my Windows 2003 servers. What should I do.
A:

This is a known problem on Windows 2003 and Windows 2003 SP1 machines. It is an issue in WMI, that has fixed in Windows 2003 SP2. So if you are monitoring Windows 2003 machines without SP2 installed, please install SP2 in order to monitor 'available memory' properly.

[ NETWORK MONITOR - MONITORING MSMQ ]

Q6940020 - I'm having problems with monitoring MSMQ: The error I get is: "Win32_PerfRawData_MSMQ_MSMQQueue class does not exist." What should I do?
A:

This problem occurs because Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) uses AutoDiscovery/AutoPurge (ADAP) to build its internal performance counter table. If the particular MSMQ service on the monitored computer was not started when the WMI ADAP process is started, the performance counters are not transferred to WMI.

Please run the following command from the command line on the monitored computer:

  wmiadap /f

and then restart the wmi-service.

[ NETWORK MONITOR - MONITORING POWERSHELL ]

Q6960010 - When I run a Powershell-based check. I get an error: "Execution of PowerShell scripts is disabled on this system."
A:

You must allow Powershell scripting on the machine that has ActiveXperts Network Monitor running. Read more on allowing Powershell scripting here:
activexperts.com/support/network-monitor/online/powershell/

Please note that allowing Powershell on 32-bit operating systems is different from 64-bit operating systems.

[ NETWORK MONITOR - MONITORING PRINTERS ]

Q6980015 - I have a Windows server with printers installed. The printers are IP printers on the network. The server is able to see the status, online/offline/etc. But Network Monitor always reports the printer as down. What could be the problem?
A:

ActiveXperts uses WMI (Windows Management Instrumentation) to collect data about (remote) Windows machines. WMI is part of Windows operating systems and installed by default. First check out the following:

WMI can use WinRM (preferred), or DCOM (legacy). In ActiveXperts, the WMI operation mode can be set per server. By default, the global WMI operation mode is used; see Tools->Options->{Windows Machines} in the Manager application.

Ensure that Windows WMI services are running on the monitoring server and the monitored server, and that firewall settings do not prevent you from accessing the remote computer via WMI.

 

Troubelshoot Printer monitoring using WMI/WinRM

Run the following Powershell command to query Printer usage using WMI through WinRM: 

Get-WSManInstance -ComputerName computername -Enumerate -ResourceURI wmicimv2/* -Filter "SELECT * FROM Win32_Printer" | Select-Object Name,PrinterStatus

or (with alternate credentials): 

# Prompt to enter the username and password
$objCred = Get-Credential 
# Call Get-WSManInstance
Get-WSManInstance -ComputerName computername -Credential $objCred -Enumerate -ResourceURI wmicimv2/* -Filter "SELECT * FROM Win32_Printer" | Select-Object Name,PrinterStatus

To verify WMI access through WinRM, see FAQ #Q7260015

 

Troubelshoot Printer monitoring using WMI/DCOM

Run the following command to query Printer usage using WMI through DCOM: 

WMIC /node:computername PATH Win32_Printer GET Name, PrinterStatus

or (with alternate credentials): 

WMIC /node:computername /user:user /password:password PATH Win32_Printer GET Name, PrinterStatus

To verify WMI access through DCOM, see FAQ #Q7250015

 

Possible PrinterStatus Values

[ NETWORK MONITOR - MONITORING PROCESSES ]

Q7000010 - I'm having problems monitoring processes on a remote Windows server. How can I troubleshoot?
A:

ActiveXperts uses WMI (Windows Management Instrumentation) to collect data about (remote) Windows machines. WMI is part of Windows operating systems and installed by default. First check out the following:

WMI can use WinRM (preferred), or DCOM (legacy). In ActiveXperts, the WMI operation mode can be set per server. By default, the global WMI operation mode is used; see Tools->Options->{Windows Machines} in the Manager application.

Ensure that Windows WMI services are running on the monitoring server and the monitored server, and that firewall settings do not prevent you from accessing the remote computer via WMI.

 

Troubelshoot Process monitoring using WMI/WinRM

Run the following Powershell command to query Process usage using WMI through WinRM: 

Get-WSManInstance -ComputerName computername -Enumerate -ResourceURI wmicimv2/* -Filter "SELECT * FROM Win32_PerfRawData_PerfProc_Process" | Select-Object Name,HandleCount

or (with alternate credentials): 

# Prompt to enter the username and password
$objCred = Get-Credential 
# Call Get-WSManInstance
Get-WSManInstance -ComputerName computername -Credential $objCred -Enumerate -ResourceURI wmicimv2/* -Filter "SELECT * FROM Win32_PerfRawData_PerfProc_Process" | Select-Object Name,HandleCount

To verify WMI access through WinRM, see FAQ #Q7260015

 

Troubelshoot Process monitoring using WMI/DCOM

Run the following command to query Process usage using WMI through DCOM: 

WMIC /node:computername PATH Win32_PerfRawData_PerfProc_Process GET Name, HandleCount

or (with alternate credentials): 

WMIC /node:computername /user:user /password:password PATH Win32_PerfRawData_PerfProc_Process GET Name, HandleCount

To verify WMI access through DCOM, see FAQ #Q7250015

Q7000020 - I'm still having problems monitoring processes. I tried the Windows WMIC utility but I'm still not able to find the reason.
A:

First, make sure you've tried WMIC. See FAQ #7000010.

If that doesn't help you out, please try the Process Diagnostic Tool. You can launch it from the ActiveXperts Manager's menu:
Tools->Diagnostic Tools->Process Diagnostic Tool

The tool generates a log file. Please send the log to support@activexperts.com.

[ NETWORK MONITOR - MONITORING SERVICES ]

Q7020010 - I'm having problems monitoring services on a remote Windows server. How can I troubleshoot?
A:

ActiveXperts uses WMI (Windows Management Instrumentation) to collect data about (remote) Windows machines. WMI is part of Windows operating systems and installed by default. First check out the following:

WMI can use WinRM (preferred), or DCOM (legacy). In ActiveXperts, the WMI operation mode can be set per server. By default, the global WMI operation mode is used; see Tools->Options->{Windows Machines} in the Manager application.

Ensure that Windows WMI services are running on the monitoring server and the monitored server, and that firewall settings do not prevent you from accessing the remote computer via WMI.

