Remote Server monitoring

[KeithImex]

Hi all, I currently run small IT business where I have multiple customers with multiple sites hence multiple domains. All servers are either windows 2000, 20003 running either exchange, Sql, File/print etc.

I would like to proactively monitor the customers servers, Broadband/VPN links/ Broadband circuits to provide an enhanced level of service.
I can access 60% of the sites using Cisco Site to Site permanent links and the other 40% via Cisco VPN software connectivity.
I would like to monitor Disk Space, Event logs, Exchange server state, Services state as a minimum really.
I have done a Google search, have found plenty of examples and tried a few but was looking to get some advice from somebody who had found an acceptable solution to the above.

The software needs to be fairly straight forward to setup/configure and then monitor/receive alerts to my offce, via email and also notifying key personnel onsite of severe alerts.

I also see that there is a huge difference in the cost and licensing of these products. I would like to offer this as a free service to complement the service which I already provide and also save me some time in checking sites manually, so I except that I will have to swallow some of the cost, so i can’t be too pricey!

Thanks for any advise/experience you can provide

Keith

 

[mrdenny]

I use a product called Servers Alive. It's easy to setup and can you setup different accounts for each monitor to get around the different domain issues. It's only a few hundred bucks to purchase with no client to install on the remove servers.

Denny
MCSA (2003) / MCDBA (SQL 2000)
MCTS (SQL 2005 / Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 3.0: Configuration / Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007: Configuration)
MCITP Database Administrator (SQL 2005) / Database Developer (SQL 2005)

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