November 17, 1996
Sunbelt Windows NToolstm Electronic Newsletter
Vol. 1, # 17
USA: www.ntsoftdist.com
EUROPE: www.sunbelt.co.uk
Sunbelt Windows NTools E-News Sunbelt Windows NTools E-News is the world's largest E-newsletter
designed for NT System Managers that have the job of getting and keeping WinNT up & running in a production
environment. Sunbelt launched this electronic newsletter so that we could keep members of the Windows NT community
informed and aware of what is happening with 3-rd party NT System Management Tools, and to provide hints and tips that
will enable you to better understand and utilize Windows NT. You'll find general Windows NTools related and third party
news, technical information, and 3-rd party beta and release information. By subscribing to NTools E-News, you are
also a charter member of the Sunbelt Field Test Bonus Program. Sunbelt Software is the first and largest distributor
worldwide of Third Party System Management Tools for Windows NT.
This Issue of Windows NToolstme-news contains:
2. "TECH BRIEFINGS"
* OCTOPUS SUPER AUTOMATIC SWITCH OVER: 1 SECOND FAILOVER
* DISKEEPER VERSION 2.0 FOR NT 4.0 NOW DOWNLOADABLE
* EXPRESS METER, NOW LICENSE METERING FOR NT 4.0
* UPDATE ROUNDUP
3. "NT RELATED NEWS"
* THE PING OF DEATH
* MICROSOFT INTEGRATES NEW STORAGE SOFTWARE IN NT
4. "THIRD PARTY NEWS"
* SEAGATE INTRODUCES NERVECENTER NT - ADVANCED MANAGEMENT
* OPEN SESAME, POWERFUL LOW COST GATEWAY FOR NT
* TRUE 32-BIT NATIVE RMON32 FOR NT
* NEW TOOL: CONFIGSAFE NT TRACKS CHANGES & RESTORES
* NEW TOOL: M&A START/STOP LETS USERS STOP SERVICES
* NT40 FAX FREEWARE DOWNLOAD
* TELNET SERVER FOR NT
5. "HINTS AND TIPS"
* WHICH CD-WRITE FOR NT 4.0?
* DO NOT INSTALL 3.51 OVER 4.0
6. "HOW TO USE THE MAILING LIST"
*Instructions on how to subscribe, sign off
and change addresses.
"EDITORS CORNER"
Dear NT-ers,
Two interesting things for this section of Ntools E-News: You
have helped to get the total subscribers over 10,000 and that
is a record! This list is now by far the largest NT related
independent list except for Microsoft's own list server. It
reflects the astronomical growth of NT and it's success in the
market. Keep on telling your friends, last week we got someone
subscribed who heard about the list in an Australian Pub,
G'day Mate and welcome to NTools E-News :-)
The second point is that we have recently finished a survey of
over 700 NT System Admins and asked them what they wanted most
regarding NT System Management. The most asked feature was more
interactive help and info. So we're happy to announce two new
ways to get you help in managing NT. The first is up & running
NOW. A real-time Discussion List, the NTOOLS-LIST.
This list is an open, unmoderated discussion group specifically
about Win NT System Management Issues and Utilities (both
Third Party and Microsoft tools). Technical Support people
from Sunbelt will also contribute to this list and try to help.
We're inviting all NT System Admin's that are interested to join.
The list is limited to a maximum of 100 messages a day.
TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE LIST
send the command 'subscribe ntools-list firstname lastname'
as the first line of your message to listproc@intnet.net
To get help: as first line, send HELP to listproc@intnet.net
So there are now two lists:
nt-list@ntsoftdist.com: The biweekly NTools E-Newsletter.
ntools-list@ntsoftdist.com: Full featured ListServer you can
use to get solutions for questions or problems from your peers
and Sunbelt.
The second (really) interactive help we'll soon offer is an
NT-chatroom on our website. Here you can go and discuss System
Management issues in Real-Time. We'll announce the NT-Chatroom
real soon, and have conferences with developers at certain times
so you can be in touch with the guys and gals who create your
tools!
Here is more of the latest NT news, have fun!