 

Troubelshoot Service monitoring using WMI/WinRM

Run the following Powershell command to query Services using WMI through WinRM: 

Get-WSManInstance -ComputerName computername -Enumerate -ResourceURI wmicimv2/* -Filter "SELECT * FROM Win32_Service" | Select-Object DisplayName,Name,State

or (with alternate credentials): 

# Prompt to enter the username and password
$objCred = Get-Credential 
# Call Get-WSManInstance
Get-WSManInstance -ComputerName computername -Credential $objCred -Enumerate -ResourceURI wmicimv2/* -Filter "SELECT * FROM Win32_Service" | Select-Object DisplayName,Name,State

To verify WMI access through WinRM, see FAQ #Q7260015

 

Troubelshoot Process monitoring using WMI/DCOM

Run the following command to query a Services using WMI through DCOM: 

WMIC /node:computername PATH Win32_Service GET DisplayName, Name, State

or (with alternate credentials): 

WMIC /node:computername /user:user /password:password PATH Win32_Service GET DisplayName, Name, State

To verify WMI access through DCOM, see FAQ #Q7250015

[ NETWORK MONITOR - MONITORING SNMP ]

Q7050015 - I want to monitor devices through SNMP. Is the Windows SNMP Service required to be installed and running?
A:

No, the ActiveXperts SNMP Get check does NOT require the Windows SNMP Service to be installed and/or running. The check does not rely on this service.

If you need the Windows SNMP Service for other applications, ActiveXperts will still be able to perform checks through SNMP.

Q7050020 - Is the Windows SNMP Trap Service required to send out SNMP Traps from Network Monitor?
A:

No, this is not required. ActiveXperts SNMP Trap notifications do not rely on this service.

If you need the Windows SNMP Trap Service for other applications, ActiveXperts will still be able to send out SNMP Trap notifications.

Q7050025 - Is the Windows SNMP Trap Service required to receive SNMP Traps with Network Monitor?
A:

No, it is not required. It is even not possible to receive traps through SNMP with Network Monitor while the Windows SNMP Trap Service is running, unless you specify a different port for the ActiveXperts trap listener.

If you have the Windows SNMP Traps Service running (default on port 162), ActiveXperts Network Monitor will NOT be able to receive incoming SNMP Traps. ActiveXperts opens an UDP socket (default port 162) to listen for incoming traps; only one process at a time can listen for packets on one port. However, you can specify an alternate for ActiveXperts Network Monitor (Tools->Options->Advanced->SNMP Trap Receiver Settings).

[ NETWORK MONITOR - MONITORING SSH ]

Q7060010 - Why are remote sessions not closed ?
A:

This can happen when the command started is a background process which keeps current stdout or stderr open. The solution is to redirect stdout and stderr. Click here for more information.

The other possibility is that you are running a version of OpenSSH which is older than 4.9. These versions contain a bug which causes it to never close sessions for root users. More information in the release notes for version 4.9 under (bz#926).

[ NETWORK MONITOR - MONITORING ENVIRONMENTAL - TEMPERATURE/HUMIDITY/MORE ]

Q6830010 - Your web site states that an AVTech Room Alert device is recommended. I already have a device from NTI (Network Technologies) that does exactly the same. Can I use it?
A:

Yes, you can. The NTI device has an SNMP interface, like most environmental monitors. Simply look up the SNMP OID identifiers in the NTI manual, and use the ActiveXperts' SNMP check to monitor temperature, humidity or wetness.

Q6830015 - We purchased a Sensatronics EM1 device. Our network policy requires to use SNMP. You built-in temperature seems to be based on Sensatronics' web interface. How can I use SNMP to monitor temperature?
A:

The Sensatronics EM1 supports SNMP. SNMP is enabled by default. You just need to enter a new SNMP check in Network Monitor and enter the appropriate SNMP OID's. Check the Sensatronics EM1 manual to get a list of supported OID's.

[ NETWORK MONITOR - MONITORING (MISCELLANEOUS) ]

Q7300100 - Are all passwords encrypted in the ActiveXperts Network Monitor configuration?
A:

Yes they are. All credentials (Windows, Linux, Vmware, MS SQL, MySQL, etc.) are stored encrypted in the configuration database.

[ NETWORK MONITOR - ALERT NOTIFICATIONS - E-MAIL ]

Q7500012 - Does ActiveXperts require IIS to be installed in order to use SMTP mail notifications?
A:

No, ActiveXperts Network Monitor can use any SMTP-compliant server. No Internet Information Server is needed.

Q7500015 - Is ActiveXperts Network Monitor E-mail notification compliant with any SMTP mail server?
A:

Yes, ActiveXperts is compliant with virtuall any SMTP server. It supports secure and non-secure SMTP servers.

Q7500022 - We use e-mail notifications to notify our administrators. Sometimes, an e-mail notification fails and is not received. Is there a way to see a trace of the e-mail operations?
A:

You can turn on e-mail logging for the Network Monitor Engine. To do so, you must enter a valid file name in the following registry entry:
  HKLM\Software\ActiveXperts\Network Monitor\Server\Trace\NotifyEmail
For instance:
  c:\notfyemail.log
After that, restart the service. After that, all e-mail operations will be written to the log file.

Q7500030 - I configured SMTP settings, but it does not work. I configured an Outlook Express SMTP e-mail account on the same machine, and this one does work. What could be the problem?
A:

This is a known issues for users using McAfee VirusScan Enterprise. By default, it would not allow AxsNmSvc.exe (the network monitor service) to send SMTP traffic.
Open the VirusScan Console by Right-clicking the VirusScan icon in the system tray, select VirusScan Console, double-click Access Protection, select Prevent mass mailing worms from sending mail, click the edit button, and type AxsNmSvc.exe in the excluded processes field.

Q7500045 - When sending a test SMTP e-mail, I get error "550", why?
A:

A mailbox on the SMTP server is required. The mailbox that you are using to send out messages does not exist.

Q7500060 - If Network Monitor finds an error and sends an e-mail notification, I want the 'Notes' to be included with the e-mail. How can I achieve this?
A:

From the 'Tools' menu, click 'Notification Settings' and select the 'E-mail' tab (selected by default). Click on the 'Format Message' button. You can now modify the standard e-mail message.
Insert the 'Notes' variable by clicking on the 'Insert system variable' link and select the 'Notes' variable.

[ NETWORK MONITOR - ALERT NOTIFICATIONS - SMS ]

Q7520010 - Is there any additional hardware required to send out SMS notifications?
A:

Yes, you need a GSM modem.

A GSM modem is a serial- or USB device. It has a slot for a SIM card. You can use a regular SIM card, i.e. the same one as used for mobile phones. You must connect it to the machine where the ActiveXperts Network Monitor Engine service is running.

ActiveXperts recommends the 'SAMBA 75 GSM/GPRS Modem'. It is reliable and has a good price/quality ratio.

ActiveXperts offers a special SAMBA/Network Monitor bundle (artcile# AX007-0250). For more details, click here.

