software you use to keep a network running smoothly

[Greenstead]

Starting a list of software which supports a smooth Home/SOHO network.

What I use:
On my main PC
- Analogx Netsat for monitoring internet speed and flow.
- Netmeter for general monitoring of network activity.
- Trying out Look@LAN and Look@Host
- Automated schedule every day to:
. Update Antivirus signatures
. Ad-aware scan of registry and files.
. Spybot scan of files (double check).
. Norton's one button check. (corrects faults:registry, shortcuts etc)
. Backup of new data files to DVD.
- Scheduled weekly full virus scan.

Internet gateway
- NAT wireless router.
- SPI firewall with all features enabled.
- MAC authentication (wired and wireless).
- Encryption on wireless connections.
- Syslog messaging.

Network Monitor station (an old PC)
- Eliteview (by SMC) networkmonitor
(Graphic display of status of all routers, hosts, gateway, ISP, DNS.
- Kiwi Syslog daemon for capture of syslog events and dynamic display.
- No-IP dynamic update.

UltraVNC on all PCs to allow remote desktop both within the LAN and from the internet. (with authentication and encryption).

Feel free to add your own favorites.

[mamakao]

- DuMeter: a great program for monitoring internet speed and flow;
- BlackIce: Firewall software;

[cszeto]

AutoMate by Unisyn (may no longer be availble) does an excellent job in scripting keystrokes to automate various tasks.

[D_Wonderer]

Greenstead
What is your Opearting System on your Main PC?, Internet Gateway? What old pC? Specs of the old pc?

Thanks,

PAUL

[Greenstead]

All my PCs run XP SP2.

I now use Microsoft's antispyware instead of AdAware & Spybot.
I now use AVG free edition instead of Symantec.


The oldest PC I use is an old compaq Armada laptop with only 64MB and a 2GB disc - it just runs XP and whilst it would be no use as a work PC it is fine to sit there running my network monitoring apps.

[cszeto]

cantignous, it looks like you missed sharing the fact that Radmin, unlike the VNC variants is not open source or freeware. It may also be a significant factor to consider for some.

[cszeto]

It will probably be useful to provide links too as some of the product names are generic and may be reused by multiple software publishers.

[cszeto]

So it's not http://www.ipmonitor.com/, but a suite from the same company. So what does the collective $80 suite do for you versus some of the freeware options? Which freeware options might you have also looked at? Do the two applications integrate somehow to work better than some of the freeware options?

[serzh]

No, cszeto, it's a different company called Tsarfin Computing. Just the same name of one product. ;)

Two products have almost all active functions in trial versions, so you can test by yourself and evaluate their capabilities. :)

Of course it's better to install both of the products for full network monitoring and diagnostic. :D

[cszeto]

Exactly, when you provided the links it clarified that.

Now as for the benefits and whether they work together for additional functionality, how about truly sharing upon your recommendation? As well as the individual and combined functionality, how about some comparisons to what other products you may have looked at before deciding on this suite that some may find expensive (when there are equivalent applications that are free)?

[serzh]

Telling the truth, all free progs deal with some specific task (max 2-3) and you have to use several apps simultaneously.
That's why there is an advantage of shareware soft.
I don't agree that $40 is expensive...

[cszeto]

For some folks $40 is - http://forums.practicallynetworked.com/showthread.php?t=3422. It also looks like each application within the pairing is $40, so that comes out to $80. Are you offering special pricing for the folks on the forums?

You still have not shared what functionalities that the applications offer to actually keep your network running smooth as this thread is titled.

[JPnyc]

Serzh, sorry that I had to delete your last 2 posts, but advertising and/or soliciting are against forum policy. Thank you

[serzh]

OK, but I just want to answer that all answers cszeto can find by visiting our site or writing me private mess

[cszeto]

serzh, there were no private message. There was a series of public posting across this thread to challenge your misleading recommendations which were actually advertisements for your company's products.

Granted, you are not the first one on this thread or across these forums (http://forums.practicallynetworked.com/showthread.php?t=6863) to do this, as saltpeanuts seems to have started this "practice" on this thread and http://forums.practicallynetworked.com/showthread.php?t=1236 as well as the single posting by cantignous too.

These single spot-postings do not/have not interact with any of the threads that they were posted in, so the fair thing here is to also delete those postings as well, as it is a violation of point 11 of the AUP for these forums - http://www.jupitermedia.com/corporate/privacy/aup.html.

[serzh]

cszeto, all mentioned names of any progs in this forum IT'S AN ADVERT! And it were you, who asked me to tell more about ours.
I wasn't intended to do that and agreed with JPnyc decision to delete the last posts ;)

[cszeto]

From actual personal experiences and no direct personal monetary gain.

The direct personal monetary gain aspects is the part that is the actual issue. If you do want to advertise with Jupitermedia Corporation, then great, since they are funding these public forums. Otherwise, they do need to make a living too, thus point 11 of the posted AUP.

[serzh]

Telling the truth, our program NetInfo was reviewed recently by PracticallyNetworked and received status "Recommended" (I'm not giving a link to the article, find yourself), so we don't need advertise on this forum at all :p :D

[cszeto]

Exactly, stunts like this only undermind the positive review. It was on the home page, so it's no secret and very easy to find.

[hurnBurfurt]

I use Labtech NMS to monitor\control my windows machines.

[cszeto]

A "BTW" update on serzh and Tsarfin Computing, it looks like they included 2 positive user review entries towards their own product on the Practically Networked review. Something to factor in for those that might be shopping/considering and may consider those actions as misleading marketing.

Possibly ditto for hurnBurfurt and "Labtech NMS" too.

http://forums.practicallynetworked.com/showthread.php?t=4225

[cszeto]

"I have 8 attorneys, 4 staff members, and 2 HP all-in-one devices (printer/copier/fax/scanner) on a P to P network."
http://forums.practicallynetworked.com/showthread.php?t=7728

"AVG Anti-Virus Free is only available for single computer use for home and non commercial use."
http://free.grisoft.com/doc/download-free-anti-virus/us/frt/0

Point 7 - "You will not use these forums to violate any laws nor to discuss illegal activities."
http://www.jupitermedia.com/corporate/privacy/aup.html

Lacyt, your messages basically details a violation of AVG's software license. Hopefully your firm does not represent the RIAA, that would be very hypocritical. By posting on public forums, you are basically documenting your firm's violation and possibly opening it up to further scrutiny by other publishers as well as law enforcement activities. You are also in violation of the AUPs of these forums.

[Lacyt]

Crap! Honestly was not aware of that! But have certainly appropriately dealt with it! Many apologies.