Warm regards,
Stu
*************************************************************************
2. "TECH BRIEFINGS"
* OCTOPUS SUPER AUTOMATIC SWITCH OVER: 1 SECOND FAILOVER
Version 2.0 of Octopus is now shipping. It has a very advanced
new feature that only works under NT40: 1 second switch over
from a failed server to the target server. This means you now
have true high level fault tolerance for your NT Servers. Octopus
is at least a year ahead of other fault tolerance solutions that
currently have a 30-second switch over time. Mission critical
applications in your organization can now really be up 24x365.
Users of Octopus 1.6 who want to upgrade to 2.0 can get their
versions now in different ways, send email to daved@pssi.com
for detailed information on the upgrade, or call your Account
Rep at 1-800-688-8404. An Eval copy of the new 2.0 can be
downloaded from: http://www.ntsoftdist.com
------------------------
* DISKEEPER VERSION 2.0 FOR NT 4.0 NOW DOWNLOADABLE
Diskeeper version 2.0 for Windows NT 4.0 has just gone gold!
Executive Software announces the certification and release to
manufacturing of the first and only automatic disk defragmenter
compatible with Windows NT 4.0.
Among Diskeeper's powerful new features are a 10X speed increase,
a smooth and easy graphical user interface, full compatibility
with Windows NT 4.0 and ALL future service packs (this new version
does not modify any system files), selectable scheduling and five
priority settings including high priority for fast, up-front
defragmentation.
Diskeeper 2.0 is now available on Intel and Alpha platforms for
both workstation and server. Registered owners of Diskeeper
versions 1.x can download the upgrade version FREE directly
from our Web site at http://www.ntsoftdist.com. You _do_ need the
original CD to upgrade your existing version. If you are not
yet a customer, contact your us at 1-800-688-8404.
-----------------------------
* EXPRESS METER, NOW LICENSE METERING FOR NT 4.0
WRQ is now shipping Express Meter 3.5, sophisticated metering
software used by IS for central tracking, control and
optimization of software run on desktop workstations.
This new version, the first product released after WRQ's
acquisition of Express Systems, adds support for Windows NT 4.0,
has a fully customizable user interface, and comes equipped with
32 detailed reporting functions, all of which minimize the time
spent on software management.
Says Paul Davis, WRQ's market manager for management software,
"Express Meter 3.5 is a landmark release in the world of metering
software. It is powerfully enhanced by new compatibility and
reporting functions that optimize license management, calculate
monetary savings and examine the potential for user growth within
a given network."
Among the new features that distinguish Express Meter 3.5 are:
- Full compatibility with Windows NT 4.0, as well as W95 & DOS
- 32-bit architecture providing increased performance and reliability
- 32 detailed and customizable reports for versatile data analysis
- Open database support, which increases user friendliness
System administrators rely heavily on metering software to
balance the sometimes conflicting goals of strict compliance
with software license agreements and reduction of software
purchase costs.
Express Meter has been recognized as one of the best metering
products in the industry, earning "Product of the Year" recognition
from Infoworld and the "Best of LAN Times" award.
Express Meter Audit Kit
Based on Express Meter 3.5 technology, the Express Meter Audit
Kit is a useful tool for evaluating the license management status
of a workgroup. By monitoring all application usage on a network
during a trial audit period of up to 30 days, the Express Meter
Audit Kit provides all the data vital to an initial usage assessment.
A $295 value, the Express Meter Audit Kit is available free to
qualified IS professionals, send an email to ntsales@ntsoftdist.com
for more details.
-----------------------------------------
* UPDATE ROUNDUP
- A new version of BLUES has seen the light: This version has several
bug fixes, as well as several new features. One new feature is over
100 NEW screen fonts that make the terminal emulator window look
just like a real IBM 3270 terminal.
- Trusted Enterprise Manager has come out with a new version that
has a few nice new features as well. This product allows you to
delegate System Admin tasks to workgroup administrators, like
creating new users and setting passwords & the like. Very useful.
For more info on both, www.ntsoftdist.com
**********************************************************************
3. "NT RELATED NEWS"
* THE PING OF DEATH
1. The Problem (found at http://www.sophist.demon.co.uk/ping/)
In a nutshell, it is possible to crash, reboot or otherwise kill
a large number of systems by sending a ping of a certain size from
a remote machine. This is a serious problem, mainly because this can
be reproduced very easily, and from a remote machine. (During tests,
my machine in London, England has been crashed from a machine in
Berkeley, California), and because the attacker needs to know nothing
about the machine other than its IP address. Be afraid. Since I
started this page on the 21st October, over 18 major operating
systems have been found
vulnerable.