Q7520020 - Deos ActiveXperts maintain a log where all GSM modem AT commands and responses are logged?
A:

You can turn on modem logging for the ActiveXperts Network Monitor Engine. To do so, you must enter a valid file name in the following registry entry:

  HKLM\Software\ActiveXperts\Network Monitor\Server\Trace\NotifySms

For instance:

  c:\notfysms.log

After that, restart the service. After that, all SMS operations will be written to the log file.

Q7520025 - What SMS number format should I use, should I use the country code as a prefix?
A:

It depends on how you send out SMS messages. Network Monitor supports SMSC service providers, GSM modems and GSM phones. Click here to learn which format you should use.

Q7520030 - I'm using SMS messaging to notify my operators. It looks like SMS messages are sent out, but we do not receive SMS messages on our mobile phones. What can be the problem?
A:

A: It is very important to use the right format for the recipient ID. Some providers require a country code, some don't. A provider very often accepts any recipient ID, processes it and reports that there's no problem, but actually doesn't send it out because of a bad format. For instance, when you are located in the UK (+44), you should try the following formats:

Q7520035 - How can I verify that my comport is not already in use?
A:

Go to the command prompt and type: echo AT > COM1 . The modem should flash lights.

Q7520045 - You recommend a COM port based GSM Modem on your web site. However, my physical server only has USB ports. What should I do?
A:

You can use a Serial/USB converter cable for that. ActiveXperts offers a Cinterion GSM modem with an optional FTDI converter cable , see: activexperts.com/order/bx006.

Q7521010 - When I send a test SMS message using my GSM modem, I get the following error: 30102. What does it mean?
A:

This means that the COM port does not exist. You only get this error if you use a COM port (like COM1) rather than a Windows Telephony device (like 'Standard 9600 bps Modem'). Error 30102 does NOT mean that the port is already in use. If the port would already be in use, you would get another error: 30103.

Q7521020 - When I send a test SMS message using my GSM modem, I get the following error: 30103. What does it mean?
A:

This means that the port you are attempting to open is already in use by another application. You only get this error if you use a COM port (like COM1) rather than a Windows Telephony device (like 'Standard 9600 bps Modem').
Check if there's another application that is already using the COM port. In some situations, you may want to benefit from a thing called 'port sharing', where one port can be shared by multiple applications. To benefit from 'port sharing', you must use Windows Telephony devices (like 'Standard 9600 bps Modem').

Q7521030 - When I send a test SMS message using my GSM modem, I get the following error: 30201. What does it mean?
A:

This means that the Windows Telephony Device you are using, is NOT defined on the computer. You may have made a typing mistake. Error 11201 does NOT mean that the port is already in use (you would get error 11202).
You will never get this error when using direct COM ports (like 'COM1'), but only when using Windows Telephony devices.

Q7521040 - When I send a test SMS message using my GSM modem, I get the following error: 11202. What does it mean?
A:

This error only occurs when using Windows Telephony devices (like 'Standard 9600 bps Modem'). The error implies that the Windows Telephony device is valid, but that the associated COM port is either already in use, or does not exist. The error does NOT imply that the Windows Telephony device is invalid (that would give error 30201); it neither implies that the Windows Telephony device is already used (that would give error 30204).

Q7521050 - When I send a test SMS message using my GSM modem, I get the following error: 30203. What does it mean?
A:

This error only occurs when using Windows Telephony devices (like 'Standard 9600 bps Modem'). The Windows Telephony device name is valid,. There can be two reasons for this error:

  1. The Windows Telephony device is already in use by another application;
  2. The port speed is wrong; Windows is able to open the port, but is not able to initialize the device properly because of the wrong speed. Make sure that the port speed of the device and the port settings of the Telephony device in the Control Panel both match.
Q7521060 - I'm using a GSM modem. The following error comes up: "Error#30351: Unexpected response from modem". In the log file, I see some undisplayable characters received from the modem. What could be the problem?
A:

Most probably, the baud rate causes the problem: COM port and modem are not sending/receiving at the same speed. We strongly recommend to use 9600bps. Two things you need to do:

  1. Make sure that your COM port is configured to use 9600bps. To do so, open the Windows Device manager and click on COM1-properties. There you can set it to 9600bps.
  2. Set the modem to 9600bps.

[ NETWORK MONITOR - ALERT NOTIFICATIONS - SNMP TRAPS ]

Q7560010 - Is the Windows SNMP Trap Service required to send out SNMP Traps from Network Monitor?
A:

No, this is not required. ActiveXperts SNMP Trap notifications do not rely on this service.

If you need the Windows SNMP Trap Service for other applications, ActiveXperts will still be able to send out SNMP Trap notifications.

Q7560015 - Can I send notifications to SNMP v1 devices when a a server goes down?
A:

Yes you can. SNMP v1 and SNMP v2c traps are supported. To read more about SNMP traps, click here.

Q7560020 - Is it possible to configure re-notifications, i.e. send a notification a couple of times per hour?
A:

Yes it is; configure the 'Advanced' tab of the particular monitoring check; here you find "Notification Frequency". When you configure "...notify every 10 minutes…", you will be notified 6 times an hour.

[ NETWORK MONITOR - ALERT NOTIFICATIONS - MISCELLANEOUS ]

Q7580010 - One of the key features we are looking for in a Network Monitor package is the ability to configure notification to be made in different ways based on the situation (i.e. if the server crashes on Tuesday at noon, send an email to the admin, however if the server crashes on Saturday at 2 AM, send an e-mail to the admin and page the oncall person). Is this possible with your software?
A:

This will be included in a future release, but is not available yet.

Q7580020 - Pager/DTMF notifications are missing in the latest version I downloaded. Has paging through DTMF been eliminated?
A:

Paging through dialup/DTMF was available until version 7.1. It later versions, it has been replaced by SMS notifications. However, it is still possible to make use of Paging/DTMF, but only by the use of a custom action script.

To define Pager notifications for a specific check, please do the following:

After that, Pager notifications work as they used to in earlier versions of Network Monitor.

[ NETWORK MONITOR - ALERT ACTIONS ]

Q7620010 - Can I start a .NET executable when a check fails, just like a normal executable?
A:

Yes you can. Make sure the right .NET Framework is installed on the server where ActiveXperts Network Monitor is running. If the .NET Framework is not installed, install it from the Server Manager's dashboard by selecting the Features component.

Q7620015 - To restart a service after failure, what name should be used?
A:

To restart a service, you should either enter its internal service name, or its long service displayname (as it appears in the Windows' services applet).
For instance, to restart the Windows Time Service, you can either provide w32time (short name) or Windows Time (long displayname) in the network monitor configuration.

