Beta Testers Wanted

[ICTNUT]

Hi All,

I have developed a client server messaging application to allow one way communication from around the network.

The idea was born out of having to ensure that users had got the message about a server going down or requirement to get out of an application due to upgrade requirements etc...

My site is fairly large and to run around is not an option and after looking into alternatives (and the cost of them too) I decided to right one instead.

The application is wriiten in VB and is lightweight. It is made up of 2 part the client and the server (see screen shots below).

Once testing is out of the way and the project is stable I will be looking to donate this project as an open source one and hopefully make it into a fully featured application.

Current Features are:

Ability to preview message before send
Send messages based on group
send message to more than one group at a time
unlimited groups
unlimted pc's in a group
PC's can be either IP or NAME
Client starts when PC's starts and requires zero user interaction (other than confirmationof messages)

Would be nice if:

Groups could be collected from AD (LDAP)
Client settings can be pushed out to clients <- in progress already
Some sort of reporting front end

Screen Shots:

Server:







Client:



If you would like to be a tester please PM me and i'll sort it out. We will need a mix of large and small setups with both AD, Workgroup, and Novell to ensure it works they way it should.

Let see how it goes.........

[Gatt]

I'd be interested in beat testing this for you - sounds a good system.
Running Vanilla Win2k3/XP on an AD network of approx 200 PCs

[webman]

Looks good ICTNUT. I think it'd be good to have a few second timeout on the Close button for those who usually can't be bothered to read anything and auto-click any button without reading its message. Also, is the message dialog modal so it's ontop of other windows?

[ICTNUT]

@Webman:

The client faced message is forced on top of all other windows and the [x] on the top right is disabled to force the user to click on the close button.

I agree on the delay'd close though, i'll have a look at putting it in. <-- this is now in the current build
There is a log system for tracking also and is as follows:

On the server there is a log file generated to show if:
a) the client in the list was on or off line
b) if the client was online that the message was delivered
c) when the user clicks on the close button on the client end an acknowledged message is sent back to the server

On the clicent end there is a log file that logs the incoming message, date, time, and who sent it, and also who acknowledged the message i.e. pressed the close button.

Phew.....

I am going to create a build of both the client and the server for Tuesday, I will also have the online bug log setup too for reporting and such.

I will email all those intrested around then with the download details.

[GrumbleDook]

Definitely interested here too. We are just about to push out Smart's SynchronEyes onto classroom machines, but this would be good for admin workstations.

[ICTNUT]

@GrumbleDook
I have aimed it directly at non curriculum pc's but that is not to say that you could not use it on any PC.

[tosca925]

I'd be interested in this too. we have 2003/xp netwoek with 740 clients.