Every administrator managing servers knows how important is to get an early warning when free space of discs and server volumes decreases dangerously. This infomation is specially important as it refers to system volume SYS or another volume where important data is stored.

VOLMON is an NLM module for monitoring of volumes of NetWare 5.x, 6.x Servers. VOLMON controls the state of volumes in real time, which makes it an indispensable tool in every-day work of server NetWare administrators. VOLMON controls and displays states up to 19 volumes.

VOLMON (Volumes Monitor) allows you to control volumes in real time and to present the results in a perspicuous way (semi-graphical). It allows the adminitrator to be informed of exeeding a volume occupation threshold immediately and of emergency events, e.g. a lack of availability to certain volumes. VOLMON is dedicated for servers working on the NetWare platform, versions 5.x and 6.x.

Installation of VOLMON program on NetWare server:

VOLMON module - VOLMON.NLM should be copied to a controlled server to SYSTEM folder on SYS volume.
A configuration file VOLMON.CFG is optional and is not required to the VOLMON module work. If a configuration file VOLMON.CFG is created it should be copied to ETC folder on SYS volume.

Start and VOLMON.NLM module parameters:

The program can be started from a server console level immediately or automatically as a command line in AUTOEXEC.NCF file.

VOLMON /Suser /Pval1 /Vval2 /L /H

where:

user     a user name to whom will be sent a warning about exceeding of a volume occupation threshold or a lack of server availability. User has to be logged in to a file server where VOLMON works. It is important to use a correct user name: user (not .user.context).

val1     a threshold of a free space on SYS volume given in percentages. Below this value a bar will change to red and will be sent a warning to a user specified in S option. The default value of a threshold is set to 20%.

val2     a threshold of free space on the other volumes in percentages (if VOLMON.CFG file is not defined). Below this value a bar will change to red and will be sent a warning to a user specified in /S option. The default value of a threshold is set to 25%.

/L     a record of messages to a LOG file (a file VOLMON.LOG is placed in ETC folder on SYS volume).

/H     extended monitoring and displaying states of up to 19 volumes. Without /H option program controls states of up to 10 volumes.

VOLMON /Sadmin /P15 /V20 /L

Start of program VOLMON without parameters:



VOLMON

# In case of a user starts the program without parameters it will take a following default values accordingly: No delivery of messages to a user

# Threshold for SYS Volume     20%

# Threshold for the rest of volumes     25%

# No logging to VOLMON.LOG file

# Monitoring mode of 10 volumes (included SYS volume)

An event logging to the VOLMON.LOG file can be turned on or off during a running of the program by pressing ALT-L keys (simultaneously).

To finish the program one should press ALT-Q keys or enter a command UNLOAD VOLMON on a server console level.

Configuration file VOLMON.CFG

To define volumes and order in which they will be controlled it should be created a configuration text file VOLMON.CFG, that should be copied to ETC folder on SYS volume of controlled server.

The configuration file has a following structure:

name_volume_1     threshold1

name_volume_2     threshold2

name_volume_3     threshold3

name_volume_4     threshold4

name_volume_5     threshold5

.........

.........

where:

name_volume_1 ... name_volume_5 mean names of controlled volumes.

threshold1 ... threshold5 mean thresholds for particular volumes (in a range of 10% to 95%).

A threshold and a name of volume has to be separated by one or several of space or tab characters.

Example of VOLMON.CFG:

work      34

data2     40

data1     25

A sample of CONFIG.CFG file is in the distribution file volmon.zip.