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ActiveXperts Network Monitor
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PowerShell Guidelines for ActiveXperts Network Monitor

Introduction

PowerShell is a command-line shell with associated scripting language from Microsoft. It was released in 2006, and is currently available for the following Operating Systems:

  • Windows Server 2008 - included, but not installed by default
  • Windows Server 2003 - available as a separate download
  • Windows Vista - available as a separate download
  • Windows XP SP3 - available as a separate download
  • Windows XP SP2 - available as a separate download

PowerShell 2.0 is the next generation Windows PowerShell, and is available for the following Operating Systems:

  • Windows Server 2012 - included, installed by default
  • Windows Server 2008 R2 - included, installed by default
  • Windows 8 - included, installed by default
  • Windows 7 - included, installed by default

NOTE: PowerShell is NOT available for Windows XP SP1 or Windows XP without SP.

Installing and enabling PowerShell

If PowerShell is not enabled on your computer, you need to install it first. On Windows 7 and Windows 2008 R2, PowerShell is installed by default. On Windows 2008, PowerShell is included but not installed by default. In all other situations, PowerShell must first be downloaded from the Microsoft Download Center. ActiveXperts Network Monitor requires Windows PowerShell 1.0 or higher.

Enabling PowerShell scripts

Out of the box, the Operating System does not allow you (or ActiveXperts Network Monitor) to run PowerShell scripts. You must enable PowerShell scripting first from the command line.

Please note that allowing Powershell scripts for Network Monitor in 64-bits operating systems is different from 32-bits operating systems.

Enabling PowerShell scripts on 32-bits Operating Systems

To allow execution of Powershell scripts on 32-bits operating sytems, please do the following:

  • Open a new command prompt (for instance by typing "CMD.EXE" in the Windows Start-Run line)
  • Type PowerShell.exe and press <Enter>
  • Type "Set-ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted" and press <Enter>

Enabling PowerShell scripts on 64-bits Operating Systems

ActiveXperts Network Monitor runs as a 32-bit service. Therefore, it runs Powershell scripts in a 32-bit context. To allow execution of Powershell scripts on 64-bits operating sytems, please do the following:

  • Open a new command prompt (for instance by typing "CMD.EXE" in the Windows Start-Run line)
  • Change directory to %WINDIR%\
  • Type %WINDIR%\SysWOW64\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\PowerShell.exe and press <Enter>; this will launch the 32-bit Powershell interpreter
  • Type "Set-ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted" and press <Enter>

Using PowerShell scripts for ActiveXperts Network Monitor

In order to use PowerShell with Network Monitor, PowerShell needs to be installated on the monitoring server. It is not required to have PowerShell installed on the monitored server!

ActiveXperts Network Monitor ships with a set of PowerShell that run out of the box. These can be used to check servers and can be modified in order to meet your requirements. ActiveXperts Network Monitor requires the output (i.e. StdOut) of the PowerShell script to be formatted according to the following syntax: 

[ SUCCESS | ERROR | UNCERTAIN]: { <explanation> } { DATA:<value>}

The <explanation> will be shown in the 'Last Response' column in the Manager application. The <value> field will be shown in the 'Data' column in the Manager application. For example: 

ERROR: Free disk space is less than 40 GB DATA:34

SUCCESS: Free disk space is more than 40 GB DATA:102