Overview

After installing VitalSigns, you are probably wondering where the software is located on the workstation and what pieces have been installed. This document will attempt to answer those questions.

VitalSigns is a web based software application (client-server software application). Each back end piece (see Major Components below) that was installed works in conjunction with one another to provide a comprehensive view of your collaborative IT environment.

Accessing VitalSigns

To access VitalSigns, open a browser on the VitalSigns workstation and go to http://localhost/Login.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2f (or you can simply enter 'localhost' into the browser address bar and the address should resolve).

As stated above, VitalSigns is a web based software application and its access is not limited to the VitalSigns workstation alone. You can access VitalSigns from any computer through a browser window (we support Internet Explorer, Chrome, and Firefox). To access VitalSigns from any browser, simply enter the hostname of your workstation into a browser window (i.e. http://.hostname.com or http://hostname.com/Login.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2f).

Getting Started

On the log in page, you will see a Dashboard Only and an Executive Summary button. These buttons both provide a summary page that gives you a quick overview of your environment status without having to log into VitalSigns. Please note that anyone who has access to the hostname address and/or workstation will be able to access these pages without VitalSigns log in credentials. To restrict this access please see Hide Dashboard Only & Executive Summary buttons.

To log into VitalSigns for the first time, the default credentials are:

Username: admin   Password: admin1

These credentials will always remain in existence unless otherwise deleted or changed. You can create new or edit the existing credentials at any time (please see User Accounts). 

Once you are logged into VitalSigns, the first thing you will want to do is apply your license (see License Code and Licensing information). Please note, if this is a new installation you can either start/restart the VitalSigns Master service after you enter the license or when you are done configuring VitalSigns.

After you have entered the license, you can now setup credentials. If you are monitoring Domino or Traveler servers, please see Registering Notes Credentials. If you are monitoring all other servers (including Exchange, AD, Websphere, etc.), please see Creating General Credentials.

After the credentials have been setup, you can create geographical locations to categorize servers into a multiple server locations. Please see Create Server locations.

Once the license, credentials, and locations have been created, you can now import your servers. If you are monitoring Domino or Traveler servers, please see Import Domino Servers and Monitoring an IBM Traveler server. If you are monitoring all other servers (including Exchange, AD, Websphere, etc.), please select the desired option from the following list:

Import Exchange Servers

Import DAG Servers

Import AD Servers

Import Websphere Servers

Import Sharepoint Servers

Upon the initial import of your desired servers, each server will enter an "in maintenance" state (please note that this also applies to other definitions such as URL's, Mail Services, Network Devices, etc.). As each server/definition is scanned, it will be removed from the "in maintenance" state and placed in its respective category (i.e. OK, Not Responding, or Issues).

Please explore our guide to learn more about our various monitoring features. To get you started, you can view our most popular "how to's" from the following links:

Alerts

Monitor Mobile Users / Key Devices

IBM Traveler

General Preferences & Settings

Major Components

Our main back end pieces are as follows:

SQL (Structured Query Language) Server - is a relational database management system where VitalSigns writes, retrieves and stores all of its data (i.e. your environment data).

Internet Information Services (IIS) - is a web server software package that is used for hosting websites. The web server (IIS) responds to requests from the browser (VitalSigns web page).

Java & Java Runtime environment (JRE) - Java is required to display a broad range of programs and Web content on Windows OS. JRE runs in conjunction with Java and provides core classes and libraries that allows the content to remain up-to-date.

.NET Framework - is programming framework that provides a code-execution environment for use with applications (such as desktop applications and Web services).

Services - specifically VitalSigns Services, are long running executable applications under the Windows services that allows VitalSigns to collect, consolidate, and summarize various statistics. As not to put strain on the server, some of these services run at set times (such as hourly or daily) while other services run continuously.