Ravica SecurityProbe Picture Log
Filed under: Intelligent Sensors, motion detector, Security Monitoring, SensorProbes
Today, I started working with a software company who wanted to keep track of their employees that work very early or very late hours. In
general, it wasn’t a bad thing. They just wanted to make sure that the people coming into the building to work, were the people that should be. This company had already purchased monitoring and security equipment from us in the past.
This company just added a new international sales department. The work hours for the new employee were going to be 4:00am to 1:00pm. They wanted to know if they could utilize the picture log to record when people go in and out of the front door. They also wanted to limit the time frame for these pictures.
I did a bit of research and found out the answer was yes! You can set a time frame on the camera motion sensor and you can have the picture emailed or stored on the FTP server. Now, they would get an alert and a picture when someone came through the door.
At this point, they could figure out who came through the door. They then wanted to know if too many people were going through the door during the early morning hours. To do this, we used a Syslog/Eventlog application that allows you to set a threshold. Each time an image was taken with the camera, an alert would be sent to the Syslog/Eventlog manager. If a threshold was met, let say five, then an email would be sent to the security office.
The customer was excited and wanted to implement this in the coming weeks. I can’t wait to see how it comes out.
-Jimmy D
Remote weather stations use Ravica SensorProbes
Filed under: environmental monitoring, humidity monitoring, temperature monitoring
I love finding new ways people are using our probes! I just finished a call with a university up here in the north land, who wanted to use our probes in their remote data station. The remote data station is part of a funded study to determine the changing weather conditions in the area.
The problem is that the grant they received would fund the weather monitoring equipment, but not the equipment that would run the unmanned station. The good news is that their technology budget would cover the BitSight8 and the required sensors.
They needed to be able to monitor temperature, humidity, airflow and security. The customer explained to me that since this was an unmanned station, knowing if anyone has opened the server room door was extremely important.
We spent some time talking about the various environmental conditions and how they can affect the servers. He was surprised how the environmental conditions would effect the station’s performance.
The environmental conditions of the area can change throughout the year. The winters can drop below zero, while the temperature during the summer months is in the 90′s with high humidity. Monitoring for humidity is vital; condensation on a circuit board can kill a machine. Having a monitor in place is absolutely vital.
We then went over the alerting and reporting ability of the probe and how this unmanned station’s IT center would be fully monitored. I also spent some time explaining the SecurityProbe and how it would alert them when someone opened the door. I am looking forward to the install date. I hope that it is in the summer. I hate snow!
- JimmyD
How to reduce false positives and frequent temperature alerts
Filed under: Data Center, environmental monitoring, SensorProbes, temperature monitoring
Previously, I wrote about managing the sensitivity of your motion detector to prevent or reduce false positives from normal environmental motion, while maintaining the security that the motion detector sensor provides. I thought I would elaborate on the subject by providing some tips on how to limit frequent alerts and false positives for any environmental monitoring sensor, like temperature.
As I mentioned before, the “continuous time to report,” or “rearm” as it is called on the SecurityProbe, are an excellent way to say, “Don’t alert me as soon as a sensor goes into a ‘warning’ or ‘critical’ status. However, if it has been in a ‘warning’ state for 30 seconds, let me know.”
Another way to limit how often – or how easily – your BitSight2 or SecurityProbe sends you Skype alerts or emails is to adjust the “reading offset” field, which can be found under each sensor’s advanced settings. The “reading offset” forces the sensor’s reading to move over or under a certainly value before generating an alarm. So basically, if your temperature upper “warning” threshold is set to 80 degrees and your “reading offset” is set to 2, and the current temperature is 79 degrees, then your SensorProbe will not alarm until the temperature drops another degree.
This prohibits the sensor from being right on the verge of a threshold and consistently bouncing between two statuses. You don’t want 20 emails in your inbox because the temperature in your data center is exactly on your threshold and wobbling back forth between “normal” and “warning.”
Another way of limiting alerts during off hours, maintenance windows or times when you are not really concerned with the readings breaching a threshold is to use the calendar feature. Please note that the calendar feature is available only on the SecurityProbe line of SensorProbes.
