Algorius Net Viewer 7.0 — now with inventory!
We are glad to inform you about the release of Algorius Net Viewer version 7.0.
You will enjoy updated user interface, inventory module and lots of other enhancements in this version.
Let’s go through the major ones.
Map tree
Map navigation tools in the 7th version of Algorius Net Viewer have been improved significantly. Previous versions already include various navigation tools: links to other maps, map grouping by catalogs etc. But in case of very large number of maps better functionality was needed.
This functionality was implemented as comprehensive map tree. Thus you can display the exact hierarchic structure of the enterprise. There is no limit on nesting level, there might be several root maps.
Map tree is displayed in the main application window, in the Web-interface, in map menu, while working with Maps Server. You can assign various rights to various users in the Web-interface both to different maps and map branches.
Now if a tab is closed, map stays in the tree and its monitoring doesn’t stop.
It’s simpler to add links to other maps now. Separate button is introduced in toolbar for such links. Just click the button, define place on a map for a new link and specify the location of linked map. Cloud object is created. Double-click the cloud to go to corresponding network map.
The easier way to create these links is implemented. Just drag a map or its tab to a current map and link will be created automatically!
What to do with old devices with links to other maps? Just select them and click 'Transform to link' in context menu.
You can select 'Ownership' connection type in link settings to create map tree. After that the linked map will be considered as a child for the current map. Connection type can be selected in the link context menu. It is faster and allows you to specify connection type for several links simultaneously.
Default connection type is 'Link'. You can use it to create simple links to adjacent maps (e.g. by geographical location) or to root maps to simplify navigation.
Now you can see the status of other maps on one map. Cloud shows the map status by specific color according to notification settings. Child maps send their status to the parent map. Thus you can see the status of all child maps on the current map. Web-interface now displays the amount of devices and events both for current and child maps (those which a user can access). It simplifies the monitoring significantly.
Password manager
Due to their responsibilities administrators have to remember lots of passwords to various devices, services and applications. Algorius Net Viewer simplifies the network management significantly, but previously in all situations where you had to enter a login you could either type it manually (complicated) or write it straight in the settings (insecure). Now Algorius Net Viewer has its full-blown Password manager.
We have considered following aspects while developing the Password manager:
- Security. All passwords are encrypted with high security level and are available for current OS user only;
- Multiuser support. Several users can use different logins for the same network map;
- Convenience. Administrator frequently uses the same login for different devices – it is considered.
All passwords and usernames are specified in application settings in one single place. Passwords are stored encrypted in application settings. Microsoft RSA Crypto Provider is used for encryption. Encryption key is stored in the special protected Windows repository and is available for current OS user only. The same way is used to store all passwords which are specified in Algorius Net Viewer: for e-mail notifications, Web access etc. Yes, it might cause some inconvenience in case of configuration file transfer from one machine to another (all passwords should be specified again), but security comes first.
You can specify which login to use for different devices. Group operations feature allows making that for several devices on different maps.
Specified logins can be used to launch external commands. If user and password are specified, they will be substituted automatically at command launch using macro. Otherwise they’ll be requested in usual manner.
Username and password substitution can be performed in notification by external tools. It can be used to restart a process on remote machine if it has stopped working.
There are a lot of other areas to use password manager. WMI browser, all WMI-based scanning methods, inventory – all these features use passwords for automatic authorization.
Inventory
Major and most long-expected innovation in Algorius Net Viewer 7 is the inventory module. It automatically gathers the info about hardware and software of the machines in the network.
Now application gathers and displays following info:
- General: Computer name, domain (workgroup), DNS name;
- Operating system: Name, Service pack, Architecture, Serial number and Key;
- Installed software: Name, Author, Version, Installation date and Location, Website link;
- Motherboard: Manufacturer, Model, Version, BIOS, Serial number;
- CPUs: Name, Manufacturer, Frequency, Socket type, CPUID;
- Memory slots: Manufacturer, Volume, Location, Frequency, Serial number, Part number;
- Drives: Name, Type, Volume, Free space, Serial number;
- Network cards: Name, Manufacturer, Type, Bandwidth, MAC and IP addresses, Network mask, Gateway, DNS servers;
- Video cards: Name, Processor, Memory, Video mode, Maximum frequency, Drivers date and Version;
- Monitors: Name, Model, Manufacture date, Serial number, Socket;
- Printers: Name, Driver, Port, DPI;
- Input devices: Mice and Keyboards;
- Other: Audio cards, Modems, Batteries.
Application displays detailed info about one device or aggregated info about devices group. E.g. you can check the list of various printer models in the company and define who has particular printer. There is also aggregated info about one PC displayed and detailed info about its components.
You can gather info in manual (in a wizard) and automatic (background) modes. Password manager can automate the authorization at various machines and automate the inventory completely.
You can schedule data gathering in automatic mode – e.g. collect data on working days only once a day only from 10 am to 6 pm with a break from 12 am to 4 pm.
Data can be gathered from several machines simultaneously. You can exactly specify which data to gather from particular network maps. Monitoring helps to scan only turned on machines. It optimizes the inventory speed.
Change log is maintained: it is displayed which components or software were added or deleted. E.g. you can see that HDD was dismantled on a particular date and its serial number, and then use search to find where it is installed now.