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The following document outlines the functionality of the ipMonitor Multi-Status View application:

• Using the ipMonitor Multi-Status View Application
• Download and Installation Instructions
• How the Multi-Status View Application Works
• Technical Support
• Tutorial Resources
• Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

ipMonitor Multi-Status View is a Microsoft ASP.NET application that operates with IIS. On timed intervals, the application logs in to the SOAP interface of one or more ipMonitor installations to retrieve specific Monitor and Group status information.

Network Administrators can use the ipMonitor Multi-Status View application to:

• Allow anonymous access to ipMonitor Real-Time Status information.
• Publish ipMonitor Real-Time Status information via Microsoft IIS for public access, or alternatively use IIS' login permissions to control access to ipMonitor status information.
• Tailor the Real-Time Status information to meet the needs of specific individuals or groups (such as individual clients or entire departments that only require access to their own information).
• Display a filtered list of Groups and Monitors for SLA purposes.
• Update or create ASPX pages as frequently as required, for example, each time a new Monitor is added or a Group of Monitors is created in ipMonitor to suit a client's needs.
• Display Real-Time Status information from multiple ipMonitor installations on one page.
• Customize the ASPX pages to match the corporate look and feel of their organization.
• Place ipMonitor Real-Time Status information on a public website without worrying about exposing the ipMonitor Administration web interface to the Internet.

1. Download the ipMonitor Multi-Status View utility from the ipMonitor Support Portal and save it to the machine that houses the IIS web server you wish to use:
   
   
2. Extract the contents of the MultiStatusInstall.zip file to the location of your choice on the IIS web server machine.
   
   Note: Admin permissions are required to properly use the Multi-Status View application and IIS together.
3. Double-click the Setup.exe file to launch the ipMonitor Multi-Status View installer.

Note: Once installed, the ipMonitor Multi-Status View utility will be accessible from the Start Menu Programs List.

To remove the ipMonitor Multi-Status View utility from your system:

1. Access the Control Panel.
2. Click Add / Remove Programs.
3. Select the ipMonitor Multi-Status View program and click Remove.

IMPORTANT! In order to properly run the ipMonitor Multi-Status View application, the .NET framework and IIS v4 (or higher) must both be installed. In addition, you must also ensure that the .NET framework is registered within IIS.

For more information, refer to the "ASP.NET IIS Registration Tool" documentation article available on the Microsoft website.

To create XML configuration files and the resulting ASPX web pages, the ipMonitor Multi-Status View application requires you to provide the location and login information of at least one ipMonitor installation.

Once an ipMonitor server has been added and a login configured, the ipMonitor Multi-Status View application can access the ipMonitor installation and retrieve Real-Time Status information from Groups and Monitors you select.

The following diagram illustrates this process:

The above diagram shows that:

1. The ipMonitor Multi-Status View application logs in to the ipMonitor server specified using the Account and Password provided.
2. It retrieves status information for the Groups and Monitors you selected.
3. The ipMonitor Multi-Status View application then generates an ASPX page to display the Real-Time Status information it retrieved from the ipMonitor installation, and saves it in a \UserPages\ directory on the Home Directory of the selected web site.
4. When the ASPX page is opened in a web browser, it queries the ipMonitor server at regular intervals to refresh the display with updated Real-Time statistics information.

Additional information to keep in mind when using the ipMonitor Multi-Status View application:

• All data present in the XML configuration files is stored in clear text, including the Account Name and Password required to access the ipMonitor installation's Real-time Status interface.
• XML configuration files are stored outside the web site's Home Directory.
• Ensure that your web server does not point to or serve up any of the XML configuration files.
• When the XML configuration files are removed through the process of uninstalling the ipMonitor Multi-Status View application, the ASPX pages are not deleted. These pages must be manually removed.
• The ipMonitor Multi-Status View directory layout is organized as follows:
  
  <local path to web site Home Directory>\UserPages\
  <local path to parent directory of web site home directory>\UserConfigs\
  
  Example:
  
  c:\iispub\wwwroot\UserPages\
  c:\iispub\UserConfigs\

Customers of the ipMonitor Network Monitoring Software with an "Active" Service Plan are entitled to receive both telephone and email support during the term of their Service Agreement Plan.

Persons trialing the ipMonitor software are entitled to receive support by email, or through FAQs and Tutorials published at support.ipmonitor.com.