Block off times that you do not wish to receive alerts and the SecurityProbe will ignore the breached thresholds during those time frames. Perhaps you don’t want to receive alerts during the day, because people are always present and aware of the environmental conditions in the locations you are monitoring. However, maybe you want the temperature of your walk-in cooler monitored at night, when no one is in the building.
Whatever the reason, these are two great tips for better managing your alarms. This ensures that your alarms are more meaningful and so when you or you staff see an alert from your BitSight2 or SecurityProbe, you know it is time to act.
~ Jon Mills
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Remote UNIX server shutdown with SecurityProbe
Today, I thought I would take the time to highlight one of the features that makes the SecurityProbe environmental and security monitoring system so special. Where the BitSight line of probes are great entry level systems, the SecurityProbe line has many additional features that really set it apart; as well as support for the thermocouple sensor and the power monitor.
So what feature am I detailing then? Let’s talk about the server shutdown feature. Basically, the SecurityProbe can be configured to automatically shutdown a server when an event occurs. An example might be that you want to shutdown a cluster of servers based on the status of an AC voltage sensor. When you get an alert that the power went out and you are running on battery backup, this could keep your non-essential equipment from sucking up all the remaining juice.
Wondering how you configure this on your SecurityProbe? You are in luck! Just follow the instructions below.
Setup of UNIX shutdown action and notification
1. Create new Action
- Select the “Notifications” page, then “Add Action” from the left panel.
- You can rename the action in the “Action Name” box.
2. Select “Shutdown” from the “Action” drop down menu.
3. Select “UNIX (SSH)” from the “OS Platform” drop down menu.
4. Input your servers IP address into the “Remote Server IP” box.
5. Input your log in username into the “Remote Server Login Name” box.
6. Click on “Add Server”. Add additional IP’s if needed. Click “Next”.
7. Click “Reset Public Key” (If you already have a Public Key, skip this step and proceed to step number 11 below).
8. After clicking “Reset Public Key” a new Window will then pop up, press “Generate”.
9. The unit will now generate a new public key. It will normally take approximately 1 to 3 minutes for the system to generate the new public key, so please be patient.
10. After the public key has been generated, press “Use This Public Key”.
11. Open a Telnet or SSH session to the unit.
cd ~/.ssh
ls
rm known_hosts
12. Make sure to delete the know_hosts file to ensure generating a new list of hosts when using this command shown above.
ssh @
When
is User name in server
is IP address of server
13. Then connect to the server by using this command shown above.
cd ~/.ssh
cat > authorized_keys
#copy public key from web interface and press (for putty can press by right click)
#press Enter button and press Ctrl + c for exit cat command
14. After connecting to the server, create an authorized_keys file by using this command shown above
15. Then disconnect from the server and connect to the unit.
ssh –I /flash1/user/shutdown_notify/dsskey.db @
When
is User name in server
is IP address of server
16. Now test the public key by using this command shown above.
17. Return to the units web interface and click “Next”.
18. You can now set the other settings in the Shutdown action and click “Next”.
19. You can also enable a shutdown message to be sent by first choosing “Enabled”, then entering your message in the “Shutdown Message” box, then clicking “Finish”.
That’s all there is to it. Stay tuned for more SecurityProbe exclusive feature spotlights.
~ Jon Mills
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Measure extreme temperatures with a thermocouple sensor
Filed under: environmental monitoring, SensorProbes, temperature monitoring
The Ravica temperature sensors can certainly save you a lot of headaches when it comes to maintaining a certain temperature range in your data center, storage facility or even health care facility. However, what if you have an application that requires you to measure the temperature outside of the capabilities of our standard temperature sensor? For instance, maybe you are monitoring the temperature in a very low temperature freezer; or perhaps you are in charge of making sure a boiler room doesn’t get too hot.
The standard temperature sensors are designed for accurate temperature readings from -55° Celsius to +75° Celsius or -67° Fahrenheit to +167° Fahrenheit. So our boiler room scenario might be a problem if the sensor needs to be at, in or near the boiler itself. This is where the thermocouple sensor comes in handy.
The thermocouple sensor is capable of accurately reading temperatures in dangerous or harsh environments or in heavy industries, such as petrochemical and metal processing. Temperature ranges on the thermocouple sensors are -270° Celsius (-454° Fahrenheit) to 1372° Celsius (2501° Fahrenheit). Ravica uses a type K thermocouple, which is very commonly used in these industries.
