Q. What's the difference between the Sentry-go Monitor System, Quick Monitors & Sentry-go Plus! ?

Sentry-go Quick Monitors v4.x were a range of standalone monitoring solutions. Alongside these, Sentry-go Plus!  was introduced, building on the original Quick Monitor logic & providing plug & play monitoring, whereby you chose which monitoring components to purchase/install. However, these were separate products that didn't interact.

Today, these have been replaced by a unified monitoring system called the "Sentry-go Monitoring System v5.x". "Sentry-go Plus! components" & "Sentry-go Quick Monitors" now refer to different licence types ...

• Plus! Component licences provide individual component licences, just like the original Sentry-go Plus! monitor did.
• Quick Monitor licences provide pre-configured, "out of the box" groups of one or more monitoring components, that allow you to monuitor standard environments such as SQL Server, IIS, Microsoft Exchange etc., depending on the monitor purchased.

In the latest version, the terms "Sentry-go Plus! component licences" & "Quick Monitor v5.x licences" refer to licence types. They both provide the same monitoring logic - i.e. the Sentry-go Monitoring System & can be combined or grouped as required to create a single monitoring solution running on the server.

Q. Which versions of Windows can I run Sentry-go Monitors on ?

The Sentry-go Monitoring System v5.x can be run on ...

• Windows 2000, 2003, 2008
• Windows XP, Vista
• Windows 7

Q. Do I need any third party utilities to install Sentry-go ?

No, the Setup Wizard provided will guide you through the installation. However if you have deployment software, you may also wish to use this in order to automate future installations etc.

Q. I'm looking for a monitoring solution but am worried about network bandwidth.

Sentry-go monitors are network friendly solutions as they run & monitor locally, thus avoiding excessive network usage or reliance on it. In fact, they have little or no impact on the network with the exception of alerting, web reporting and some specific monitoring checks - e.g. network monitoring, e-mail send/receive, FTP etc.

Q. What else do I need if I want to run a Sentry-go monitoring solution ?

As long as you have a suitable Windows environment and the underlying software you wish to monitor, no additional software or hardware is required to run Sentry-go. In some cases, additional software may be required to support monitoring tasks - e.g. the HTML Content monitoring component required Internet Explorer to be installed etc.

Sentry-go solutions run on the majority of 32-bit versions of Windows without issue. However, to be sure it will run on your specific environment, we recommend you download & run a free 21-day evaluation from our web site prior to purchase.
 

 
Q. I've installed software before and it can be very time-consuming. How about Sentry-go ?

Sentry-go monitoring solutions come with a dedicated Setup Wizard which will guide you through the installation. Quick/minimal installs are also available.

No additional software is required in order to install the monitor. Typically an installation can take just a few minutes or less.

Q. Is help provided throughout Setup ?

Q. Can I install more than one monitor on the same machine ? 

Yes, components plug in to the same base monitoring package. If you install multiple v5.x Quick Monitor licences, Plus! components or combine the two, monitoring will automatically be merged by the Setup Wizard into a single monitoring solution on your server.

Q. I already have a web server installed ? Can I still access Sentry-go web reports ?

Yes. The Setup Wizard will detect the other web server & adjust the web server's settings where necessary. The only noticeable difference will be when accessing the appropriate HTML report, when the port number will need to be specified along with the server name. The default port number is 1000.

Q. If I add a Plus! monitoring component to Sentry-go do I need to re-run Setup ?

In most cases there's no need to reinstall or run Setup. If the new component runs with the current version of the monitor then simply add the new licence using the Client Console to activate the functionality.
 
However, if it is not supported by the current version of software, run the Setup Wizard and choose the "upgrade" option.
   

 
Q. Can I try before I buy ?

Yes. Simply download a free 21-day evaluation from our web site at ...

• http://www.Sentry-go.com/software-downloads.aspx

Full functionality is available & support is available throughout the evaluation.

Q. Which monitoring components are installed if I evaluate Sentry-go Plus! Components ?

All monitoring components are enabled during the evaluation so you can see one, some, or all in action.

Q. Do I have to pay to run an an evaluation or to get support ?

No. Evaluations are free and can be run for 21 days. Full support is given throughout the evaluation, free of charge.

Q. Can I set up client-side functionality as well during my evaluation ?

Yes. All evaluations are for the complete product, including the Client Console, Setup & Wizards etc.

Q. Can I get support during the evaluation ?

Yes. Evaluations come with full documentation but if you have a question, problem or comment, our support team will be happy to help you. Simply e-mail our support team - Support@Sentry-go.com. We aim to respond to all e-mails within 1 working day.

Q. How do evaluation versions differ from the full solution ?

In terms of functionality the two are the same - that way, you get to see all features running in your own environment. Evaluations are time-coded for 21 days and will not function until the correct licence key is installed. 

