IPCheck Server Monitor Editor's Review

IPCheck Server Monitor offers useful features that can be used by any network administrator. The software is composed of a couple of basic parts. It installs two Windows services, one for the actual monitoring and the other for offering a web based administration interface. These services can be set up by using a wizard during installation. If you want to modify the configuration settings later, you can use the main Control Panel, which has a shortcut in the Start menu. Once the installation of the software finishes you can access the monitoring features by using a Windows program or by using the web interface. All these features can only be accessed when you login.

Each monitored server supports multiple sensors. "Sensor" is the generic word that was chosen to represent each monitoring task. Each sensor is supposed to trigger a check at a specified time interval. Whenever a condition is not satisfied, an email is sent to the user who manages the sensor. Graphs and reports are available for each sensor.

You can define groups of servers for organizing better the monitored computers. This is useful when you need to monitor many servers, because it's easier to find a specific server. Grouping the servers also has other advantages. For example, you don't need to set the timeout values for each server in the group. Of course, if you want you can choose any server from a group and configure it individually.

Monitoring a server can be done by sending a standard PING, checking a TCP service, sending a HTTP request, checking a DNS response, checking SMTP, POP3 or FTP services. These are the options, which I thought were the most important. Depending on your network configuration, you may want to use other types of "sensors" for monitoring servers. You have a lot to choose from.

Pluses: I was impressed with the number of features this software package has to offer. You need some basic knowledge about computer networks to be able to use this program efficiently. Other than that, everything is very simple and straightforward.

Drawbacks / flaws:

In conclusion: In my opinion IPCheck Server Monitor is a complete monitoring solution. If you are searching for a complex software to monitor your network, you have found your answer here.

version reviewed: 5.3.3.643