The thermocouple sensor is compatible with the SecurityProbe line of sensor probes. So anyone planning to add a thermocouple to their setup will want to plan accordingly. The BitSight line is an excellent entry level series of products, but is not compatible with some of the more advanced sensors, like the thermocouple and the power monitor.
So don’t get discouraged if your current temperature monitoring solution can’t take the heat. A SecurityProbe and a thermocouple sensor can get the job done.
~ Jon Mills
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SNMP support for the SecurityProbe allows secure data center monitoring
Filed under: Data Center, environmental monitoring, Intelligent Sensors, power monitoring, Security Monitoring, smoke detector, temperature monitoring, water leak monitoring
In 2004, the IETF officially recognized SNMP v3, as defined by RFC 3411–RFC 3418, as the current standard version of the Simple Network Management Protocol. SNMP v2, although being a highly competent and widely used protocol, was severly lacking in the areas of security and remote configuration. Thus, SNMP v3 was born.
SNMP v3 added some much needed security features, like ensuring message integrity, verifying that the message came from a valid source with authentication, and packet encryption to ensure that messages aren’t being disseminated by unauthorized sources.
Because of its enhanced security features, SNMP v3 quickly found itself a requirement for many government and secure corporate projects. Since 2004, SNMP v3 has found itself a home in most networks with any sort of security requirements.
That is why the Ravica SecurityProbe line of SensorProbes supports SNMP v3. From within the Settings tab, simply select SNMP under the Connectivity header to the left. You will see the screen below.
From here you can select the type of security features required:
- No Authentication
- Authentication Only
- Authentication & Encryption
Enter your desired password, choose your authentication protocol and access privilege, then it’s off to the races. Now all of your SNMP information will be sent/polled from the SecurityProbe in version 3.
This is a highly popular feature amoung SecurityProbe users. Hopefully, if you didn’t already know it was there, you will find it valuable to impliment in your network. It is now as easy as ever to keep your physical data room details secure.
~ Jon Mills
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Dry contact monitoring with Ravica SecurityProbe-x20/60
Filed under: Data Center, Intelligent Sensors, power monitoring, Security Monitoring, SensorProbes
So what exactly is a dry contact and who uses them? A dry contact refers to a contact that is not connected to a voltage source. It could be stand-alone or part of the electrical unit, but in no way does it have a pre-wired connection to the power source.
How are dry contact closures useful? Well, an example would be an electromagnetic relay that starts a motor. When the motor starts, the dry contact changes states, as the mechanical action of the starter moves it. Dry contact switches can be set off by any number of things. For instance, dry contact solutions are often used with burglar alarms, smoke alarms, UPS, AC units and many more.
So how does Ravica tie into this? The SecurityProbe-x20 and SecurityProbe-x60 are how. If you hadn’t guessed, the “x” stands for the number of dry contact connections that are built into the units. The securityProbe-X20/60 comes with 8 full auto-sense RJ-45 ports, for connecting any of our intelligent sensors. An additional 20 two-wire dry contact ports are provided, giving a total of up to 28 dry contact ports. The specially designed two-wire dry contact ports are easy to use, and allow you to make your own dry contact cables quickly and easily.
The SecurityProbe systems support both normally open (NO) and normally closed (NC) contacts. This is a setting specified within the web interface.
If you have an existing security system or HVAC system, chances are it will integrate with the SecurityProbe-x20/60. When the attached switch changes states, the SecurityProbe instantly knows and can be configured to perform any number of given actions; from sending an email alert or an SMS message, to delivering an automatic shutdown command to your servers before they drain the attached UPS.
If you are a user of the BitSight line of sensor probes and are not ready to upgrade to the x20 or x60 line, but have a need for monitoring dry contact ports, then a single dry contact sensor may be exactly what you need. The individual dry contact sensors, because they attach to the the intelligent sensor ports, are able to operate in both input and output mode.
Dry contact sensors are sometimes referred to as “dumb sensors,” simply because with dry contacts everything is a “yes” or a “no.” But the openness and simplicity of the dry contact system make them anything but dumb to use.
~ Jon Mills
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The SensorProbe can Tweet!
