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netOctopus

Frequently Asked Questions

Customer Service Questions:

Technical Support Questions - Features:

Technical Support Questions - Functionality:

Customer Service Questions:

What is a serial number?

The serial number controls security so that no other copy of the netOctopus Administrator can be used in your environment to manage your Agent machines. Once you have purchased netOctopus your serial number will never change. Also see the discussion of Administration and Security in the netOctopus User's Guide.

What is an activation code?

The activation key controls the total number of nodes the netOctopus Administrator console can manage, (netOctopus User's Guide, Page 201). When you purchase additional nodes, you will be issued a new activation code. Your activation code will also change with major upgrades, for example 2.x to 3.x.

Where do I go to upgrade my activation key?

If you have a current maintenance agreement, go to http://www.netopia.com/software/products/netoctopus/signin.html

If you do not have a maintenance agreement, go here.

How do I upgrade my current number of nodes?

If you have a current maintenance agreement, go to:
http://www.netopia.com/software/products/netoctopus/signin.html

If you do not have a maintenance agreement, go here.

If you own a version of netOctopus older than 3.x, you will need to purchase upgrade licenses (UPTN800SP) with optional (strongly recommended) service maintenance (SRV800SP) agreement for the number of machine you want to manage. You will be issued a new activation key, which will come on an activation letter.

How do we receive a printed users' manual for netOctopus?

You can order a printed users' manual by contacting Netopia Customer Service to order the manual. (The manual also comes with the software in PDF format)

What is the netOctopus Resource Center, and what is available there?

The Netopia netOctopus Resource Center is Netopia's Secure Website for registered netOctopus customers with a current maintenance contract. At this website you can download the latest version of the software, any documentation that is available, as well as other downloads (such as integrations) as they become available. The Resource Center is your guarantee that you can receive the latest products we have to offer, available for download at any time.

What is Netopia's support policy for netOctopus?

Netopia provides 90 days of email support from the time of purchase. Customers are strongly encouraged to purchase maintenance contracts along with their netOctopus purchase. This will entitle you to email and phone support for the duration of the contract, as well as access to the netOctopus Resource Center.

Technical Support Questions - Features:

What platforms are supported? For information on OS compatibility, please visit the following URL: netocompatibility.html

Does netOctopus support Mac OS X 10.2 (Jaguar)?

Yes. netOctopus 4.0 does not support Mac OS X 10.2 (Jaguar). You will need netOctopus version 4.1 or above

How much RAM memory do the agents take up?

Mac Agent - 800K
PC Agent on Windows NT/2000/XP/2003 n 1MB
PC Agent on Windows 9X/ME n 750K

What Transports are supported?

netOctopus supports the following transports:

AppleTalk (Macintosh Administrator 5.0 and below)
TCP/IP

How many levels of security can be implemented with netOctopus?

The netOctopus administrative console can be easily managed by a Super Administrator that has full access to all of netOctopus. There is no limit to the quality, quantity, and detail of security lockdown for your administrators. You can determine which administrator can perform any of the dozens of tasks, including whether they can delete, change, add, or otherwise modify any of the items that netOctopus is capable of managing. You can also assign machines to certain administrators so that they are only able to manage those machines assigned to them and not those assigned to other administrators. You can preconfigure this information and then deploy the netOctopus 'admin key' to your administrators.

Is netOctopus capable of installing software packages by running installer scripts across the network?

Yes, netOctopus can run Apple 3.x and 4.X installer scripts across the network.

In version 4.2, netOctopus can support Installer VISE installers, .pkg and .mpkg files with the Execute Macintosh Installer command. This feature is only supported with the Mac Agents running versions 4.2 or above.

In previous versions of netOctopus, you can execute third party installers via AppleScript. For instructions on how to do this go to: distributing.html

I am running Windows 9X/ME on my PCs. Can I use the netOctopus Agent on these machines, and if so, how do I install the PC Agent?

Yes, the netOctopus Agent will work fine on a Windows 9X/ME machine. To install the netOctopus agent, run the PC agent installer either a) locally or b) via login script, and restart your machines, after which, they can be discovered by the netOctopus Administrator.

Can netOctopus 4.0 open/use v3.6.x databases, templates and filters?

Yes. Your netOctopus v4.0 Administrator can open and use v3.6.x databases, templates and filters

Can I customize the installation of the netOctopus Agent prior to the actual installation?

Windows: customizeagent.html

Macintosh: NTO_036.html

Can we distribute software to Windows9X/Me and WindowsNT/2000? Can we do this from a Mac?

Yes, and yes. First of all, you can distribute PC software from a Mac Administrator to a PC Agent. That agent also supports an "Execute PC Installer..." command which will enable an administrator to use a native PC installation script that can even reside on a remote volume. netOctopus will manage the attachment of that volume and allow the administrator to enter any required NT credentials and necessary command lines.