Q7620020 - Can I restart multiple services after a failure?
A:

Yes you can. To restart multiple services, simply separate each service with a ';' character. For instance, to restart the alerter service and the messenger service, enter this string in the 'Restart service(s) after failure' box: alerter;messenger

[ NETWORK MONITOR - ALERT NOTIFICATIONS - E-MAIL ]

Q7500010 - We want to purchase ActiveXperts Network Monitor. Do we also need to purchase a license of 'ActiveXperts Email Component' in order to send out e-mail alerts?
A:

No, that's not a required. An ActiveXperts Network Monitor license automatically includes a license for ActiveXperts Email Component to send out e-mail notifications.

[ NETWORK MONITOR - ALERT ACTIONS ]

Q7620025 - I want to restart services after failure, but I want to do this dynamically, i.e. at runtime will be decided which services to start. How can I achieve this?
A:

It is pretty easy: just write a small VBScript program and launch it when the check fails. You can use the following script as a base for your own script: 

strRemoteComputer = "server05"
strService = "alerter"
For each Service in GetObject("winmgmts:{impersonationLevel=impersonate}!//" & strRemoteComputer)_
    .ExecQuery("select * from Win32_Service where Name='" & strService & "'")
    Service.StartService
Next
Q7620030 - Can I restart multiple services after a failure?
A:

Yes you can. To restart multiple services, simply separate each service with a ';' character. For instance, to restart the alerter service and the messenger service, enter this string in the 'Restart service(s) after failure' box: alerter;messenger
Click here for more information about restarting services.

Q7620035 - We're trying to get the action "Reboot this server after failure" to restart a computer on the network and it's not working. Network Monitor logs the following error: "Reboot Server command is NOT sent to computer, error=[Unable to initiate a shutdown]"
A:

Try the SHUTDOWN utility (part of the Windows Resource Kit) to reboot that machine, using the same credentials as the Network Monitor service. Check the error. Most probably, the service account has no administrative privileges on the remote computer.

[ NETWORK MONITOR - DEPENDENCIES ]

Q7680010 - What's the most efficient way to configure dependencies?
A:

The best way is to use folders, and let them depend on certain checks. This way your depency configuration is dynamic, i.e. when you add new checks to the folder, they will become dependent automatically. For further information, check the online Dependency Guidelines.

Q7680015 - When check C depends on check B, and check B depends on check A, should I make check C dependent on check A as well or is it done automatically?
A:

Dependencies are transitive. As a result, you do not need to make check C dependent on check A.

Q7680020 - I have a complex dependency structure, with many routers involved. Now, one of my check fails because apparently a dependee failed, but I don't know why. Is there a way to find this out?
A:

Yes there is. Click on 'Properties' of the particular check, and select the 'Advanced Properties' tab. Click on the 'Dependencies' button; it will show the dependees.

[ NETWORK MONITOR - LOGGING ]

Q7720015 - I enabled logging to an MS SQL Compact Edition database. The Manager successfully verified the connection, but there's nothing written to the database. How can I find out what's going wrong?
A:

The ActiveXperts Network Monitor Engine service provides tracing for various tasks, including logging. To enable tracing for ADO logging, you must do the following:

The Trace file will tell you exactly what's going wrong. Don't forget to reset the entry to the emtpy string after you have finished troubleshooting.

Q7720030 - In the Activity View, I see the following warning every now and then: "Too many outstanding log request. Reconfigure or disable logging". What does this mean?
A:

This means the the Network Monitor service cannot write the log requests to the log database, or database writes are too slow and log requests are congested. Please check the Logging settings:

There are two ways to clear all Log requests:

The maximum queue length is defined by the following registry value:
HKLM\Software\ActiveXperts\Network Monitor\Server\Queue\MaxPendingLogRequests
You can change the value using the registry editor (REGEDIT.EXE). You need to restart the service for the changes to take effect.

[ NETWORK MONITOR - REPORTS AND GRAPHS - MISCELLANEOUS ]

Q7780010 - Can I customize the HTML reports?
A:

Yes you can. The HTML report is based on the XSL stysheet that you define in the 'ActiveXperts Reports and Graphs Configurator' tool. Feel free to modify the underlying XSL stylesheet to modify make-up, sorting of data, filtering of data, etc.

Q7780012 - I'm attempting to print a Network Monitor Report, however the bar graphs don't show up. How can I enable the graph bars on a report?
A:

When you print the report, the graph bars on the document indicating the up/downtimes of the checks may not appear on the printed paper. This is because 'Backgroud Printing' is disabled in an internet Browser by default.

To enable background Printing in Internet Explorer, choose 'Internet Options' from the 'Tools' menu, and enable 'Print background colors and images' from the 'Advanced' tab.

To enable background printing in Mozilla Firefox, choose 'Page Setup' from the 'File' menu and enable 'Print Background (colours & images)'.

See also: ActiveXperts Network Monitor Report Printing.

Q7780015 - I want to schedule my reports so that reports are generated automatically, once every week and every month. Is this possible?
A:

Yes that is possible. You must use the command-line utility 'AxRgCmd.exe' (or 'AxRgCmd32.exe' for 32-bits) to create reports without user intervention. You can use this 'AxRgCmd.exe' (or 'AxRgCmd32.exe') from the Windows Task Scheduler to create reports automatically and send the reports to a group of e-mail recipients.

The 'AxRgCmd.exe' (or 'AxRgCmd32.exe') utility requires a few parameters. There are a few batch jobs (.cmd) included with the product. Each batch jobs use the 'AxRgCmd.exe' (or 'AxRgCmd32.exe') with the required parameters and can be used directly in the Windows Task Scheduler. The batch jobs are located in the '<Program Data Folder>\Report Definitions\Batchjobs\' directory and perfectly demonstrate how to schedule a report.

Q7780020 - I want to create a new report. I want to show monitor checks per customer. Can you tell me how I should achieve this?
A:

You should create a new XSL stylesheet. This style sheet is the layout for your new reports. Please visit the online Custom XML Reports page for details. The page describes how to create a new XML Report.

[ NETWORK MONITOR - REPORTS AND GRAPHS - STATISTICAL DATABASE ]

Q7740100 - Is it recommended to migrate the Statistical Database to Microsoft SQL Server or MySQL?
A:

ActiveXperts uses an MS Server Compact Database (.sdf) by default:
C:\ProgramData\ActiveXperts\Network Monitor\Stats\Stats.sdf

There are four modules that make use of the statistical database:

All of the above modules use complex SQL queries to retrieve the information from the database. It is strongly recommended to migrate the MS SQL Compact (.sdf) statistical database to MS SQL Server (or MS SQL Server Express Edition) or MySQL, using the database migration wizards included with ActiveXperts. This is because Network Monitor uses complex queries to generate reports and graphs. With SQL Server Compact and even a small configuration (less than 100 checks), generating reports and graphs can take minutes already after a few weeks, whereas with MS SQL it will take only a few seconds or even less.

