Adding and editing a File Properties monitor

This monitor checks to see if a file in a local folder, or on a network share, meets the conditions specified in the monitor's configuration. The File Properties active monitor supports %variables (%Device.Address or %Device.HostName), allowing you to use a macro for applying multiple devices to a monitor.

Note: The File Properties monitor only checks files in folders local to a device on which WhatsUp Gold is installed, or files in network shares accessible from the WhatsUp Gold device.

Note: This feature is available with WhatsUp Gold Premium Edition only. To update your license, visit the WhatsUp Customer Portal.

To add a new File Properties active monitor:

  1. From the WhatsUp Gold web interface, go to Admin > Monitors. The Monitor Library dialog appears.
  2. Click the Active tab. The Active Monitor list appears.
  3. Click New. The Select Active Monitor Type dialog appears.
  4. Select File Properties Monitor, then click OK. The New File Properties Monitor dialog appears.
  5. Enter or select the appropriate information:
    • Name. Enter a unique name for the active monitor. This name displays in the Active Monitor Library.
    • Description. (Optional) Enter additional information about the monitor. This description displays next to the monitor in the Active Monitor Library.
    • Path of the file to monitor. The Universal Naming Convention (UNC) file path that WhatsUp Gold uses to access the file. For example: \\192.168.3.1\website\product\index.htm for a file on a single device.
      If you provide the value for File size, File checksum using, or File modified within options, you can also use percent variables for the path of the file to monitor. For example, \\%Device.Address\website\product\index.htm or \\%Device.HostName\website\product\index.htm for a file located on multiple machines with the same file path name.

      Important: Mapped drive paths are not permitted for the File Properties monitor.

  6. Complete the information in the Monitor is up if section:
    • File. Select the appropriate option: exists or does not exist. If you select exists, the monitor is up if the selected file is found in the folder on the local directory. If you select does not exist, the monitor is up if the file is not found in the folder on the local directory.
    • File size is. (Optional) Click to select this check box, then, select the appropriate variable to determine the success or failure of the monitor scan, and enter a numerical value for the file size.
    • File was last modified (exactly on | before | after). (Optional) Select this option to make the monitor dependent on the date on which the file is last modified. Click to select the check box, select the list option date of exactly on | before | after, then click the calendar icon to populate the box with the most recent date and time on which the file was modified.
    • File checksum using ____ is _____. Select this option to make the monitor dependent on the file's checksum. Click to select the check box, then, select the algorithm (SHA1, SHA224, SHA256, SHA384, SHA512) WhatsUp Gold uses to calculate the checksum.

    Warning: Selecting this option can greatly increase the amount of time it takes to complete the monitor scan and can possibly have an adverse affect on WhatsUp Gold performance. The probability of lengthy monitor scans and slower performance increases when you use algorithms other than SHA1 when you are scanning large files, or when you scan files located on network shares.

    • File ____ modified within _____ _____ before polling time. Select this option to monitor whether the the date of the file changes withing a specific interval before polling time. Note that the expectation is that the monitor is up, so be sure the set your parameters with this in mind.
  7. Click OK to save changes.
  8. After configuring an active monitor in the Active Monitor Library, add the monitor to devices.

To edit an existing File Properties active monitor:

  1. From the WhatsUp Gold web interface, go to Admin > Monitors. The Monitor Library dialog appears.
  2. Click the Active tab. The Active Monitor list appears.
  3. Select the monitor you would like to edit, then click Edit. The Edit File Properties dialog appears.
  4. Enter or select the appropriate information:
    • Name. Enter a unique name for the active monitor. This name displays in the Active Monitor Library.
    • Description. (Optional) Enter additional information about the monitor. This description displays next to the monitor in the Active Monitor Library.
    • Path of the file to monitor. The Universal Naming Convention (UNC) file path that WhatsUp Gold uses to access the file. For example: \\192.168.3.1\website\product\index.htm for a file on a single device.
      If you provide the value for File size, File checksum using, or File modified within options, you can also use percent variables for the path of the file to monitor. For example, \\%Device.Address\website\product\index.htm or \\%Device.HostName\website\product\index.htm for a file located on multiple machines with the same file path name.

      Important: Mapped drive paths are not permitted for the File Properties monitor.

  5. Complete the information in the Monitor is up if section:
    • File. Select the appropriate option: exists or does not exist. If you select exists, the monitor is up if the selected file is found in the folder on the local directory. If you select does not exist, the monitor is up if the file is not found in the folder on the local directory.
    • File size is. (Optional) Click to select this check box, then:

      Select the appropriate variable to determine the success or failure of the monitor scan, and enter a numerical value for the file size.

      File was last modified (exactly on | before | after). (Optional) Select this option to make the monitor dependent on the date on which the file is last modified. Click to select the check box, select the list option date of exactly on | before | after, then click the calendar icon to populate the box with the most recent date and time on which the file was modified.

    • File checksum using ____ is _____. Select this option to make the monitor dependent on the file's checksum. Click to select the check box, then:
      • Select the algorithm (SHA1, SHA224, SHA256, SHA384, SHA512) WhatsUp Gold uses to calculate the checksum.

    Warning: Selecting this option can greatly increase the amount of time it takes to complete the monitor scan and can possibly have an adverse affect on WhatsUp Gold performance. The probability of lengthy monitor scans and slower performance increases when you use algorithms other than SHA1 when you are scanning large files, or when you scan files located on network shares.

    • File ____ modified within _____ _____ before polling time. Select this option to monitor whether the the date of the file changes withing a specific interval before polling time. Note that the expectation is that the monitor is up, so be sure the set your parameters with this in mind.
  6. Click OK to save changes.

See Also

Using Premium active monitors

Adding and editing an APC UPS Monitor

Monitoring mail servers

Monitoring Microsoft Exchange 2003 servers

Monitoring a Microsoft Exchange Server

Adding and editing a Fan Monitor

Adding and editing a Folder Monitor

Adding and editing an FTP Monitor

Adding and editing an HTTP Content Monitor

Adding and editing a Network Statistics Monitor

Adding and editing a PowerShell active monitor

Adding and editing a Printer Monitor

Adding and editing a Process Monitor

Adding and editing a SQL Query active monitor

Adding and editing a SQL Server 2000 monitor

Adding and editing a Temperature Monitor

Adding and editing a VoIP Monitor

Adding and editing a WMI Formatted active monitor

Adding and Editing a WMI Monitor

Assigning active monitors

Removing and deleting active monitors

About critical active monitors

Group and Device active monitor reports