Filed under: environmental monitoring, humidity monitoring, temperature monitoring
I don’t want to ride on the coat tails of Jon’s post about being able to send temperature alerts via Skype, but I guess I have no choice. I quickly wanted to point out that you can also send Twitter alerts form your SensorProbe. I imagined this as a second wave alert. Kinda that last ditch effort before the ship goes down. Ok, maybe I am being a bit over dramatic but in reality, this can be a great way to do a broadcast alert.
The process is easy. Browse to TwitterMail, insert your twitter username and password to get your TwitterMail address instantly. Then go to your SensorProbe and create an email alert. Alert goes off, email is sent and Twitter is fed. Make sure that everyone that is supposed to recive these messages are followers of your Twitter account.
Server room temperature alerts via Skype
Filed under: Data Center, environmental monitoring, humidity monitoring, Security Monitoring, temperature monitoring
You probably already know that the SecurityProbe environmental and security monitoring system can send various types of alerts, including email, SMS, MMS, SNMP Traps and text-to-speech alerts. Heck, it can even send you a fax with the appropriate additional GSM/GPRS modem attached. But did you know that since last year the SecurityProbe (sorry BitSight users, this is a SecurityProbe only feature) has had the ability to send out notifications via a Skype account? Yup. That means Skype SMS messages or Skype phone calls.
You’ll need a dedicated Skype account for you SecurityProbe and a PC running Windows Notification, but this is a hugely helpful feature for those with SecurityProbes in off-site locations.
So no longer are users depending on email notifications alone to let them know when servers start overheating and shutting down over the weekend, because an air conditioner failure. The real beauty of the SecurityProbe’s Notification Wizard is that you can always take your chances with e-mail up to a point, but say two hours go by and no one on the email list has acknowledged the alert. At that point you can set the notifications to escalate and start calling using the Skype feature.
This is just another one of the many ways the SecurityProbe can help with event notification. Did the power go out? Is the humidity way too high? Is air not flowing to a part of the server room with known hot spots? Don’t wait until users start complaining of application unavailability before you start investigating the problem. Let Ravica temperature and environmental monitoring solutions tip you off as soon as issues crop up.
~ Jon Mills
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3 Tips for Data Center Security
We put a high focus on protecting the data center from environmental disasters, like extreme temperature and humidity, as well as water leaks and poor air circulation. However, there are other considerations to be made in keeping the data center safe, like physical security conditions. Is all of the sensitive equipment being protected from unauthorized personnel?
Of course the first order of business is to set standards and procedures that make those in charge of data center security aware of exactly what is acceptable clearance and what is not. However, as is true for almost any kind gateway, mote, or minefield, people will find their way around. So there must be systems in place that keep us alerted to situations that are potentially hazardous.
The Ravica SecurityProbe can increase the level of data center security by providing insight in the following three areas.
Keep an eye on your data center
As the saying goes, “Seeing is believing.” We need to be able to see with our own eyes that everything is truly alright before we can really breath easy. Nothing beats being there, but if you can’t be there, then a video camera presence is the next best thing. With the pan-tilt dome camera, your SecurityProbe can watch up to four separate locations. It can even be programmed to move to a specific location when an event is triggered from any type of sensor. It will also take a series of snapshots and include them with email alerts when triggered by any sensor.
Batten down the hatches
It seems obvious, but the most important places to monitor in secure areas is the entrances and exits. That means, tighten up the doors and windows. Ravica security sensors are contact sensors that are perfect for letting you know when a door or window has been opened. The idea is relatively simple. There are two contact plates. When they are separated, like when the door edge moves away from the frame as it is opened, the sensor switches to an alarm status.
What’s in motion?
A great fail safe, in addition to watching the doors and windows with sensors and cameras, is monitoring for motion. Motion sensors can also sense for unauthorized access, or can simply be the trigger for telling a camera to pay attention to a certain zone. Make sure that the right amount of movement sets off the sensor in a sensitive area and it can mean the difference between knowing during or after a security breach has occurred.
Whether you are guarding Fort Knox or your small corporate data center, putting a SecurityProbe and the appropriate sensors in place can go a long way towards keeping unauthorized personnel away from your sensitive equipment and information.
~ Jon Mills
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