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Using LANOff Latest Version: 4.3 Size: 643KB Released 23-September-2009

LANOff works by the the main program interrogating each slave twice a second via two ports using the UDP protocol, sending a small amount of data each time and checking it is returned correctly. This gets around the problem that a crashed computer may have a valid network connection but not be capable of communication. It also gives some protection against network corruption and interference.

LANOff indicates whether the network and specific connections are good by colouring the display; green is a good connection and orange is a bad connection. There is a timeout of up to 3 seconds before a connection is marked as bad. it can take up to 2 seconds before a connection is marked as good. The main program display also shows the first letter of the shut down type for each connected slave (B - Standby, H - Hibernate, M - Monitor, P - Power Off, R - Reboot, S - Shutdown). When the program indicates Network OK this only means there is a connection to the first network termination (usually a switch or router). Both the main and slave programs consume very little system resources but they do run with high priority. Shutdown, Power Off and Reboot have been configured to force all running applications to close.

For information about logging see Log Files. See Configuration for details of the parameters that can be set plus their limits and restrictions for the main and slave programs. If no name is entered for a slave the IP address or domain name will be displayed. Only one instance of the main or slave programs can be run on any machine at a time. Clicking the Reset button on the the main program will completely reset the program and all connected slaves. Clicking reset on a slave will reset the slave only.

Click on the Test button to enable Test Mode which sets both the activation delay to 2 seconds and the monitoring period to 5 seconds and puts up a pop up rather than powering off the computer. Clicking Test on the main program will put all slaves into test mode. Clicking the Test button while in Test Mode will restart Test Mode. Click the Reset button to exit Test Mode or Reset the program in Operational Mode (this will also reset the slave program if used).

When set to run minimised (the default for LANOff Slave) LANOff runs in the System Tray (the program can be reactivated by double clicking on the tray icon). Once shutdown is initiated LANOff always switches to visible 'run on top' and the About, Exit, Test and Configuration buttons are disabled. Shutdown can be cancelled by clicking the Cancel button which will put the program back in the System Tray if LANOff is set to run minimised.

Program operation is inhibited while either the About or Configuration screens are open, communications do continue between the slaves and the main program. The About screen will automatically time out after 30 seconds if left open. The configuration screen will timeout after 600 seconds if left open, there is a warning message 90 seconds before this happens. The program is reset when the configuration screen is closed if any changes have been made, if no changes are made the program will resume from where it was stopped when the configuration screen is closed. The configuration can only be changed by users with administrative privileges. If LANOff is changed to run minimised closing the Configuration screen will put the program back in the System Tray.

Use As A Network Monitor Only
Set 'Shutdown Type' to 'Monitor' for every computer including the main one. Set the other parameters as required.

Use To Shutdown A Server When The Connected Computer(s) Shutdown
Set 'Shutdown Type' to 'Monitor' for all remote computers. Set the main computer to the 'Shut Down Type' desired. Set the other parameters as required.

Use To Shutdown Computer(s) Connected To A Server
Set 'Shutdown Type' to the shut down type desired for all remote computers. Set the main computer 'Shutdown Type' to 'Monitor'. Set the other parameters as required.