Introduction > Testing The Monitor

The WinScry Client Console is made up of 2 different programs.

1.WinScryClientConsole.exe: This is the configuration program and user interface where you create your your alerts etc.

2.WinScryClientService.exe: This is the WinScry Microsoft Windows Service application which is the runtime engine. It evaluates your alerts and generates the alert emails.

In order for your system to function properly BOTH of these programs must have everything that they need to work. If the local computer has security protocols in place to block internet access then you must be able to work with the local network administrators to unblock BOTH of the WinScry programs. If the local security policies block the computer from creating and sending SMTP emails you will have to work with the local network administrators to get them to allow the WinScry software to do this, or as a last resort try using SMTP Override.

To verify this, here are some quick and easy ways to test your WinScry Client software to determine if your system will work (or is working) smoothly.

Test #1: Verify that the WinScry Windows Service can see the internet? This test is extremely easy.

Step 1: In your WinScry Management Console refresh your data and note the value in the Contacted field in the monitors list for the client installation you are testing.

Step 2: In your WinScry Client Console just start (or stop and then start if not running) the WinScry Windows Service.

Step 3: Wait about 10 seconds to let things happen.

Step 4: In your WinScry Management Console refresh your data again. When the WinScry Windows Service starts, the first thing that it does is attempt to communicate with the WinScry Web Service. If this was successful the Contacted field in the monitors list should now show that the monitor has just refreshed itself within the last few seconds.

Test #2: Can the local computer send SMTP Emails? If you have enabled the System Status Report then try Sending a Status Report On Demand. Even if you aren't going to create/enable a System Status Report you can still send a Preview email as a test. See Sending a Preview Email. If the local computer cannot send SMTP emails try the following:

•Is there a local security policy or internet Proxy server blocking SMTP emails from being delivered? Verify with the local network administrator.

•Is it possible only certain FROM email addresses are being blocked? Again, verify with the local network administrator. This can be very common in highly secure systems which will only allow SMTP emails to be sent if they are FROM an approved email address or domain (typically their own domain). It might be necessary to have the client actually create an email address on their own domain for you to use when configuring the monitor installation in the WinScry Management Console (see the online help here).

•Are your FROM email settings correctly configured for this installation in the WinScry Management Console? When you create the monitor installation in the WinScry Management Console the first thing that you enter is the FROM email settings. IF you opted to use the WinScry Customer Support email servers then we know that the settings are correct. If you entered your own SMTP email server settings then you can verify them in the Management Console software by sending a test email. See Sending A Test Message in the Management Console online help.

•Is the FROM email SMTP Server Online? IF, when you created the monitor, you opted to use the WinScry Customer Support email servers then you can Contact Us to verify that our servers are working. Otherwise contact the network administrator or ISP responsible for maintaining the SMTP server you have selected.

•As a last resort, if you are unable to get local emails to work consider using the SMTP Override feature.

Test #3: Create a Conditional Alert that will definitely fail. Create a new conditional alert. Add an alert condition that will ALWAYS fail, for example a HDD Alert Condition that monitors the C:\ drive and triggers if the free space falls below 1000 Terrabytes (or some other ridiculous amount) and stays that way for 5 minutes. Enable the alert and start the WinScry Windows Service. The email recipient(s) should receive the Alert Email within 5 or 6 minutes. To be sure that it does generate you can Reset the Monitor before you start the service.