19 replies to this topic

[Rubix101]

I have been playing around and testing this program and it is great! I love the fact I can now get actual notifications about backups starting and completing via email.

I do have a couple of questions I was hoping you could clarify:

While I have the Enable Network Alerts and Backup Log checked on all machines I only see notices on my desktop for my machine. Am I supposed to be notified via my tray icon when another backup starts on another machine or is that merely to enable the feature to then broadcast via Prowl or SMTP?

Also I am not sure how easy or difficult this would be but what is the feasability to have HSS as an Add-In on the server side to broadcast backup status's in lieu of having a front end on machines where the user doesnt really need an interface or need to know its being backed up (ie. kids, wife)? Perhaps this can also notify you when the server itself is being backed up as well.

Thanks for your time and a great product!

[JerryW]

I need to add more clarification about this. Sorry that I have not. In order to get notifications on your main pc whether it be desktop, smtp, iOS, or android, you only need to enable network alerts on your main pc not all your computers. You should the get tray notifications for your computer and all others. If you enable smtp, prowl, etc you will also get those.

As for sever-side, I have no interest, at this time on putting anything on the server.

I understand your statement about kids, etc not needing to know but HSS is meant to let them know. Why? Well, as a deter ant against shutting the computer off during a backup for one thing but I will take your comment under advisement.

Edited by JerryW, 19 March 2012 - 07:09 PM.

[JerryW]

Rubix101,

When HSS was installed, did you allow the entry into the Windows Firewall? The messages are sent via UDP to all on the same network via port 2564

Edited by JerryW, 19 March 2012 - 07:28 PM.

[Rubix101]

I appreciate the quick feedback and entertaining my comment about the possibility of an add-in. I will uncheck the network alerts box on the other computers and double check that the firewall has the port allowed.

Thanks again.

[Rubix101]

Just a quick follow up, I unchecked the alert box on the other computer and is enabled on my computer. I checked windows firewall and it shows HSS allowed on all ports on both UDP and TCP on inbound. Do I need a special outbound rule for port 2564 on PC's running it or just some rule on my computer to receive the broadcast? I tried various settings but still couldnt get the alerts echoed on my computer during backups on another computer.

[JerryW]

Just a quick follow up, I unchecked the alert box on the other computer and is enabled on my computer. I checked windows firewall and it shows HSS allowed on all ports on both UDP and TCP on inbound. Do I need a special outbound rule for port 2564 on PC's running it or just some rule on my computer to receive the broadcast? I tried various settings but still couldnt get the alerts echoed on my computer during backups on another computer.

After you posted your message, I re-checked my computers in my home to see if I would get the messages as well during a backup and I did get them. I was merely re-checking to make sure no updates I performed changed the code and stopped the messages. As for needing any special outbound rule, no you do not and the two inbound rules are correct. I assume all of your computers are on the same subnet and switch? Also, out of curiosity, not that it should matter but the users running HSS on the other computers, are they Limited Users or Admins?

[Rubix101]

After you posted your message, I re-checked my computers in my home to see if I would get the messages as well during a backup and I did get them. I was merely re-checking to make sure no updates I performed changed the code and stopped the messages. As for needing any special outbound rule, no you do not and the two inbound rules are correct. I assume all of your computers are on the same subnet and switch? Also, out of curiosity, not that it should matter but the users running HSS on the other computers, are they Limited Users or Admins?

Both of my computers are on the same workgroup feeding off a single router via DHCP and can see/talk to each other via windows network and the homegroup, they are also configured as Admins.

[JerryW]

Are you running any sort of firewall or security suite software like norton, mcaffee, etc.? As described above there should be no reason for the alerts not being sent to your computer. Check the Backup Log and see if it contains information regarding the other computer. Also, tell me a little bit about your router.

[JerryW]

Rubix101,

Until we figure this out, try to download this small .exe file and run it on your computer. All this program does is show a button. Once pressed, you should get a tray notification showing your computer name and a balloon message that says 'notification test'. If you run this on one machine, that machine should return your computer name, etc. If you leave the prg running and run it from another, you should see the result from the computer where the button is pressed. What will this prove. Well, if the app shows the notification locally then it will tell us that your computer is sending/receiving the packets, etc. Download Link: http://db.tt/8zZiY2RS

This small app is the same code I use to send the notifications without all the extra.

Edited by JerryW, 21 March 2012 - 10:32 AM.

[ikon]

That's a cute little app Jerry.

[JerryW]

That's a cute little app Jerry.

Hey, I am trying to figure out his problem. I know some routers will stop UDP packets but I don't know what he has yet.

[ikon]

I wasn't teasing you. I was serious, it really is cute. I may actually use it from time to time.

[JerryW]

I wasn't teasing you. I was serious, it really is cute. I may actually use it from time to time.

Gotcha! If you need something a little better for testing, I would be happy to provide.. Just tell me what you have in mind.

Edited by JerryW, 21 March 2012 - 02:24 PM.