It's very easy to exploit - basically, some systems don't like
being pinged with a packet greater than 65536 bytes (as opposed
to the default 64 bytes). This bug is not limited to Unix, but is
popping up on Macs, Netware, Printers, Routers... the list goes on.
Patches are coming out extremely fast - the award goes to the Linux
community for rolling out a patch within 4 hours of being notified
of the problem.
An IP datagram of 65536 bytes is illegal, but possible to create
owing to the way the packet is fragmented (broken into chunks for
transmission). When the fragments are reassembled at the other end
into a complete packet, it overflows the buffer on some systems,
causing (variously) a reboot, panic, hang, and sometimes even
having no effect at all...
Most implementations of ping won't allow an invalid datagram like
this to be sent. Among the exceptions are Windows '95 and NT,
although they are certainly not the only ones...
Unfortunately, this bug is really easy to exploit. Users are
already trying it out "just to see if it worked". So, to test
if your machine is in danger, find a Windows '95 or NT box
(3.51 or 4), and run the following command:
ping -l 65510 your.host.ip.address
The message on the '95 box will be "Request Timed Out".
This means that the ping wasn't answered, either because the
machine is ignoring you (and rightly so if you're going to
send it invalid packets), or because it's dead. It's that simple...
Expect patches from Microsoft soon.
--------------------------------------------
* MICROSOFT INTEGRATES NEW STORAGE SOFTWARE IN NT
HighGround Systems, Inc., a leader in the emerging Storage
Resource Management (SRM) market, today announced a development,
marketing and technology agreement with Microsoft Corporation.
In a move that will bring enterprise-class Storage Resource
Management tools to Microsoft Windows(R) NT Server and Windows
NT Workstation, Microsoft will embed the Media Services component of
HighGround technology in a future release of Windows NT.
Windows NT Changer Media Services (NTMS) is a standard way of
managing bulk-media robotic libraries and drives. It will provide
enterprise users of Windows NT the means to share these storage
resources among multiple applications thereby reducing the capital
costs of automation. It will also reduce the administrative overhead
of having to manage multiple distributed storage resources and
provide end-users with the flexibility to choose when and how to
implement new storage resource technologies.
"HighGround has defined the SRM market for the Windows NT
environment, bringing experience and innovation to the management
of distributed storage resources," said Frank Artale, director of
Windows NT program management at Microsoft. "NTMS and HighGround's
complementary applications will provide comprehensive Storage Resource
Management for the growing base of Windows NT enterprise networks,
benefiting ISVs, library unit vendors, and end users of NT alike."
**********************************************************************
4."THIRD PARTY NEWS"
* SEAGATE INTRODUCES NERVECENTER NT - ADVANCED MANAGEMENT
Seagate NerveCenter NT, is the first application which automatically
correlates critical events, identifies problems and takes corrective
actions across Windows NT servers and network devices.
NerveCenter NT is a rule-based client/server network and system
management application and adds new functions such as the ability
to distribute behavior models "on the fly" from a remote location
and to address each IP port on a router so that interface problems
can be pinpointed and distinguished from router problems.
The application is installable from remote sites using SMS and also
takes full advantage of client/server architecture and enables
"lights out" management by operating in the background on a
server until called up by a management station.
Seagate NerveCenter NT can be distributed throughout an enterprise,
including remote sites or branch offices, and can correlate SNMP
events from local networks, systems and applications. The product
provides status information to local or remote administrators through
integration with Hewlett-Packard OpenView Network Node Manager and
IBM NetView for AIX enterprise management consoles.
Seagate NerveCenter NT can also run stand-alone when managing
smaller environments or when performing specialized correlation,
such as for Web servers and firewalls. The application runs as a
native Windows NT application and provides the familiar Windows 95/NT
4.0 graphical user interface to develop custom behavior models
and view alarm information.
NerveCenter NT is scheduled for availability at the end of 1996
and is already in use by selected customers, including the brokerage
firm Smith Barney. Pricing is dependent on the number of servers,
consoles and managed nodes in the network. A high-end configuration
with three servers, six consoles and 5,000 managed nodes is priced
at $48,000.