There's also a limit on the number of records that can be stored in the MS SQL Compact (.sdf) database. See FAQ #7740170 and FAQ #7740174.

To migrate the MS SQl Compact Stats.sdf database file to MS SQL Server or MySQL:

[ NETWORK MONITOR - REPORTS AND GRAPHS - STATISTICAL DATABASE / MS SQL ]

Q7750110 - Can I migrate the statistical database to MS SQL Server Express Edition? If yes, how can this be done?
A:

Yes, MS SQL Express Edition is supported. For a list of suppported SQL Express versions, see FAQ #7750115

Migration to MS SQL Server Express Edition can be done in the same way as migrating to MS SQL Server, with only one difference: you MUST specify the instance ID of the SQL Server Express Edition database in the 'Host' field.

For example, if the name of the database server is named 'DbServer01', and the instance id of the database is named 'SQLExpress', then specify 'DbServer01\SQLExpress'.

The performance of MS SQL Server is faster than MS SQL Server Express. See also FAQ #7740120.

For supported SQL Express database drivers, see FAQ #7750117.

 

Microsoft SQL Express Setup recommendations

ActiveXperts recommends using SQL Server authentication (default account 'sa') instead of Windows authentication. The best way to achieve this is to select a "Custom Installation" during Microsoft SQL Express setup.
When prompted for authentication mode, select Mixed Mode (SQL Server Authentication and Windows Authentication).
Make sure to enable the 'SQL Server Browser' service. This service is disabled by default, but can be enabled in the Custom Setup.

Also, make sure that Windows Firewall allows connections from remote servers.

[ NETWORK MONITOR - REPORTS AND GRAPHS - STATISTICAL DATABASE ]

Q7740120 - Is there any performance difference between MS SQL Server and MS SQL Server Express Edition?
A:

MS SQL Server is faster than MS SQL Server Express Edition and can handle more records. It is strongly recommended to migrate your statistical database to either MS SQL Server or MS SQL Server Express Edition to boost the performance of the reporting and graphing tools.

MS SQL Server provides more robust performance optimization mechanisms, such as query optimization, indexing options, and query execution plans conmpared to MS SQL Server Compact Edition. These features allow SQL Server to handle complex queries and large datasets more efficiently. SQL CE, being a compact edition, has limited optimization capabilities.

MS SQL Server Compact Edition can store only a limited number of records; The maximum size for a SQL CE database is only 4 gigabytes (GB), where MS SQL Server an MySQL database can store a few terrabytes or more, depending on the version of the database.

Q7740150 - When I create a new (Instant) Report, there is a note saying "The Statistical Database is based on an SQL Compact Edition database. This slows down the creation of a report or graph. It is strongly recommended to migrate this database to MS SQL Server or MySQL using the 'Report and Graphs Configuration Tool' to boost performance". Why is it?
A:

See FAQ #7740100.

Q7740154 - When I create a new Graph, there is a note saying "The Statistical Database is based on an SQL Compact Edition database. This slows down the creation of a History View. It is strongly recommended to migrate this database to MS SQL Server or MySQL using the 'Report and Graphs Configuration Tool' to boost performance". Why is it?
A:

See FAQ #7740100.

Q7740160 - When I create a new (Instant) Report, there is a warning "There's a large number of records in the ReportData table of the Statistical Database, based on SQL Server Compact. This slows down the creation of a reports. It is strongly recommended to migrate this database to MS SQL Server or MySQL". Why is it?
A:

See FAQ #7740100.

[ NETWORK MONITOR - WEB ACCESS (V.2017 COMPATIBLE) ]

Q7820010 - How can I modify existing Web Views, where should I start?
A:

Please read our online Web Interface Guidelines. The process is explained step-by-step.

Q7820015 - I'm new to XML and XSL. I want more information about the basics. Do you have a good reference?
A:

A very good source for XML and XSL is the W3Schools Online Web Tutorials. At W3Schools you will find all the Web-building tutorials you need, from basic HTML and XHTML to advanced XML, XSL, Multimedia and WAP.

Q7820110 - I want to publish the Network Monitor web interface through IIS. However, I get a message that the IIS Metabase objects are not installed. I don't want to change the configuration of the IIS server, how can I install the virtual directory manually?
A:

To publish the ActiveXperts Network Monitor web interface through an IIS Virtual Directory, you can use the ActiveXperts Web Interface Configurator program, or configure the virtual directory manually.

To configure the virtual directory manually:

You can now use http://<iisservername>/networkmonitor/

[ NETWORK MONITOR - ERRORS ]

Q7860010 - After we installed a Microsoft patch, the AxNmSvc.exe crashes. The Event Viewer shows the following error in the Application Log: "Faulting application AxsNmSvc.exe, version 0.0.0.0, faulting module ntdll.dll, version 5.2.3790.0, fault address 0x00013bef". Is this a bug?
A:

The module that crashes is the Network Monitor Engine ('AxNmSvc.exe').
Somehow, the NTDLL API (NTDLL.DLL) got corrupted. The most common reasons are:

(-) Installation of a virus scanner;
(-) Installation of a screensaver.

ActiveXperts Network Monitor may not be the only software on your server that is suffering from this; also other applications and services may have undesirable results.

[ NETWORK MONITOR - CONFIGURATION & ADMINISTRATION ]

Q6600030 - I want to merge two configuration files from different servers into one configuration file. What is the procedure for that?
A:

Let the ActiveXperts Helpdesk team do this for you; free of charge if you have a valid maintenance contract.

Please contact ActiveXperts Support via e-mail and send them the two config SDF files as e-mail attachments.
Or, upload the two files to a secure file transfer service like WeTranfer, and send us the URL so we can download.

our team will merge the files and send the resulting configuration file back to you, either via e-mail or else via WeTransfer.

[ NETWORK MONITOR - MONITORING ICMP ]

Q6910010 - My ICMP/TCP check is not working. How can I troubleshoot?
A:

First of all, make sure you make only one request at a time. You can set this value in the ICMP/TCP Check configuration window. You should use '1' because some servers may block your request when there are too many requests in a short time.
For the same reason, decrease your Check Frequence interva and set it to '1'.

