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Software wanted - need advice

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by cactus pete

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.

My network isn't perfect and neither is my team. We have had too many major outages, some human error - some hardware error, lately. For various reasons, we need a speedier method to communicate to the userbase that we have some sort of issue.

A broadcast email isn't the answer - particularly when email is the system that is offline. Voicemail isn't the answer - the vmail message is stored in exchange... (thanks, cisco)

Walking the floors of the office is slow, and we could have it fixed before that's done... And it's less than technically elegant.

Intercom is bad - we likely have clients around.

So here's what I'm thinking: I want an XP service based app on every desktop that will listen for a broadcast, either from a server or from another client that has author proviledges. There would be an icon in the systray, with green/yellow/red/gray colors to indicate status. Perhaps a communications bubble pops up when there is a status change. Clicking on the message or the icon gives you a dialogue explaining what is going on, possible workarounds, etc.

Some admins would have the ability to change the status, and edit the message. There should be canned templates to select from on the admin app, but fully editable.

I'll take suggestions for other types of solutions, too. There will be a version of this posted in the discussions... The main point is fast and easy communications with the users. Thanks.

31 replies

by cactus pete

The link to the discussion post is https://www.techrepublic.com.com/5208-6230-0.html?forumID=91&threadID=172701&start=0

by softcorp.us

Hello dp...

Simple suggestion:

- Create a simple internal website that has this information.

- If you choose, you could put this website on a separate server so it is not impacted by outages on another server.

- To ensure users always have access to the website, hard-code an IP address into a browser shortcut instead of having them rely on a DNS server that might be down.

- The home page of this website could have Javascript that refreshes the information every "n" minutes. The interval is set by the web server. The interval is shorter when there's trouble and longer when there isn't.

- This approach requires the network to be operating just like the app you mentioned.

- The features you mention would be programmed into the website via server-side scripting.

- Open source software is very mature for this kind of application. You could choose Linux and PHP.

- The only features missing in this approach is the integration into the desktop tray and the pop-up windows.

-----Steve Jackson

CEO/CSA
Software Corporation (Softcorp)
http://www.softcorp.us/probono
Advanced pro bono tools and utilities free for personal use

by softcorp.us

Hello dp...

Something more...

I don't know your situation and needs. But, I'm thinking why proactively notify the entire office in real time whenever there is something that needs fixing? Most/all users will just have to wait for the fix anyway. Without such notification, many users will not even know there is a problem because it will be fixed before they are affected by it.

I'm thinking it would be best to provide very easy access to such information and advertise how they can get to it. Anyone affected can then query the special web server by clicking on a prepared shortcut.

Good luck with your project.

-----Steve

by cactus pete

Notification has more to do with what DOES work, so they can continue to be productive [No "the network is down, let's grab a bagel" commercials] or to let them know how long we expect the outtage to last. Even add workarounds or links to the intranet where there is more information already posted [reminders, etc, about alternat means to get things done].

by jbaker

What about using the Windows Messenger Service? I realize that many antispyware apps hit it, but you could use it to issue a message to all workstations that there is an issue.

by maxwell edison

Ovisoft Messenger:

10-User Package.....$19.90 per seat.....$199.00

50-User Package.....$17.90 per seat.....$895.00

http://www.ovisoft.com/solutionemergency.htm

http://www.ovisoft.com/pricing.htm

by maxwell edison

Emergency Communications and Disaster Preparedness:

There are cases that require administrators and managers to contact 100s or 1000s of employees without delay. This could present great challenges in today's busy office environment. However, phones, intercoms and e-mail are not necessarily the best media for such needs since won't be able to reach your employees quickly if:

Your message is of high priority and requires instant attention:

The person is currently on the phone

You don't have time to contact each employee and person and need to send the message only once expecting it to reach each employee

Your message should reach all employees including those who are at home or working in remote locations

Only enterprise-class instant messaging system such as Ovisoft Messenger can help you solve such a complicated challenge. Combining your existing communication system with Ovisoft Messenger is the only way to quickly patch the holes in your emergency preparedness plan. In addition, Ovisoft Messenger can help you broadcast important messages company-wide or limit your announcements to certain locations and departments only.
Knowing where your employees are during an emergency situation is crucial. Ovisoft Messenger makes that task easier thanks to its presence feature. The intuitive user directory allows you to see the current status of a certain user in real time using colored icons.