------------------------------------
* OPEN SESAME, POWERFUL LOW COST GATEWAY FOR NT
Computer Software Manufaktur; the developers of Alibaba, the
$99 SSL Secure Web Server for Windows 95/NT, now proudly
announces our newest release of Open Sesame, "The Ultimate
Gateway to the Internet". With the growing number of intranets,
the need for a secure, flexible and inexpensive gateway to the
internet, as well as secure WAN and extended intranets "Extranet",
is also growing. Building upon the functionality of earlier
versions already in use by many of the world's largest companies,
Open Sesame 3.4 is a gateway proxy server full-filling exactly
these needs. It supports all major internet protocols:
- HTTP (the World Wide Web protocol), POP, FTP (native and through
HTTP browser), Telnet, SSL-Proxy to SSL-Proxy (with user authenti-
cation) for remote and/or satellite office.
- Secure connections, as well as SSL tunneling, RealAudio and others.
Open Sesame can be used with a fulltime Internet connection, or
utilize it's built-in, on-demand Auto Dialing feature. To improve
intranet performance, Open Sesame also supports HTTP caching and
site access blocking. Open Sesame can be used with virtually all
servers, has various user specified logging capabilities,
easy configuration and administration, and much more.
Open Sesame is now available for the Windows NT and Windows 95
platform at US $ 199. For further information,
EUROPE http://www.csm.co.at/
AMERICA http://www.csm-usa.com
--------------------------------------
* TRUE 32-BIT NATIVE RMON32 FOR NT
Technically Elite Inc., a developer of remote-monitoring tools
for the RMON extensions to SNMP introduced the first shipping 32-bit
application supporting RMON2. MeterWare for W95 and NT allows full
seven-layer monitoring of network traffic. The company also is
updating its MeterWorks software for its line of Intel i960-based
RMON hardware probes.
The MeterWare package for Windows 95 and NT integrates information
from RMON and RMON2 Management Information Bases into a single
reporting product that presents data in a variety of pre-defined
report formats. The data is stored in ODBC-compliant formats,
allowing programs like Microsoft Access or Excel to use elements
of the RMON data in external applications.
The new package features automatic mapping of physical addresses of
devices to network addresses, and to network names. Duplicate network
addresses are automatically detected and flagged. Call (800) 474-7888
---------------------------------------
* NEW TOOL: CONFIGSAFE NT TRACKS CHANGES & RESTORES
Usually when things break, it's a case of finding out what changed
and revert back to the working configuration. This new tool makes
that a lot easier for System Admins, as it just came available for NT.
It helps you to save time supporting NT by:
- Automatically Tracking Changes to a System's Configuration
- Restoring Any System to a Previously Working Configuration
Most PC configuration problems are a result of changes made by a
user or installation program. Often, the user is unaware these
changes have occurred. ConfigSafe NT monitors a system, reporting
every change to critical files, directories, the Registry, and
network settings.
Supporting Windows NT is a breeze with ConfigSafe NT. If an
application or user makes changes to a system which cause it to
stop working, ConfigSafe NT will save the day! In seconds, you
will get a detailed report of all the changes to the system since
it worked properly. Or, ConfigSafe NT resets a system to a
previously working configuration. ConfigSafe NT generates an
easy to read report of the changes to a system configuration,
including updates to:
- Registry
- System Files
- Drivers, .EXEs, and .DLLs
- Directory Structures
- Network Connections
- System Hardware
More info and a free eval download at:
http://www.toolsthatwork.com/csafe_nt.htm
---------------------------------------
* NEW TOOL: M&A START/STOP LETS USERS STOP SERVICES
M&A Start/Stop Services is a Windows NT utility which allows a
non-Administrator to Start/Stop NT Services. Don't fear, tool is
not bypassing security. The NT Administrator has the capability
of limiting who can use this utility, and which services the user
can manage. This utility is C2 secured.
This utility was developed from the need of users to use a communication
software, such as AOL or WinCim, on a machine that has the RAS Server
running. The users needing to have access to these software programs
are not administrators. In talking to NT Administrators, it was
discovered that there were needs for an utility such as this. For
instance, assume a developer with no administrator rights who needs
the capability to start and stop the SQL Server or the IIS.
The Network version allows the Start/Stop of services from a remote
NT or Win 95 workstation (Windows 3.1 version to follow if demands
requires it). Download eval is available.