Q. Can I access Sentry-go Solutions as part of the evaluation.

Yes, the evaluation licence gives you access to our Sentry-go Solutions site for 21 days.

Q. After I've evaluated the software and wish to purchase it, do I have to install the monitor again ?

No you can simply upgrade the licence.

 Q. Do I get a discount if I purchase multiple copies ?

Yes, discounts are available for volume sales as well as site licences. For our on-line price list, please visit http://www.Sentry-go.com/pricing.aspx. Alternatively, e-mail us at Sales@Sentry-go.com or call to discuss any specific customisations or requirements.

Q. How can I purchase Sentry-go software ?

Our solutions can be purchased and downloaded from our web-site at http://www.Sentry-go.com/buy-now.aspx. You can purchase Sentry-go software using a credit card, including Mastercard, Visa, American Express or a debit card.

You can also use a purchase order or via your software reseller if you prefer.

Q. Can I get a quotation ?

Yes. Simply visit http://www.Sentry-go.com/quote.aspx and we'll e-mail you back details & pricing etc. Quotations are valid for 30 days.

Q. If I buy on-line, is my payment secure ?

Yes, for your protection we use RBS WorldPay to provide secure on-line transactions. No credit card information is held on our servers.

Q. Do I have to buy on-line ?

We recommend you purchase on-line because it is quicker to process and therefore the quickest way of receiving your licence key - usually within minutes. However, you can also purchase our software using a Purchase Order or through a reseller. For more information, please e-mal Sales@Sentry-go.com. 

Q. Can I buy through a reseller ?

Yes, our monitoring solutions are also available via our recommended resellers & solution providers. Visit http://www.Sentry-go.com/find-a-reseller.aspx for an up to date list.

Q. After I request an evaluation or purchase the product, how long will it take to get my
licence key ?

If you download or purchase on-line, the process should take just a few minutes, depending on network conditions and the speed of your provider. Licence information is sent via e-mail and delays of an hour or so can sometimes occur. If you don't receive your licence in a timely fashion, simply e-mail Sales@Sentry-go.com with proof of purchase or details of the evaluation and we will look into it for you. Licence information is sent to the address given on your order.

Q. I haven't received my licence key. What should I do ?

For on-line downloads & transactions, it should take only a few moments to receive your licence key by e-mail. Licence information is sent to the address given on your order. Sometimes it can take longer to arrive and sometimes SPAM settings prevent our mails getting through to you ...

- Please ensure you provide the correct e-mail address when ordering.
- Please allow a few hours for your licence details to arrive.
- Please also check your SPAM folder to ensure the mail hasn't been routed there by mistake.

If the details still don't arrive, please write to us as Sales@Sentry-go.com and we will be happy to help you.
 

 
Q. I want to monitor my servers but don't know what I ought to be looking for ? 

In general, the best approach is to keep it simple. Start by monitoring the key areas of your business - e.g. Web, E-mail, Databases, File & Print etc. On these, monitor the areas you're features you're interested in, understand and can do something about. That way, you won't get lots of alerts you don't understand or are not interested in! 

Q. Can you tailor a solution for me ? 

Yes we can tailor any solution, or develop a totally new one for you if required. Please visit http://www.Sentry-go.com/build-a-custom-monitor.aspx for more information and/or a quotation.
 

 
Q. How much does it cost to upgrade to the latest software version ?

In most cases, upgrades of the same licence within the same major release are free of charge to registered customers. For example, v5.1 to 5.2 or 5.x are normally free. To upgrade, simply visit http://www.Sentry-go.com/software-downloads.aspx and download the latest version.

For major releases, discounts are available to existing customers - both to upgrade their existing licence and also if purchasing additional copies at the time of upgrade.

You can upgrade v4.x Quick Monitors & Sentry-go Plus! v1.x & v2.x to the Sentry-go Monitoring System v5.x at http://www.Sentry-go.com/upgrade-now.aspx.

Q. If I upgrade, will my existing settings be retained ?

In most cases the Setup Wizard will detect the previous version and prompt you to retain existing settings instead of installing default values. 

In a few specific cases however, for example when upgrading a major release, some settings cannot be retained due to changes in the way they are stored or configured.

If you have any questions, please contact Support@Sentry-go.com.

Q. Can I upgrade from a Quick Monitor to Sentry-go Plus!

You can upgrade v4.x Quick Monitors & Sentry-go Plus! v1.x & v2.x to the Sentry-go Monitoring System v5.x at http://www.Sentry-go.com/upgrade-now.aspx.

However, due to the technical differences between the two solutions, it is currently not possible to migrate your settings from a Quick Monitor to the equivalent v5.x monitoring component.