Watching for Backup Log File Entries

[Goad]

I need a little help as my creativity is lacking to accomplish this task...

The Basics:
This is a application that runs its own proprietary nightly task to back up its database (Interbase). It logs to a single file. The file name is not time/date stamped or rotating, but the log entries are timestamped. I am looking to have hostmon send out an alert when the backup starts and finishes.

The file: C:\Logfile.log

Start Backup Entry:
1/17/2012 12:01:03 AM: SaveCFG SL.Create Start

Completed Entry:
1/17/2012 2:23:01 AM: SaveCFG if UpperCase(Ctrl) = UpperCase(_CFGConfigChangedEntry) Exit Start

Of course the start/stop times vary from night to night.

I dug around in the HostMon manual and found some useful information. I know i need to set up a rule to look for the lines for the current date, but somehow wild card the time. Is this possible?

I am using Advanced HostMon 6.82
(I know, super old version - I just submitted a request to upgrade it)

[KS-Soft]

I am looking to have hostmon send out an alert when the backup starts and finishes.

I think backup process cannot be finished unless it was started so may be you need to check only for one string?
Then you may setup Text Log test method without checking for time. Just check for Exit Start string, HostMonitor will start alert when new record detected.
If you want to get notice on both events, use Look for expression option and expression like "Create Start" or "Exit Start"

Regards
Alex

[Goad]

I am looking to have hostmon send out an alert when the backup starts and finishes.

I think backup process cannot be finished unless it was started so may be you need to check only for one string?
Then you may setup Text Log test method without checking for time. Just check for Exit Start string, HostMonitor will start alert when new record detected.
If you want to get notice on both events, use Look for expression option and expression like "Create Start" or "Exit Start"

Regards
Alex

Well, if the backup doesnt automatically start, I need to know about it so I can kick it off manually.

Also, the log file is non-rotating, so it has multiple lines in it with "create start" and "exit start" from previous days....so i do need it to check for the current day entries.

[KS-Soft Europe]

1. I am looking to have hostmon send out an alert when the backup starts and finishes.
2. Well, if the backup doesnt automatically start, I need to know about it so I can kick it off manually.

So, you need alert in any case: Backup was started/not started and Backup was Finished/Not finished ?
In such case, you may use "Good" and "Bad" actions simultaneously.

Also, you may use "Reverse alert" option and check for "Bad" expression like "Create Start" or "Exit Start". With these settings test will get "Bad" status when there is no "Create Start" or "Exit Start" records.

Also, the log file is non-rotating, so it has multiple lines in it with "create start" and "exit start" from previous days....so i do need it to check for the current day entries.

That's not a problem, Text Log test checks only NEW records, that were added to log file.

Quote from manual:

Text Log test warns you only when the string is found in a NEW record. It means that if log file already has "bad' records when you started HostMonitor, you will not receive any alerts; but if any new "bad" record will be added to the log file while HostMonitor is running, you will receive a warning about the new problem.

Please check the manual or visit our web site for more information at:
Text Log test method: http://www.ks-soft.net/hostmon.eng/mfra ... tm#textlog
Action Profiles with Bad and Good actions: http://www.ks-soft.net/hostmon.eng/mfra ... m#profiles
Reverse alert option: http://www.ks-soft.net/hostmon.eng/mfra ... tm#Reverse