How do I alert my network users of stuff?
October 16, 2008 10:41 AM Subscribe
Anyone got a pointer on desktop alert software?
I'm rolling out a new WInXP image to 39 replacement used PCs at the place I work, and I have one remaining requirement: I'm looking for a Desktop Alert solution that I can control. Free is, of course, better; there are lots of paid ones, I know.
I need something where I can send "The fileserver is going down in 3 minutes, save your files" and "Yes, we know there's a problem with the Internet, we'll let you know" type stuff.
I'm leaning towards RSS to do it right now, if I can find a decent tray-popup notifier program (I've found the Java RSS Notifier, but it's not real rugged; its tray icon tends to disappear...)
I've ruled out Windows Messenger, a) because it's too fluffy these days, b) because I don't want to encourage pointless all-hands chats after a notice (we have AIM everywhere), and c) because it's had security problems in the past and has no authentication.
But I can't find anything decent that doesn't use .NET.
I'm open to almost any solution as long as it 1) does tray pop, 2) can't be posted to by Just Anyone, and 3) preferably, allows users to go look back at older messages (with timestamping). Server side support requirements are ok (though I prefer Linux); hacking to use for the purpose things not entirely intended for that are likewise ok (obviously).
What's the best approach? What are you using?
I'm rolling out a new WInXP image to 39 replacement used PCs at the place I work, and I have one remaining requirement: I'm looking for a Desktop Alert solution that I can control. Free is, of course, better; there are lots of paid ones, I know.
I need something where I can send "The fileserver is going down in 3 minutes, save your files" and "Yes, we know there's a problem with the Internet, we'll let you know" type stuff.
I'm leaning towards RSS to do it right now, if I can find a decent tray-popup notifier program (I've found the Java RSS Notifier, but it's not real rugged; its tray icon tends to disappear...)
I've ruled out Windows Messenger, a) because it's too fluffy these days, b) because I don't want to encourage pointless all-hands chats after a notice (we have AIM everywhere), and c) because it's had security problems in the past and has no authentication.
But I can't find anything decent that doesn't use .NET.
I'm open to almost any solution as long as it 1) does tray pop, 2) can't be posted to by Just Anyone, and 3) preferably, allows users to go look back at older messages (with timestamping). Server side support requirements are ok (though I prefer Linux); hacking to use for the purpose things not entirely intended for that are likewise ok (obviously).
What's the best approach? What are you using?
Specifically, I use Blat for sending automated emails.
posted by TheSlate at 11:00 AM on October 16, 2008
posted by TheSlate at 11:00 AM on October 16, 2008
Our office uses email too. Seems to work for us and we're a multinational company.
posted by ChazB at 11:12 AM on October 16, 2008
posted by ChazB at 11:12 AM on October 16, 2008
Snarl is quite nice. I have a trivial Ruby daemon hooked up to it to receive notifications from my headless server, but fitting it up with some RSS service should be simple enough.
posted by Freaky at 11:16 AM on October 16, 2008
posted by Freaky at 11:16 AM on October 16, 2008
Response by poster: I'm trying to avoid email because I can't find any good way to differentiate between those (which can usually be ignored) and these (which better not).
Snarl does look pretty spiffy; I'll browse through the extensions to see if anyone's already done anything I can leverage.
posted by baylink at 12:09 PM on October 16, 2008
Snarl does look pretty spiffy; I'll browse through the extensions to see if anyone's already done anything I can leverage.
posted by baylink at 12:09 PM on October 16, 2008
Response by poster: Alas, while there's some small possibility I could use PidginSnarl, I can't tell without downloading it and looking, since there's no doco to speak of; and there's nothing that does RSS.
I'm already a couple days behind on this; I wouldn't even be asking except that sysprep bugs kicked my butt and I have to rebuild my image for the fourth time...
posted by baylink at 12:20 PM on October 16, 2008
I'm already a couple days behind on this; I wouldn't even be asking except that sysprep bugs kicked my butt and I have to rebuild my image for the fourth time...
posted by baylink at 12:20 PM on October 16, 2008
Theres the good 'ole
Your chosen text would popup in a dialog box in the center of the user's screen.
posted by GreenTentacle at 1:14 PM on October 16, 2008
net send command. Of course that means you'd have to enable the messenger service on each workstation (or in the image), it should be disabled by default (as of SP2 I think). Your chosen text would popup in a dialog box in the center of the user's screen.
posted by GreenTentacle at 1:14 PM on October 16, 2008
If memory serves,
posted by GreenTentacle at 1:18 PM on October 16, 2008
net send * Hi There All Domain Users should send "Hi There All Domain Users" to all your domain users. Hours of fun in computer labs :-)posted by GreenTentacle at 1:18 PM on October 16, 2008
Response by poster: Indeed. But *anyone* can do that. ;-)
Taskable is out too, since it won't pop up a notifier....
posted by baylink at 2:16 PM on October 16, 2008
Taskable is out too, since it won't pop up a notifier....
posted by baylink at 2:16 PM on October 16, 2008
Response by poster: Nope, it looks like I'm going to do it the hard way. :-}
posted by baylink at 7:31 AM on October 21, 2008
posted by baylink at 7:31 AM on October 21, 2008
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by TheSlate at 10:59 AM on October 16, 2008