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NetKeeper Documentation

Overview

NetKeeper is a program designed to support users in a Windows NT environment®. Using the resources in the operate system, the NetKeeper improve the printer sharing features of the network. It also helps deploy files into the terminals and manage installed virtual machines.

The software works from four different modules recorded in four executable files:

Log

NetKeeper Infiltrator

Version 1.7b (01/Dez/2009)
-Close the NetKeeper main module process if present in the moment of the file updating.

- Added a auto-updater in the main module to backup any possible failing in the infiltrator module.

Version 1.5a (19/Nov/2009)
- Just install the NetKeeper if user own administrative rights.

- Added the executable command-line CACLS to grant full permission to the installation folder.

- Force the NetKeeper start if the registry does not own a RUN key or is inaccessible.

NetKeeper

The main module uses the icon tray as main interface. Just few routines inside the module show a graphic interface to the user. The user cannot interfere in the program process, except to open the NetKeeper Working Office using the icon tray.

The main module routines are organized in:

Starting Up
• Update time and date with the log on server.
• Install a network port printer if the user own administrative rights.
• File Deploying - Deploy files from any network’s shared folder to the computer hard drive.
• Virtual Machine Management (Microsoft Virtual PC®) - Synchronize virtual machines files between the server and the computer. Locate and register the virtual machines installed in the computer to the logged user.
• Launch a queued application (especially MSI extension) or open a document file.
• Create or delete shortcuts in the desktop to access virtual machines, deployed files and the Netkeeper Working Office.

• Background
• Printer Smart Redirection - Redirect the output default printer when the current printer status changes.
• Printer Auto Sharing - Connect the user to shared and available printers in the network
• Periodically list in a universal file in the server the installed printers in the computer.
• Restart the operate system if the computer lost connection with the server.

File Deploying

This routine copies only the files (not subfolders) inside a shared folder to any folder in the computer. Before start, the routine verify the free space and accessing rights to the computer folder. Once the verification is done, all files are compared and copied. If the file is already present in the computer folder, it is overwritten if older than a predetermined number of days.

Virtual Machine Management

Inside the NetKeeper folder, a special folder stores the virtual machines files to be synchronized with the computer when the user log on. If the files are not present in the folder, they are erased from the computer folder. After the synchronization, this routine registers all virtual machine console files to the current user. If specified, the routine launch a virtual machine and even turn off the computer once the machine window is closed.

Printer Smart Redirection

If a printer status change to offline or is a null printer (fax or file generators), this intelligent routine will look for the best output of an available printer. The selected printer preference starts with the local printers. If none is found, the network printers are tested. A printer with less jobs and full access is the routine’s preference.

Printer Auto Sharing

Using the universal printers list, this automated script installs available network printers to the current user. The printers are sorted in groups to organize the printer’s location. The user can access a single shared printer in the network without the interference of a manual installation.

NetKeeper's Working Office

This module open to the user a graphic interface window with buttons to access tools and a small panel showing the virtual machines files found in the computer. The routines in this module use the same universal files in the Netkeeper suite, but work independent from the main module. The tools available to the user are:

• Open the company’s network message board
• Synchronize ‘My Document’ files to a removable device
• Locate and use available printers in the network
• Request technical support to solve an issue

In the bottom, the small panel of the virtual machines offer two buttons to open the files in a window or in full screen. Both buttons trigger a routine which detect if the machine need registration before start.

Open the company’s network message board

In this interface the user accesses the company’s message box, a list with the subject messages, and two buttons options: Post a Message and Delete. The user can delete just the messages post by itself. A message is show with the domain username, date and number of views.

Synchronize ‘My Document’ files to a removable device

A powerful and useful interface which lets the user keep his document files in synchronization with a removable device driver (memory stick, hard disk, etc). The interface routine is designed to automatically detect the device connection to the USB port. Once the connection is confirmed, the routine gather information about the device and the ‘My Documents’ folder. If the device owns enough space, the routine release the button to synchronize. Once the synchronization starts, the routine compare the files and execute a bi-directional copy of the files respecting the last update file. It also delete files and duplicate the folder‘s tree in both directions. The removable device folder and the ‘My Document’ folder become exactly the same after the synchronization.

Locate and use available printer in the network

The first interface of this option shows the number of local and network printer available to the user. All local shared printers and remote printers are tested to verify its status. All local printers are listed, except the ones with null output or failed in the test. The second interface offers to the user important details about the printer and a button to use the printer, which connect if necessary and make it default.

Request technical support to solve an issue

[In development]

NetKeeper Infiltrator

To deliver the main module and install it in the start-up registry key, this module was written to work in the Netlogon script set in the Active Directory profile. The module is a single executable file which compares the NetKeeper executable file in the server and in the computer. If they have different modified time, all terminal files are update. If the terminal computer does not have the NetKeeper files installed, the module try to copy the files and create a key in the ‘RUN’ registry key. If do not succeed, but the files are present in the terminal computer, it try to launch the main module.

NetKeeper Infiltrator script by Augusto Croppo is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution / Non-Commercial / No Derivative Works 2.0 UK: England & Wales License

Open the Script