ReachPlus Alerts - General FAQ's


General Frequently Asked Questions about ReachPlus Alerts. We have tried to address almost all of the general FAQ's but if you can't find the solution you are looking for then please contact us.

1. What are the various possible configurations, with details on each configuration?
  The ReachPlus Alerts Server (Premium/Advanced) performs the job of a management console in addition to being a message sender.
 
ReachPlus Alerts Server (Premium/Advanced)
Possible combinations of ReachPlus Alerts Server (Premium/Advanced) and ReachPlus Alerts Service on a network:
1. One ReachPlus Alerts Server (Premium/Advanced) - One ReachPlus Alerts Service.
2. Multiple ReachPlus Alerts Servers (Premium/Advanced) - One ReachPlus Alerts Service.
3. Multiple ReachPlus Alerts Servers (Premium/Advanced) - Multiple ReachPlus Alerts Service.
4. One ReachPlus Alerts Server (Premium/Advanced) - Multiple ReachPlus Alerts Services.
   
Notes:
1. ReachPlus Alerts (Premium/Advanced) Server does not support multiple simultaneous connections to the same ReachPlus Alerts Service from the same host.
2. ReachPlus Alerts Service supports multiple simultaneous connections from ReachPlus Alerts (Premium/Advanced) Servers.
3. ReachPlus Alerts supports multiple installations of of ReachPlus Alerts Server (Premium/Advanced) and ReachPlus Alerts Server (Premium/Advanced) on the same machine.
 
2. How is ReachPlus Alerts (Premium/Advanced) managed?
  The ReachPlus Alerts Server (Premium/Advanced) has a comprehensive and user-friendly management console. All administrative tasks are performed from ReachPlus Alerts Server (Premium/Advanced).
 
3. How does ReachPlus offer protection against:
3.1 Spoofing
  By encrypting all alert messages using 256-bit symmetric key encryption (blowfish algorithm).
   
3.2 Authentication of the sender:
  ReachPlus Alerts (Premium/Advanced)

Sender Authentication can be one of the following:
1) NT based
2) Internal (custom implementation of user groups etc.)
3) Both 1) and 2)
   
3.3 Authentication of the administrator:
  Same as 3.2
   
3.4 Integrity (can someone intercept an alert and change its content)/sniffing or unauthorized reading of alerts and other information?
 

ReachPlus Alerts (Premium)
No. See 3.1

ReachPlus Alerts (Advanced)
Yes. See 3.1
 
4. How is ReachPlus secure?
  1. It supports multiple layers of sender-authentication (See 4.2 above)
  2. It strongly encrypts all outgoing alert messages.
 
5. How does ReachPlus ensure the "instant-ness" of alerts? What are the special attributes of the architecture that ensure instant (or as close to instant as possible) delivery of the alerts?
  1. ReachPlus Alerts Server (Premium/Advanced) supports dispatch of alert messages using multiple methods namely:
a) ReachPlus Alerts Service
b) Messenger Service
c) A combination of a) and b).
  2. ReachPlus Alerts Server (Premium/Advanced) sends alert messages to multiple ReachPlus Alerts Client (Premium/Advanced) applications concurrently using multithreading thereby aiding "instant-ness".
 
6. What are some of the admin features that ensure a smooth and quick deployment of ReachPlus? (things like auto-discovery of IP addresses, automated client software deployment)
  1. ReachPlus Alerts Client (Premium/Advanced) applications can pick-up configuration information from a .ini file, the path to which can be passed in the command-line using the /iniPath switch.
  2. ReachPlus Alerts Client (Premium/Advanced) application auto-discovers the ReachPlus Alerts Service using multicasting.
  3. ReachPlus Alerts Client (Premium/Advanced) applications support ReachPlus Alerts Server (Premium/Advanced) based remote configuration.
  4. ReachPlus Alerts Client (Premium/Advanced) applications can pick-up configuration information from the tekAlign.com website.
 
7. How does ReachPlus grade on fault-tolerance? What steps have been taken to ensure load-balancing?
  ReachPlus Alerts Server (Premium/Advanced) uses I/O completion ports to serve multiple client requests concurrently. The technique is ideal for high-load servers. As a rule, the greater the load, the more efficient will be the performance of an I/O ports based server.
 
8. Explain where and when RP Premium is recommended and where and when RP Advanced is recommended?
  ReachPlus Alerts (Premium) offers the following features that are not available in ReachPlus Alerts (Advanced)
  1. Quick Alerts are stored at the server and are available to all consoles.
  2. Scheduled alerts are stored at the server and sent by the server.
  3. Windows NT logins can be assigned ReachPlus rights (Internal Security)
  4. History is stored at the server and available to all consoles.
  5. The client supports branding.
  6. The server is able to import Active Directory groups.
  7. Alerts can be sent to Active Directory groups.
  8. Console has a new interface.
  9.
    Individual clients can be redirected to another server.

Here is a more detailed comparison.
 

For more support, email us at support@tekalign.com