More info at http://www.mcs.com/~ojm/html/software/mastartstopnet.html
------------------------------------
* NT40 FAX FREEWARE DOWNLOAD
- FaxMail for Windows 3.1x/95 This full featured fax program is a
personal 16 bit version v5.13, fax_v513.zip, 700kb+.
- FaxMail Network for Windows NT/95/Win32s NT 4.xx, NT 3.xx, 95,
Windows 3.x with Win32s. This full featured fax program is a personal
or Multi-User Network 32 bit version n5.13, fax_n513.zip, 700kb+.
Last update: 11/04/96
- Modem Wizard version 5.13, freeware, helps you find and resolve
COM-IRQ conflicts.
- Fax Machine as Scanner version 1.00, freeware, lets you use a fax
machine and fax modem as a scanner.
Get them at: http://www.blkbox.com/~jonk/
----------------------------------
* TELNET SERVER FOR NT
Pragma Systems, Inc. InterAccess TelnetD Server for Windows NT
is used by many NT Sites as a systems management tool to monitor
different machines in the enterprise. InterAccess can be used over
LAN, Internet or Intranet using TCP/IP. It allows administrators
to remotely manage machines anywhere in the world.
InterAccess TelnetD Server has 4 components included in it: Telnet
daemon, Inet daemon (to automatically start and run programs on the
NT server), and InetD control panel applet and a Telnet Management
Program. It can be used for many purposes.
More Info: http://www.pragmasys.com/pragma
*********************************************************************
5."HINTS AND TIPS"
Problems installing 3.51 after 4.0 solved:
I ran into this problem when NT 4.0 beta 2 came out. Installing 3.51
AFTER 4.0 does load a older version of NTLDR which will prevent the 4.0
install from booting. However, all you need to do is boot to the 3.51
version and copy the NTLDR from the 4.0 CD Rom to the C drive and you
should be fixed. If you can't do that for 1 reason or another, a worse
case scenario would be to reattempt a 4.0 install, but abort it after
the NTLDR is copied across.
- Phil Miller
--------------------------------
Just to let everyone know that Microsoft Money 5.0 does not work properly
with NT 4.0. I cannot access the modem for pay on line although it calls
the bank for pricing information and Internet Explorer works great
through a local service.
- Joe Bell
--------------------------------
Did you know that if you right-click on the taskbar in NT40 and
take the task manager, a whole new nice window with performance
metrics graphed out appears? Much faster than PerfMon...
6. "HOW TO USE THE MAILING LIST"
Instructions on how to subscribe, sign off
and change addresses
TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE LIST
send the command 'subscribe nt-list firstname lastname'
as the first line of your message to listproc@intnet.net
_____________________________________________________
TO QUIT THE LIST
send the command 'signoff nt-list' or 'unsubscribe nt-list'
as the first line of your message to listproc@intnet.net
_____________________________________________________
TO CHANGE YOUR ADDRESS
First unsubscribe and then resubscribe as per the
procedure above.
*************************************************
FOR MORE INFORMATION
On the World Wide Web point your browser to:
For the newsletter:
http://www.ntnews.com
USA: http://www.ntsoftdist.com
EUROPE: http://www.sunbelt.co.uk
Email for US sales information to:
ntsales@ntsoftdist.com
Email for US Tech support to:
daved@pssi.com
Email for European Sales to:
chris@sunbelt.fr
Email for European Tech support to:
robdixon@sunbelt.demon.co.uk
webmaster
Legal Stuff:
This document is provided for informational purposes only. The information contained in this document represents the current view of Sunbelt Software
Distribution on the issues discussed as of the date of publication. Because Sunbelt must respond to changes in market conditions, it should not be interpreted to be a
commitment on the part of Sunbelt and Sunbelt cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information presented after the date of publication.
INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THIS DOCUMENT IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED
INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND
FREEDOM FROM INFRINGEMENT.
The user assumes the entire risk as to the accuracy and the use of this document. This document may be copied and distributed subject to the following conditions:
1) All text must be copied without modification and all pages must be included; 2) All copies must contain Sunbelt's copyright notice and any other notices provided
therein; and 3) This document may not be distributed for profit. All trademarks acknowledged.
Copyright Sunbelt Software Distribution, Inc. 1996.
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