If that does not help, try the built-in Windows TELNET utility from the command-line on the monitoring server to troubleshoot, like this:

The Windows TELNET utility is not installed by default, but is part of the distribiotn files of Windows. To install TELNET, start a new command prompt in Admin mode and type:
dism /online /Enable-Feature /FeatureName:TelnetClient

Q6910020 - I want to use Windows TELNET utility to check a remote port, but the TELNET utility is not installed. How can I install TELNET?
A:

The Windows TELNET utility is not installed by default. But it is included in the distribution files of Windows. To install TELNET, start a new command prompt in Admin mode and type:
dism /online /Enable-Feature /FeatureName:TelnetClient

[ NETWORK MONITOR - CONFIGURATION & ADMINISTRATION ]

Q6600125 - Can I use an Active Directory Managed Service Account to run ActiveXperts?
A:

Yes you can. You need to create a Managed Service Account in Active Directory first. After creation, you need to assign the account to the ActiveXperts Network Monitor Engine service in the 'Services' applet in Windows.

How to create an Active Directory Managed Service account

Start a new Powershell command prompt on the server where you want to run ActiveXperts, to execute the commands to create and install the new account.

Create a new service account like this (we create account 'MyAcc1' in domain 'MYAD' as an example): 

New-ADServiceAccount -Name "MyAcc1" -RestrictToSingleComputer

Next, add the new account to Active Directory: 

Add-ADComputerServiceAccount -Identity MYAD -ServiceAccount "MyAcc1"

Next step is to install service account in Active Directory: 

Install-ADServiceAccount -Identity "MyAcc1"

How to associate the Active Directory Managed Service account to ActiveXperts

To run the ActiveXperts Network Monitor Engine service using the Active Directory Managed Service Account, please do the following:

[ NETWORK MONITOR - REPORTS AND GRAPHS - STATISTICAL DATABASE / MYSQL ]

Q7760225 - On generating a Graph, we get error 20005: "Unable to open database connection. Client does not support authentication protocol requested by server; consider upgrading MySQL client". How can we fix this error?
A:

MySQL versions from 4.1x upwards use a different algorithm to hash passwords than the pre 4.1 versions. If your client does not implement this algorithm, it’s possible you will get this error when you try to connect.

In your MySQL shell, type the command below: 

ALTER USER 'myaccount'@'myhost' IDENTIFIED WITH mysql_native_password by 'mypassword';

Where myaccount is the database-account, myhost is the hostname or IP address of the MySQL server, and mypassword is the root password for the database. For example: 

ALTER USER 'root'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED WITH mysql_native_password by 'topsecret';

[ NETWORK MONITOR - CONFIGURATION & ADMINISTRATION ]

Q6600140 - When I start the ActiveXperts Network Monitor Engine service, I get the following error: "ActiveXperts Network Monitor Engine could not start due to a configuration consistency failure (error 25202)". What is the problem?
A:

Please do the following:

Our helpdesk will handle the call as soon as possible.

[ NETWORK MONITOR - MONITORING WINDOWS / WMI (DCOM) ]

Q7250060 - We've raised the authentication level to require RPC_C_AUTHN_LEVEL_PKT_INTEGRITY on all of our Windows servers. Is ActiveXperts able to handle it? We're using WMI through DCOM.
A:

By default, ActiveXperts uses the RPC_C_AUTHN_LEVEL_DEFAULT level to connect to remote Windows Servers. This will not suffice for servers that require RPC_C_AUTHN_LEVEL_PKT_INTEGRITY authentication.
You need to change the following registry entry: 

HKLM\Software\ActiveXperts\Network Monitor\Server\DCOM\AuthenticationLevel

and set the value to 5, which means: RPC_C_AUTHN_LEVEL_PKT_INTEGRITY
This requires a restart of the 'ActiveXperts Network Monitor Engine' service!

Please note that this requires ActiveXperts Network Monitor v.2022 build 880.2103 or higher.

Value Name Meaning
0 RPC_C_AUTHN_LEVEL_DEFAULT Same as RPC_C_AUTHN_LEVEL_CONNECT
1 RPC_C_AUTHN_LEVEL_NONE No authentication.
2 RPC_C_AUTHN_LEVEL_CONNECT Authenticates the credentials of the client and server.
3 RPC_C_AUTHN_LEVEL_CALL Same as RPC_C_AUTHN_LEVEL_PKT.
4 RPC_C_AUTHN_LEVEL_PKT Same as RPC_C_AUTHN_LEVEL_CONNECT but also prevents replay attacks.
5 RPC_C_AUTHN_LEVEL_PKT_INTEGRITY Same as RPC_C_AUTHN_LEVEL_PKT but also verifies that none of the data transferred between the client and server has been modified.
6 RPC_C_AUTHN_LEVEL_PKT_PRIVACY Same as RPC_C_AUTHN_LEVEL_PKT_INTEGRITY but also ensures that the data transferred can only be seen unencrypted by the client and the server.

If the above does not work out, please read FAQ #Q7250070

Q7250065 - We receive the following error when executing a Windows check: "Please raise the activation authentication level at least to RPC_C_AUTHN_LEVEL_PKT_INTEGRITY in client application". We're using WMI through DCOM.
A:

Microsoft has strengthened the authentication used between DCOM clients and servers, ensuring that none of the data transferred between the client and server has been modified.

More more information, see FAQ #Q7250060

[ NETWORK MONITOR - ERRORS ]

Q7860020 - We receive a message saying "You must upgrade to ActiveXperts Network Monitor v.2022 to fix a potential JavaScript related security vulnerability". What should we do?
A:

See KB Article #7720040

[ NETWORK MONITOR - LOGGING ]

Q7720040 - Does ActiveXperts suffer from the Log4j vulnerability?
A:

In december 2021, vulnerability in the widely used digital tool Log4j came to light. Log4j is used in various (online) applications/software. The vulnerability allows malicious parties to execute code on servers and workstations remotely. There is a solution for the problem.

The ActiveXperts Development team went through all software components to find and resolve possible vulnerabilities. Since we use 3rd party software for our web interface, we strongly recommend to use ActiveXperts Network Monitor v.2022 880.2101 or higher. This version includes the latest java assemblies and guarantees protection against the Log4j vulnerability.

For upgrade instructions, see KB Article #6500005.

[ NETWORK MONITOR - MONITORING IIS APPLICATION POOLS ]

Q6920010 - I'm monitoring my IIS Application Pools using ActiveXperts, but on one server I receive the error "WMI Error 0x8004100E: The specified namespace did not exist on the server.". What's wrong?
A:

First of all, make sure that other WMI based checks on that server do work fine. For instance, try to monitor the CPU usage on that server using the ActiveXpert CPU check.