Translation for PC administrators: netOctopus will automatically map a network drive and run a shared installation to multiple PC clients.

On version 5.1, you can use the SDS (Software Delivery System) to manage software deployments to Mac and Windows Agents from either a Mac or Windows Administrator.

What is netOctopus' Software Audit function and how does it work?

This is a great tool for determining how many physical copies of software are installed on workstations. It also enables you to determine there is illegal or unregistered software on your Agent machines. You need to create a tab delimited text file containing information such as creator code, file type, and file name of each application or file you want to audit. For details creating this list for Windows applications read our How-To Guide on Customizing the Software Reference List for Windows Applications. You then import your newly created list into netOctopus. Next, you must do a find file command for the elements in which you are interested. For example, if you want to compare your audit list to all applications on the target machines, you need to do a find-file the applications that you are interested in. For Mac Agents perform a find file for Type "APPL"; for PC Agents perform a file find for Name "*.EXE". Once you run the audit, it essentially compares the files that were found to those in your software reference list. Based on your audit list, the report will indicate which software is designated legal, illegal or unknown. This data can then be exported to Microsoft Excel, HTML, text or any ODBC compliant database for further analysis.

Where can I get a complete list of Apple Creator/Type Codes?

You can get a complete list by viewing the following URL:

http://www.angelfire.com/il/szekely/

When using the Software Audit function, netOctopus failed to import all of the records. Why did this happen?

If, for example, you have 90 records to import, and netOctopus only imports 50 of the records, an error may exist in the 51st line of your text file audit list (the import message will report the last successful record). For instance, creator codes need to be 4 characters long. If you try to enter a three character creator code in one of the records, that record, and all subsequent records, will not be imported into netO. Be sure to check your text list carefully for errors.

Can netOctopus be utilized to perform Y2K audits on the PC's on our network?

Yes. New to version 3.x is the ability to poll the following important information: BIOS Vendor, BIOS Date, and BIOS String. Armed with this information, you can then realistically determine which of your machines may require a BIOS update. (As there is no real Y2K problem with Macintosh computers, this issue is specific to PC's).

Does netOctopus integrate with Netopia's Timbuktu Pro product?

Yes. You can begin a Timbuktu Remote Control Session directly from the Mac and PC netOctopus Administrator. To use the integration, simply install Timbuktu Pro and the netOctopus Administrator on the same machine.  An additional Timbuktu menu will appear just to the left of the Window menu.

Can netOctopus integrate with a third party database?

Yes! netOctopus supports the ability to export any of the captured information as tab-delimited text, and you can sort this information in any manner prior to export. With AppleScript, this process can be automated if the database also supports AppleScript (such as FileMaker Pro). netOctopus now supports SQL backend databases. Supported databases are: IBM DB2, Microsoft Access, Microsoft SQL, Oracle 7 and 8, and Sybase Adaptive Server. Data can be stored and received from a database. SQL ODBC drivers for Mac are available at http://www.openlinksw.com

Can netOctopus export data as HTML?

Yes! New to version 3.x is the ability to export any information as a standard tables-based HTML page. Administrators can then utilize these pages to centralize the asset management information they have collected. Using an appropriate web server, this process can be fully automated via AppleScript.

Does netOctopus come with a scripting language? Does netOctopus support Apple's AppleScript?

Yes, netOctopus uses AppleScript, and has one of the largest AppleScript dictionaries of any Macintosh software product. netOctopus software also comes with extensive documentation on using the AppleScript objects available. The netOctopus Windows Administrator supports Visual Basic scripting.

You can sign up for the scripting mailing list where you can ask for and share AppleScripts and Visual Basic scripts for use with netOctopus.

http://flatwilson.netopia.com/mailman/listinfo/netoscripting

How can I run an AppleScript on a remote machine, or multiple remote machines?

New to version 3.x is the ability to execute a AppleScript on multiple remote machines. You can therefore have a comprehensive and central set of AppleScripts, without the need to deploy them across your network. (If the script in question requires a scripting addition or OSAX, that file will need to be on the remote machine at the time you "execute AppleScript" to that remote machine).

What is the difference between the netOctopus Agent and the netOctopus Special Agent?

With the regular netOctopus Agent, workstation owners can limit the administrators ability to update, delete, and install files, as well as their ability to send information and search the hard drive. The netOctopus Special Agent does not allow the workstation owner to limit the access rights of the netOctopus administrator.

How many files can be installed simultaneously using a FileScripter script?

The maximum number of files that can be installed simultaneously using File Scripter is 680, though it can a few less in some instances. The limit is determined by the Resource Manager and the structure of AppleInstaller Scripts. If your application contains over 680 files, it scan be split into two File Scripter documents. Consult the following technote for instructions.