The Technical Support department is open from 9am to 5pm Eastern Time, Monday through Friday, except holidays. Support technicians can be reached by telephone at 819.772.4134, or by email at support@ipmonitor.com.

If you require assistance while configuring the ipMonitor Multi-Status View application, please refer to the following tutorial:

Get the Most from the ipMonitor Multi-Status View Application
This tutorial walks you through configuring the ipMonitor Multi-Status View Application.

What version of .NET is required to run the ipMonitor Multi-Status View utility?

Version 1.1 (or higher) of the .NET Framework must be installed in order to run the ipMonitor Multi-Status View utility.

What version of IIS is required to run the ipMonitor Multi-Status View utility?

The ipMonitor Multi-Status View utility will work correctly with any version of IIS that supports version 1.1 of the .NET Framework, such as IIS v4, v5, v5.1 and v6.

Does the ipMonitor Multi-Status View application run on Apache?

No. The ipMonitor Multi-Status View application requires Microsoft's IIS web server.

How do I configure IIS to recognize ASPX pages?

In order to allow IIS to recognize ASPX pages, you will have to use the ASP.NET IIS Registration tool. The following command will install the ASP.NET version associated with the tool and update the script maps of all existing ASP.NET applications:

Aspnet_regiis -i

The ASP.NET IIS Registration tool (Aspnet_regiis.exe) is installed by default within the .NET Framework. For more information, refer to the "ASP.NET IIS Registration Tool" documentation article available on the Microsoft website.

Where are the XML settings and ASPX pages stored?

The XML settings and ASPX pages created with the ipMonitor Multi-Status View application are stored in the following directory:

\UserConfigs\ - This directory stores the XML files for individual ASPX pages that have been configured. The \UserConfigs\ directory also contains a servers.xml file, which provides connection settings for the various ipMonitor installations you have configured.

Note: This directory exists on the same level as the "Home Directory" of the web site: <local path to parent directory of web site Home Directory>\UserConfigs\

Which account should I use when granting the ipMonitor Multi-Status View application access to log in to my ipMonitor installation?

We recommend always using a Guest Account with the ipMonitor Multi-Status View application. Guest Accounts only have access to ipMonitor's Real-Time Status interface. This ensures that even if the Account and Password information stored within the ipMonitor Multi-Status View application is compromised, unauthorized users will not be able to access the ipMonitor Administration web interface.

Which browsers does the ipMonitor Multi-Status View application support?

The ipMonitor Multi-Status View application has been tested extensively with current versions of the Microsoft Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox and Opera browsers.

Does the ipMonitor Multi-Status View application work with ipMonitor installations using SSL?

Yes. The ipMonitor Multi-Status View application allows you to choose whether or not to connect using SSL.

Can the list of Monitors displayed be filtered?

Yes. You can select which Groups and Monitors the resulting ASPX page will display.

Can the ipMonitor Multi-Status View application access multiple ipMonitor installations?

Yes. Real-Time Status information from multiple ipMonitor installations can be retrieved and displayed either in one location or in multiple locations.

Can I access Real-Time Status information without having to provide an ipMonitor Account and Password?

Yes. Once you've provided a Guest Account Name and Password to allow the application to connect to the ipMonitor installation, resulting ASPX pages can be viewed without the need to enter credentials.

Can the ASPX pages be customized with my company logo?

Yes. In order to insert your own company logo at the top of the ASPX Monitor display pages, proceed with the following:

1. Replace the logo.png image located in the UserPages folder of the IIS web server directory with your own company logo. Ensure to keep the "logo.png" name intact.

- OR -

1. Add your company logo image file to the System folder of the ipMonitor Multi-Status View directory.
2. Open the MultiStatusView.aspx file (located in the System folder) with a text editor such as Notepad or UltraEdit.
3. Perform a "search and replace" query. Replace "logo.png" with the name of your image file.
4. Save and close the MultiStatusView.aspx file.

Can I change the refresh rate of the ASPX pages?

Yes. When you first create an ASPX page, you'll be prompted to select your desired refresh rate. The default refresh rate is 5 minutes.

For information on other features and concepts related to those discussed in this article, refer to the following ipMonitor resources:

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Last Updated: April 24, 2006 | What did you think of this topic?