[Rubix101]

Are you running any sort of firewall or security suite software like norton, mcaffee, etc.? As described above there should be no reason for the alerts not being sent to your computer. Check the Backup Log and see if it contains information regarding the other computer. Also, tell me a little bit about your router.

Jerry,

My router is a Trendnet TEW-652BRP and I am only running Microsoft Security Essentials and utilizing the windows firewall on both computers. The backup log only shows information for the local PC on the respective computer as I am only testing on 2 PC's at the moment.

Rubix101,

Until we figure this out, try to download this small .exe file and run it on your computer. All this program does is show a button. Once pressed, you should get a tray notification showing your computer name and a balloon message that says 'notification test'. If you run this on one machine, that machine should return your computer name, etc. If you leave the prg running and run it from another, you should see the result from the computer where the button is pressed. What will this prove. Well, if the app shows the notification locally then it will tell us that your computer is sending/receiving the packets, etc. Download Link: http://db.tt/8zZiY2RS

This small app is the same code I use to send the notifications without all the extra.

I also ran this cool little app and it only gave me a notice on the local PC with no notice or response when also run on the second computer. I am sure something on my system is blocking the communication either at the firewall or router level but not sure why that is.

Many thanks for your help!

[ikon]

I also ran this cool little app and it only gave me a notice on the local PC with no notice or response when also run on the second computer. I am sure something on my system is blocking the communication either at the firewall or router level but not sure why that is.

Not to be too obvious, but why not just disable the firewall temporarily and try the 'cool little app' again. If that doesn't help, turn off MSE temporarily & try it. The first step is identifying the underlying cause of the issue.

[Rubix101]

Not to be too obvious, but why not just disable the firewall temporarily and try the 'cool little app' again. If that doesn't help, turn off MSE temporarily & try it. The first step is identifying the underlying cause of the issue.

Unfortunately I tried that and it didn't work, I turned off the windows firewall and disabled MSE on both computers to no avail, not sure what is blocking those packets. The search continues...

[ikon]

Unfortunately I tried that and it didn't work, I turned off the windows firewall and disabled MSE on both computers to no avail, not sure what is blocking those packets. The search continues...

A couple of other thoughts:

• have you tried connecting 2 of the computers directly together with an Ethernet cable?
• t might be time to try something like WireShark so you can actually watch the packets coming and going.

[JerryW]

Rubix101,

I skimmed over your routers manual. Some NAT'd routers will not allow UDP broadcasting in this fashion. For a better usage example: in my environment, I have a switch plugged into my router, and all of my connections into the switch. Internal traffic is separated from the router unless needed. If you can, try this scenario. Which in truth, I would recommend even if you are not using HSS. What I would like you to do is setup a 'Special AP' with the protocol UDP, triggers set to port 2564, and incoming the same. Make sure you set this to ENABLED at the top. Now try to send/receive notifications from another computer, using HSS and/or the little app I gave you.

Let me know!

[Rubix101]

Rubix101,

I skimmed over your routers manual. Some NAT'd routers will not allow UDP broadcasting in this fashion. For a better usage example: in my environment, I have a switch plugged into my router, and all of my connections into the switch. Internal traffic is separated from the router unless needed. If you can, try this scenario. Which in truth, I would recommend even if you are not using HSS. What I would like you to do is setup a 'Special AP' with the protocol UDP, triggers set to port 2564, and incoming the same. Make sure you set this to ENABLED at the top. Now try to send/receive notifications from another computer, using HSS and/or the little app I gave you.

Let me know!

While I work on getting a switch to reconfigure my network, in the meantime I did add the UDP trigger for port 2564 under the Special AP section of my router but yet again it did not change the results. I am truly perplexed what is blocking the broadcast. I also ran Wireshark as Ikon had suggested and while it captured a ton of traffic I didn't see anything in relation to a UDP broadcast on port 2564 from the test app you sent although I am not sure if it shows up as something else on Wireshark or needs some particular filter.

On a separate note I ran Netstat which indicated that your test app is broadcasting on port 2456, so I used that for the router as well however it did not fix the problem either.

Again thanks for everyone's time to help troubleshoot, just not sure why my system is being a pain!

[JerryW]

While I work on getting a switch to reconfigure my network, in the meantime I did add the UDP trigger for port 2564 under the Special AP section of my router but yet again it did not change the results. I am truly perplexed what is blocking the broadcast. I also ran Wireshark as Ikon had suggested and while it captured a ton of traffic I didn't see anything in relation to a UDP broadcast on port 2564 from the test app you sent although I am not sure if it shows up as something else on Wireshark or needs some particular filter.

On a separate note I ran Netstat which indicated that your test app is broadcasting on port 2456, so I used that for the router as well however it did not fix the problem either.

Again thanks for everyone's time to help troubleshoot, just not sure why my system is being a pain!

Yeah, I meant to tell you if you are going to use the test app to set the special ap to 2456. I made the port on the test app different on purpose. I did not want it to interfere with your existing HSS installation. I should have mentioned this. Sorry.