NTO_022.html

What happened to FileScripter?

In January 2002, Steve Jobs placed the Classic Mac OS to rest. FileScripter uses the Apple Installer Engine for its functionality. The Apple Installer Engine functions and resides only in the Classic Mac OS, which is why FileScripter is not supported in OS X. Since Apple will no longer continue to support or develop the Classic Mac OS, we are unable to resolve some of the limitations and issues that FileScripter has.

In version 4.2, FileScripter Pro returned with an industry strenth installer from MindVision that would support creating installers for Windwos, Mac OS Classic and Mac OS X. The special Installer VISE version included with the netOctopus Administrator can be upgraded to a full functioning license without having to uninstall and reinstall Installer VISE.

Technical Support Questions - Functionality:

How do I upgrade my netOctopus?

To upgrade your Administrator, uninstall the old version, then install the new version. For instructions on how to upgrade your Agents, go to http://www.netopia.com/support/software/how2docs/netoctopus/agentupdate.html

Will I lose my database when I uninstall my Administrator to upgrade the Administrator?

No, you will not lose your database if you if save your databases from the File menu in the Administrator.

How do I tell the netOctopus console to search TCP/IP subnets other than the 'local subnet'?

Netopia netOctopus administrator includes a Sample IP List that is located in the Additional Utilities folder within the netOctopus Administrator folder.A) Follow the syntax directions in that text file. B) Reference this file in the TCP/IP Preferences.On the Mac Administrator go to Edit Preferences TCP/IP. On the PC Administrator go to Edit Settings TCP/IP. C) Here, you can select the IP list you have just modified. D) Your Zones window should reflect any changes you have made to the "sample IP list" text file.

After performing a zone search with netO, I do not see all of the agents on the network in the workstations window. Why?

netOctopus was designed to handle all different types of networks, both large and small. On networks with larger concentrations of machines per zone and increased traffic across the network, it may be necessary to change a few parameters to better customize netOctopus for your particular network. Adjusting the settings for these parameters can be accomplished under the Edit\Preferences\TCP/IP. On the PC Administrator go to Edit\Settings\TCP/IP.You may want to increase the "Connection" and "Broadcast" values located in this area. Another reason agents may be missing is that the agent machines may not be powered up.

When I search a zone, the workstations window shows two entries for the same machine. The only difference between the two entries is that the second entry has a "1" following the workstation name. What does this mean?

This is probably an indication that you have both the netOctopus Agent and the netOctopus Special Agent. loading in the Control Panels folder. You need to choose which agent you wish to use and remove the other one. Another reason this happens is that one of the machines in the Computers windows is a cached copy, while the second machine is a 'newer' cached copy (perhaps because you reinstalled the agent on that machine). To resolve this, delete both entries and rediscover the agent.

I have moved from 'demo' mode to a 'registered user' mode, and now I cannot find some of my machines. Why?

This will always happen when moving from demo mode to a registered status. The netOctopus agents that you installed cannot be discovered by your new "registered" administrator console, until you 1) delete the preferences on each machine that was in 'demo' mode, and 2) restart that machine. Then perform a new search

I have appointed sub-administrators to certain machines, but when that administrator logs in, (s)he sees all the machines. Also, (s)he can no longer perform any tasks on these machines. Why?

This is actually a feature, and not a problem. When the Super Administrator makes security changes to the netOctopus environment, AND sub-administrators have chosen to cache the netOctopus database, then this problem will arise. To resolve it, simply have the sub-administrator delete all entries in their Computers window, and then rediscover the nodes. The "appointment" will then work as expected

Can I create an OS Image with the netOctopus Agents installed?

When creating OS images with the netOctopus Agent, you must delete the fingerprint of the Agent to prevent the overwriting of one Agent's data with another. Because all imaged computers share the same Agent serial number, and thus the same entry in netOCtopus' database, only data received from the last Agent will be preserved. What you will see on the Administrator is see one line in the Computers window will change computernames while you scan the network.

Before imaging a Windows machine:

  1. Install the netOctopus Agent
  2. Delete the String "SerialUUID" from HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Netopia\netOctopus\Agent

Before imaging a Mac:

  1. Install the netOctopus Agent
  2. For both Mac OS X and Classic, use ResEdit to open the netOctopus Agent Preference file. On OS X, the file is named com.netopia.netOctopus Agent.preferences. The OS X Agent preferences is located in \Library\Preferences. Once you have opened the preference file with ResEdit, delete the resource "UUId" ID 128.

In version 5.1, you can run the following AppleScript after the OS image has been deployed, instead of having to edit the netOctopus Agent preferences with ResEdit or trashing the preferences and restarting the machine.

tell application "netOctopus Agent"
Recreate agent UUID
end tell


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