(Comments cut and pasted text from Ovisoft's Web site.)

by darts32

Have a look here. We monitor the ups and downs of the gateways and SQL servers using this.

Internet WatchDog network monitor

http://tinyurl.com/dtwas

Careful with the broadcasts as you may create traffic on your network that may slow down things or cause other problems.

by cactus pete

Messenger is disabled in our environment for security reasons. If you have any other suggestions, I'll leave the answer unrated for now.

Ovisoft is close, but I think it's more communication than we want to implement. I'll call them and look for some business cases. I'll rate you as helpful when I close this, but please contribute more if you find abything else.

We have monitoring tools in place that alert us, as admins, as WatchDog would do [IPmonitor, MOM, SolarWinds], but we're looking for an end user communication tool when email/phones are down. [Obviously, the network itself still needs to be operational...]

Keep 'em coming. (please!)

by maxwell edison

(Posted in another answer to grab your attention.)

ZDNet has a free "trial-version" download of Ovisoft Messenger.

http://downloads-zdnet.com.com/3000-2150-10205964.html

This might give you a little more insight into the product.

by ozi eagle

Hi

Try this link to an idex of free software available.

www.infoscouts.com/misc2/Messaging_software.htm

by black panther

If there is a problem with the network then it doesn't matter what software you use as the message will/may not get through ( if it uses the same network? )

You could have a redundant network but that would be costly.

Another solution would be to use the phone system as a message service ie on the display or setup led displays in the areas ( separate to the computer network )where you can type in a message to the staff.

by cactus pete

Phones aren't an option as we can't interrupt the ongoing call to force someone to notice. yes, we know that if the network itself is down, then there is no way to tell anyone automatically...

by ippirate

I'd say try to find something more on the lines of Weatherbug. I'll do some research and see what I can find on that line, seems I've seen it in the past.

Still, if it is acceptable maybe try internal IM software such as the below..

Peer to peer utilizing no central server, local network only-
http://www.messagepal.com/?s=G&k=BB

Maybe look at this package as well, ability to grant sending authority or receive only. -
http://www.cezeo.com/products/laninfo-xp/

The latter one is nearer to what I ran across in the past and may be a better fit.

Try this..

http://www.blabsoft.com/products/

Look over the Bopup Observer and Secure Messenger

Should fit what you are looking to do

I copied this over from the Discussion area. Wasn't sure if you had moved here or just picked up on this side. Either way, the above would be viable but I would look more on the side of blabsoft, the observer(receiving side) is free. The Secure Messenger is cost and should greatly reduce your upfront cost and ongoing.

by lostpaddler

www.concord.com

Take a look at the business services console. It's not really designed for end user notification, because if you use the monitoring product in a proactive manner your system downtime should decrease. Instead of focusing on a bandaid for user notification, why not focus on fixing the infrastructure problems you've described? Perhaps an upgrade is in order....

Another useful product for notifications is www.attentionsoftware.com can do voicemail or email or pager...

by cactus pete

Just to point out - this idea isn't a bandaid, it's a solution. The system does not need to be "fixed" in senior management's eyes. And Cisco does not have a solution to save voicemail on a separate server than someone's home Exchange server if you are using Unity. I'm still checking out all suggestions. I'll rate and close soon. Probably by Friday, 13 May.

by bizzo

Why not just use "net send /users "?

And if any more information is required (fixes, workarounds, etc), then have them posted on an intranet.

by cactus pete

Net send isn't an option - we have that turned off. We are looking for delivering the info, perhaps before the user notices [fat chance] but without asking them to then navigate the intranet to find out what's up.

by bizzo

Another suggestion could be to make use of the users desktop. Customise the desktop by embedding a small web page with your "traffic light" system, have it locked in a corner of the screen displaying the status.

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