Then, make sure that you have installed the 'IIS Management Scripts and Tools' component of the 'Web Server' role. The 'IIS Management Scripts and Tools' component is NOT installed by default!
To do so, start the 'Server Manager' tool of Windows, select the 'Dashboard' tab, and choose 'Add roles and features'. Configure the 'Web Server' role to include the 'IIS Management Scripts and Tools' component.

[ NETWORK MONITOR - WEB ACCESS ]

Q7810030 - What is the purpose of the '_installer' Folder in Web Access?
A:

The 'WebRoot\_installer' folder contains all Web Access source files. All Web Views have duplicate, identical HTML files, all copied from the '_installer' folder. So, if you want to modify/customize Web Access, you should make your changes in the '_installer' folder.

After all changes have been done, you must delete all Files and Folders in 'C:\ProgramData\ActiveXperts\Network Monitor\WebRoot\' folder EXCEPT the '_installer folder'. The Engine will then regenerate all files and subfolders in 'C:\ProgramData\ActiveXperts\Network Monitor\WebRoot\'.

For more information, see Manual: Customizing Web Access

Q7810040 - I made a mistake during customization of Web Access. I want my original '_installer' folder back. Is there a way to achieve this?
A:

Yes, that is possible. Simply delete the whole 'WebRoot' folder (i.e. delete 'C:\ProgramData\ActiveXperts\Network Monitor\WebRoot\') and the ActiveXperts Network Monitor Engine service will recreate the 'WebRoot' folder together with its 'WebRoot\_installer' subfolder.

Q7810050 - I want to change the layout of Web Access. Is there any guide?
A:

Yes, please check the following section in the manual: Customizing Web Access

[ NETWORK MONITOR - MONITORING HTTP(S) ]

Q6900050 - I am monitoring our web site but I get an error "22407: No response received from remote server". In Google Chrome, I can access the site. What could be the reason?
A:

Most probably, you're running the ActiveXperts on an older Windows platform.

ActiveXperts uses the WinHTTP library of the Operating System to monitor web sites. If you run ActiveXperts on Microsoft Windows 2012R2 or older, you will definitely face problems on many sites.

So, to run HTTPs checks without problems, run ActiveXperts on Windows 2016 or higher.

[ NETWORK MONITOR - WEB ACCESS ]

Q7810060 - One of the fields ('Notes') is cut off in Web Access. I want to display more information. Is there a way to achieve this?
A:

Yes, this can be done by changing the maximum length of a field in the registry. This requires build 880.2108 or higher.

See Manual: Web Access XML Tags

NOTE: Make sure you restart the ActiveXperts Network Monitor Engine service before registry changes take effect.

[ NETWORK MONITOR - MONITORING WINDOWS / WMI (DCOM) ]

Q7250070 - Is there a way to bypass the DCOM hardening changes that forces RPC_C_AUTHN_LEVEL_PKT_INTEGRITY authentication? We're using WMI through DCOM.
A:

Yes you can. First of all, you need to make sure you have the September 2021 patches or later installed.

Registry setting to enable or disable the hardening changes for CVE-2021-26414, you can use the following registry key:

To read more, please see: KB5004442—Manage changes for Windows DCOM Server Security Feature Bypass (CVE-2021-26414).

[ NETWORK MONITOR - MONITORING WINDOWS / WMI ]

Q7240010 - What is the difference between WMI/DCOM and WMI/WinRM
A:

WMI/DCOM is the older protocol for accessing WMI (Windows Management Instrumentation) data remotely. WMI/WinRM is a newer, more secure protocol that replaced WMI/DCOM. WMI/WinRM uses the WS-Management protocol and uses encrypted, HTTP-based communication. It also supports remote access over the Internet, while WMI/DCOM was limited to local networks.

Q7240020 - I'm using WMI for my Windows checks. Do I retrieve the same data with WinRM as I used to retrieve through DCOM?
A:

Yes, the same WMI data can be retrieved through both WinRM and DCOM. The difference is in the method of accessing the data and the security protocols used. WinRM provides a more secure and flexible way to access WMI data compared to DCOM. The WMI data itself is the same regardless of which protocol is used to access it.

[ NETWORK MONITOR - MONITORING WINDOWS / WMI (WINRM) ]

Q7260040 - How do I enable WinRM on a standalone server?
A:

There are two ways to enable WinRM on a standalone server:

 

Enable WinRM using the WinRM quick configuration tool

To enable WinRM on a standalone Windows Server:

  1. Open an elevated Command Prompt.
  2. Type the following command to enable WinRM: winrm quickconfig
  3. Type y when prompted to confirm that you want to enable WinRM.
  4. Type the following command to allow remote access to the WinRM service:
    winrm set winrm/config/service @{AllowUnencrypted="true"}
  5. Type the following command to allow remote access to the WinRM listener:
    winrm set winrm/config/listener @{Hostname="<computer_name>";Port="<port>"}

    Replace <computer_name> with the hostname of the server and <port> with the desired port number (default is 5985).
  6. Type the following command to add the current user to the WinRM Remote Management Users group:
    winrm set winrm/config/winrs '@{MaxShellsPerUser="<number>"}'

    Replace <number> with the desired number of concurrent connections.
  7. Restart the WinRM service by running the following command:
    net stop winrm' and 'net start winrm

 

Enable WinRM using the Local Group Policy Editor (GPEDIT.MSC )

To confirm that WinRM is enabled, see FAQ #Q7260015

Q7260110 - How to enable WinRM on Windows domain member servers in a Windows Active Directory Domain?
A:

To enable WinRM on Windows member servers in a Windows Active Directory Domain, you can use a Group Policy Object (GPO):

  1. Create a new GPO: Open the Group Policy Management Console and create a new GPO linked to the domain or an appropriate Organizational Unit (OU) that contains your domain member servers.
  2. Configure the GPO: Edit the GPO and navigate to Computer Configuration > Policies > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Remote Management (WinRM) > WinRM Service. Enable the policy "Allow automatic configuration of listeners".
  3. Apply the GPO: Refresh Group Policy on all target servers or wait for the next Group Policy refresh interval to occur.
  4. Verify WinRM is enabled: Open a command prompt on one of the target servers and run the command:
    winrm enumerate winrm/config/listener"
    This should show at least one listener is configured and ready to receive incoming WinRM requests.

Note: WinRM is enabled by default on Windows Server 2012 and later, but if it's not enabled on your servers, this process will help you enable it.

Q7260100 - How do I verify WinRM only (without WMI) on a (remote) Windows machine?
A:

If you just want to check if WinRM is enabled or disabled without checking WMI, use the following Powershell command: 

Test-WSMan -ComputerName MYSERVER01 -Authentication default

OR, if you want to use credentials other than the one you logged in with: 

Test-WSMan -ComputerName MYSERVER01 -Credential "MYDOMAIN01\Administrator" -Authentication default
Q7260022 - Verify WMI over WinRM on a (remote) Windows machine I want to monitor?
A:

You can easily check if WMI/WinRM is enabled or disabled by using the following Powershell command on the Windows machine you want to monitor: 

Get-WSManInstance -ComputerName MYSERVER01 -Enumerate -ResourceURI wmicimv2/* -Filter "SELECT * FROM Win32_ComputerSystem"

OR, if you want to use credentials other than the one you logged in with: 

Get-WSManInstance -ComputerName MYSERVER01 -Credential "MYDOMAIN01\Administrator" -Enumerate -ResourceURI wmicimv2/* -Filter "SELECT * FROM Win32_ComputerSystem"
Q7260024 - I am troubleshooting WinRM. It looks like WinRM is not working at all. How can I check if it listens to port 5985?
A:

Open a new command prompt and type the following command: 

netstat -ano | findstr 5985

[ NETWORK MONITOR - REPORTS AND GRAPHS - STATISTICAL DATABASE / MS SQL ]

Q7750115 - Which versions of Microsoft SQL Express are supported?
A:

ActiveXperts Network Monitor supports the latest versions of Microsoft SQL Express. ActiveXperts Network Monitor v.2022 and v.2023 have full support for the following SQL Express versions:

Q7750117 - Which database driver should I select for my Microsoft SQL Express statistical database?
A:

ActiveXperts Network Monitor supports the following database drivers for Microsoft SQL Express:

Microsoft SQL Express 2022:

Mcrosoft SQL Express 2017 and 2019:

NOTE: ActiveXperts does NOT support ODBC Driver 17, ODBC Driver 18 and SQL Server Native Client RDA 11.0 on Microsoft SQL Express 2022

The database driver can be selected during database migration in the 'Reports and Graphs Configuration' tool.

Q7750125 - What is the maximum size of a Microsoft SQL Server Compact Edition (SQL CE) database?
A:

The maximum size of a 'Microsoft SQL Server Compact Edition (SQL CE)' database is 4 GB.

SQL CE is designed as an embedded database engines. The size limits are relatively small compared to MS SQL Server and MySQL, which can handle much larger databases. If you require a larger database size, you might need to consider mifrating to MS SQL Server or MySQL.

[ NETWORK MONITOR - MONITORING ENVIRONMENTAL - TEMPERATURE/HUMIDITY/MORE ]

Q6830050 - I'm using the AVTech Room Alert 32S device. Where can I find the SNMP MIB file?
A:

The MIB file is provided as part of the installation, and can be found at the following location:

C:\ProgramData\ActiveXperts\Network Monitor\Mibs\

Q6830060 - How to setup a trap based alarm in ActiveXperts?
A:

As the Trap OID is not unique to the sensor, but is used for all sensors, there must be another way to distinguish the sensor. We do this by constructing a regular expression, accepting/not accepting the received SNMP Trap.

For example, if you have a Door Sensor and a Motion sensor (both are Switch Sensors) on a Room Alert 32S device with IP 10.1.1.155, this is what needs to be done:

[ NETWORK MONITOR - REPORTS AND GRAPHS - STATISTICAL DATABASE / MS SQL ]

Q7750010 - Which database driver do you recommend to use with Microsoft SQL Server?
A:

It is strongly recommended to use the Microsoft OLE DB Driver for SQL Server (MSOLEDBSQL). This provider will be updated by Microsoft with the most recent server features going forward. It also supports encryption standards, whereas other Microsoft providers don't. ActiveXperts fully supports MSOLEDBSQL.
To install the MSOLEDBSQL driver (if not installed yet), see FAQ #7750020.

In ActiveXperts Network Monitor version 2022 and lower, ActiveXperts recommended the 'SQL Server Native Client (SNAC)' driver, which was available from SQL Server 2005. However, 'SQL Server Native Client (SNAC)' has been removed from SQL Server 2022 (16.x) and SQL Server Management Studio 19 (SSMS). The driver can still be used, but is not recommended.

The legacy Microsoft OLE DB Provider for SQL Server (SQLOLEDB) can also be used, but is not recommended either. It isn't maintained anymore by Microsoft and it is not suitable to use with encryption and the latest encryption standards.

To see how a typical MS SQL Server based connection string would look like, see FAQ #7750024.

Q7750020 - How to install the Microsoft OLE DB Driver for SQL Server (MSOLEDBSQL)?
A:

The Microsoft OLE DB Driver for SQL Server (MSOLEDBSQL) is recommended by Microsoft, but it is NOT installed by default on most Server platforms.

For installation guidelines, please use the following URL:
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/connect/oledb/oledb-driver-for-sql-server?view=sql-server-ver16

IMPORTANT NOTE: MSOLEDBSQL requires the "Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2022 14.34" or higher. On 64-bit systems, you need to install both the 64-bit and 32-bit runtime packages, because the 64-bit driver does NOT install without the 32-bit runtime! If you do NOT install both the 64-bit and 32-bit Redistributables, you'll get the error:
"This application requires Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2022 (x64/x86, version 14.34 at minimum)."
Please download the packages from here:
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/cpp/windows/latest-supported-vc-redist?view=msvc-170

Q7750022 - I try to install the "Microsoft OLE DB Driver for SQL Server (MSOLEDBSQL)" database driver, but the installer keeps giving me the message: "This application requires Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2022 (x64/x86, version 14.34 at minimum)."
A:

See FAQ #7750020.

[ NETWORK MONITOR - MONITORING WINDOWS / WMI (WINRM) ]

Q7260120 - We are using WMI over WinRM and getting error 0x803380E4 when monitoring a particular Windows server. What could be the reason?
A:

Error code 0x803380E4 in the context of using WMI (Windows Management Instrumentation) over WinRM (Windows Remote Management) typically indicates a permissions or authentication issue. This error code can be somewhat cryptic, but it often points to a specific problem with the configuration or access rights when trying to use WMI over WinRM.

We recommend reading our FAQ items thoroughly and using the testing tools described there. See: Monitoring Windows / WMI (WinRM).

[ NETWORK MONITOR - MONITORING WINDOWS UPDATE ]

Q7280030 - We monitor our servers to make sure the latest Windows updates are installed. We use the 'Windows Update' check for this purpose. However, we see that only one check is run at a time. And we cannot increase this number. How is this possible?
A:

The ActiveXperts Windows Update check is based on the Microsoft 'Windows Update Agent API'. It has two drawbacks: