12 min
We have exciting new features, custom scripts, and improvements available on Domotz. This month’s exciting new updates include the launch of GlassWire For Business and the Domotz Channel Partner Program, a new discovery mechanism for Azure, the replacement of “Sensors” with “Metrics”, the Serial Number discovery (with Synchro and IT Glue) and more.
In summary, here’s what’s new and improved on Domotz this month.
New features
New Custom Scripts
Improvements
Fix
We are always improving Domotz and welcome your feedback. Please get in touch with our support team at support@domotz.com for help or suggestions.
New features
GlassWire For Business (GW4B)
We are thrilled to announce the acquisition of GlassWire, a renowned endpoint security and traffic monitoring software provider. This strategic move marks a significant milestone in our ongoing mission to deliver seamless network visibility and IT infrastructure monitoring and management through a centralized, user-friendly platform.
As a direct outcome of this acquisition, we introduce “GlassWire for Business” (GW4B), a cutting-edge product designed to empower organizations with advanced network security and traffic monitoring tools. GW4B combines GlassWire’s software inventory capabilities, network anomaly detection, and traffic monitoring features with Domotz’s expertise in advanced network management, creating a robust and comprehensive solution suitable for businesses of all sizes.
Key Highlights of GlassWire for Business:
- Advanced Network Security: GW4B provides a powerful toolkit for enhancing network security, allowing organizations to proactively detect and respond to network threats and anomalies.
- Software Inventory: Gain deep insights into software usage on Windows endpoints, enabling you to manage software licenses, updates, and security more effectively.
- Traffic Monitoring: Monitor network traffic in real-time to identify bandwidth hogs, assess data usage patterns, and optimize network performance.
- Centralized Deployment: Easily deploy GW4B on Windows endpoints across multiple organizations and sites, ensuring a seamless and unified experience.
Please note that currently, the data available within the GW4B application is localized to the application itself and is not accessible through the Domotz Portal, App, or WebApp. However, our Engineering team is working hard to bring this data to the cloud, enabling Service Providers to access aggregated data, review all endpoints on a single dashboard, and apply firewall rules to remote endpoints from a centralized point. This is something that will be added in a few months.
Domotz remains committed to providing innovative solutions for network monitoring and management, and this acquisition is a significant step in that direction.
Domotz Channel Partner Program (DCPP)
This month we are glad also to announce the launch of our new “Domotz Channel Partner Program” (DCPP), specifically designed for Managed Service Providers (MSPs), Technology Service Providers (TSPs), and Value Added Resellers (VARs). This program offers a range of benefits and opportunities for partners in the technology and service sectors.
As a member of the Domotz Channel Partner Program, you have access to exclusive advantages, including:
- Discounted Access to Volume Pricing: Unlock cost-effective access to Domotz products and services, enabling you to provide exceptional value to your clients while optimizing margins.
- Branding and Marketing Opportunities: Leverage Domotz branding and marketing resources to enhance your brand and grow your customer base.
- Premium Support: Benefit from priority support to ensure a seamless experience when deploying and managing Domotz solutions.
Currently, the discounted access applies to the GlassWire For Business (GW4P) application. However, we have plans to extend the Domotz Channel Partner Program to cover all Domotz products by the end of this year, providing you with even more flexibility in deploying our suite of monitoring products.
For this reason, we invite you to apply to the DCPP today to take full advantage of the benefits and upcoming product offerings.
Read more about our Domotz Channel Partner Program and how to apply. If you have any questions or require assistance with the program, our team is here to help.
New Discovery Mechanism for Microsoft Azure Networks
Microsoft Azure Virtual Private Clouds have unique network configurations, which can pose challenges for traditional network discovery mechanisms. The default configuration of the Domotz Collector (Agent) may not effectively discover all the endpoints, such as Virtual Machines, configured within these networks.
Azure networks are typically Layer-3 only networks. When scanned with conventional tools, all endpoints often appear with the same MAC Address as the network gateway, making it difficult for the Collector, configured with default settings, to scan, identify, and monitor these endpoints.
With this new setting we enable the Domotz Collector to be used effectively within Azure networks addressing the issue. This setting allows for discovery on a Layer-3 protocol.
If you have Domotz Collectors within Azure networks and would like to configure them with this new setting to enhance network visibility and monitoring capabilities, please send a request to our support team at support@domotz.com.
This new feature is designed to enhance network monitoring within Microsoft Azure environments, ensuring accurate and comprehensive discovery of endpoints.
Protectli Hardware available with Domotz Pre-Loaded
We have a new partnership with Protectli. This will provide an easy-to-install, Intel-based hardware solution for Domotz users requiring enhanced performance and simple management. This solution comes pre-installed with an Ubuntu operating system and the associated Domotz Collector. It offers the flexibility to add more software services as needed.
The Protectli box is a compact, generic PC designed for versatility. Its standard configuration features both WAN and LAN ports, allowing you to choose the network interface for Domotz. Domotz can scan either port for devices or cloud connectivity. Additionally, the system can be configured to use one port for LAN traffic and a second port for connecting to an Internet Service Provider (ISP). This is especially useful for creating air-gapped solutions within a network.
Note:
As compared to the Domotz Box (Model B-12):
- The Protectli solution offers higher throughput for Internet Speed Testing
- The Protectli solution offers better performance for advanced networks that require SNMPv3 monitoring
- The Protectli solution offers the ability to monitor more VLANs and subnets
- The Protectli solution offers users the ability to run 3rd Party software along with the Domotz Agent.
- The Protectli solution performs better on wider networks (e.g. networks with /16 subnets – also called Big Network scans in Domotz)
- For added security and transparency, the Protectli solution uses coreboot as focused on the boot and BIOS process. For more information, please visit this article.
As a matter of fact, the above mentioned features require higher hardware resources which are somehow limited on the Domotz Box (based on an ARM chipset – as opposed to the Protectli one based on an Intel one). For this reason, if you need a more powerful (but still dedicated) hardware for scanning and monitoring your network, we recommend using the Protectli one.
You can easily access to the Protectli store directly from the Domotz Portal. There, you can explore and purchase this hardware solution.
This new feature enhances the available hardware options, allowing you to select the right solution for your network monitoring needs. For more information, please visit the dedicated Domotz-Protectli integration page.
New Custom Scripts
You can use the custom scripts to monitor and manage network-connected devices, cloud services, and web applications. By using standard network protocols, these scripts will allow you to retrieve valuable data and execute actions on the monitored devices and services.
This month, we released the following:
Crestron TSW – Connection and Calendar Synchronization Status
You can apply our custom script to your Creston TSW touchscreen to extract connection and calendar synchronization status. The script has been validated and tested on the Crestron TSW-760.
You may find this script inside the Domotz Integration Scripts Library.
Lenovo XClarity
You can apply our new integration scripts to monitor Lenovo servers with XClarity controllers.
You will be able to monitor the following:
The scripts have been validated and tested on XClarity 8.42. You may find these scripts inside the Domotz Integration Scripts Library.
General/Health
This script will help you to monitor your servers general health. When applied, it creates a variable section with the following:
- Cooling Devices: cooling devices status
- Local Storage: local storage status
- Memory: memory status
- Power Modules: Power Supply Units status
- Processors: processors’ status
- System: general system status
- Restarts: the number of system restarts or reboots
- State: the state of the OS
Power Supply Health
This script can monitor your servers the Power Supply Unit(s) (PSU). When applied, it creates a a table section with the following columns:
- PSU id
- Status
- Rated Power (W)
Storage Health
The script can monitor your servers storage health. When applied, it creates a variable section with the following:
Temperatures
This script can monitor the internal hw components temperatures and their reset thresholds. When applied, it creates a a table section with the following columns:
- Component
- Temperature in F
- Temperature in C
- Warning Reset
- Warning
- Soft Shutdown
- Hard Shutdown
Cooling System Health
This script can monitor your servers fans heath and properties. When applied, it creates a a table section with the following columns:
- Fan IT
- Speed Value
- Speed Percentage
- Status
Memory Health
This script can monitor your servers memory and its properties. When applied, it creates a a table section with the following columns:
- Memory bank ID
- Status
- Type
- Capacity
Processors Health
This script can monitor your servers CPU(s). When applied, it creates a a table section with the following columns:
- CPU ID
- Status
- Clock Speed
Linux Updates (apt-based)
Monitor Linux Updates Count and List on an apt-based distributions with our custom scripts:
- Linux Updates Count – this script, upon entering a list of packages to track, it retrieves the count of the updates currently available:
- Linux Updates List – this script, upon entering a list of packages to track, it retrieves a list of the updates currently available:
Find these scripts in our library You can use them as they are, or you might customize them according to your requirements.
IBM iSeries AS400 Power Actions
This script will allow you to remotely shutdown or reboot an IBM iSeries AS400 server directly from Domotz:
Please note that this script has been tested and works only on the Italian version of OS400. If you are using OS400 in another language, please email support@domotz.com requesting a script for your language.
Proxmox
Monitor you Proxmox host with the following Domotz Integration Scripts.
Proxmox General
This script can monitor your Proxmox performance by creating a variable section with the following:
- Average seek time
- Buffered Reads
- CPU BogoMips
- DNS extension
- FSYNC/s
- HD size
- Regex/s
- Version
Proxmox VM List
This script will provide a list of the virtual machines currently configured in your Proxmox host, along with their status and properties. When applied, it creates a table with the following columns:
- VMID
- Name
- Status
- Memory
- Boot Disk Size (Boot disk usage in Gb)
- Processors (Number of Cpus)
- PID (Process ID)
- Net0 MAC (MAC address of the network interface)
- Net0 bridge (Network bridge configuration)
- OS type
- Error(s) (Errors during data retrieval on that specific VM)
Improvements
Domotz Metrics Replace Sensors
We are excited to introduce this significant change, the renaming from “Domotz Sensors” to “Domotz Metrics.” This update represents more than just a name change. It is part of a broader effort to provide a more comprehensive and streamlined approach to measuring and monitoring your digital assets.
What’s New with Domotz Metrics
- Information-Based Metrics: The shift from “Sensors” to “Metrics” is part of a new approach that focuses on the type of information or data vectors you monitor from your devices. This update allows you to significantly reduce the number of metrics needed to monitor your assets efficiently.
- Consolidated Monitoring: We’ve brought all the properties of a digital asset into one, so you can monitor through Domotz. This includes monitoring via SNMP templates, checking TCP ports, applying one of the publicly available Custom Scripts, or writing your own Custom Scripts and integrations.
- No Frequency Limitations: We’ve removed any restrictions on how frequently you can poll for information. This means you can access real-time data whenever needed, ensuring you’re always in the know.
This transition to “Metrics” is designed to give you more flexibility and precision in your monitoring activities. It significantly enhances your user experience by improving the usability of pre-configured SNMP templates for the most commonly monitored devices.
Why Was This Change Necessary?
The previous model had usability limitations, as “sensors” were associated with each data point collected and depended on the frequency of data collected. This led to increased costs and limited adoption.
Benefits of the New Model
- Pre-configured SNMP Metrics are associated with the type of information you collect, not the number of data points.
- Metrics are independent of the polling frequency, allowing you to increase frequency without increasing costs.
- Our web app provides greater clarity and detail, offering better control over the number of metrics you use.
- More flexibility and control over the data you need from your network-based devices.
The following table contains some examples to give you a better idea of the benefits introduced:
This update empowers you to make the most of your monitoring activities, reducing costs and providing more clarity and flexibility in your operations. If you have questions or concerns about this change, please get in touch with us at support@domotz.com. For more details, you can read our guide “Explaining Domotz Metrics“.
Serial Number Advanced Management
Going on, we’ve significantly improved how serial numbers are managed within Domotz.
- Integration with IT Glue and Syncro: Building upon last month’s release, we’ve expanded the support for serial number synchronization to include IT Glue and Syncro. This ensures that your asset records are consistent across Domotz, IT Glue, and Syncro, streamlining your documentation processes.
- Manual Serial Number Override: We’ve introduced the ability for users to manually override and customize the serial number field directly within the Domotz App/WebApp. This gives you greater flexibility and control over your asset records, allowing you to match them precisely to your needs.
- Public API Access: The serial number field is now accessible and editable through the Public API. This means you can automate and integrate serial number management tasks, making maintaining accurate asset records at scale easier. Detailed information can be found in our API documentation.
- Enhanced Integration Suggestions: Serial numbers are now utilized in our integrations with systems like ConnectWise Manage, Syncro, and IT Glue to suggest mappings between Domotz Devices and assets in external platforms. This ensures a seamless and efficient integration experience.
With these improvements, we aim to provide you with robust tools for efficient asset management, documentation, and integration.
This enhancement will simplify the management of Routed Layer-3 Networks, also known as private subnets. With this improvement, you can now conveniently review and manage the configuration of your private subnets directly from the Inventory dashboard.
This new functionality allows for seamless access to critical information about your private subnets, simplifying network management tasks. Whether you need to add a new configuration, monitor, or troubleshoot Routed Layer-3 Networks, you can now easily access and manage them, all within the Inventory dashboard.
This enhancement reflects our ongoing commitment to provide you with comprehensive tools and features for effective network management.
Action Labels in the Custom Scripts Editor
Custom Scripts will now be on more easier to create within Domotz. When working in the Custom Scripts editor, you can use the “Label” feature to quickly jump to a specific function.
This enhancement streamlines your workflow when editing Custom Scripts, making locating and navigating to specific actions easier. Adding labels offers improved organization and clarity, helping you create and maintain Custom Scripts more efficiently.
New Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions
Our updated Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions, version 3.0.0-20230920, are out. These updates align with our commitment to safeguarding your privacy and ensuring that your experience with Domotz and our new product, GlassWire For Business, is both secure and transparent.
These revised documents reflect our continuous efforts to protect your data, provide clear terms of service, and address how your information is used in compliance with current legal standards.
As a valued member of our community, it is important for you to review and understand these updated documents. Your privacy and trust are paramount to us, and we encourage you to read our revised Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions in their entirety to stay informed about how we manage your data.
Your feedback and trust are essential as we continue to improve our services, and we appreciate your ongoing support. If you have any questions or concerns regarding these updated documents, please do not hesitate to contact us for further clarification.
Alerts for IP Conflict Detected
For new users who registered after the beginning of October 2023, Domotz has introduced a new Alert Profile that triggers when an IP Conflict is detected on one of the networks monitored through the Domotz Collector.
This valuable feature enhances network troubleshooting by alerting users to potential IP conflicts, which can lead to network disruptions and security vulnerabilities. With this alert, users can proactively address IP conflicts, ensuring network stability and data integrity.
This capability will be extended to all our users in the coming updates, providing comprehensive coverage for monitoring and managing IP conflicts. Please note that, at this time, the default custom filters for All Sites (available under the Inventory Dashboard) must be removed to eliminate this alert profile.
We’ve fixed the following issues:
- The OS Monitoring feature for Windows PC/Server disc scans was causing an uncaught exception.
- There were Inventory Queries performed twice when applying custom filters.
- When an Agent that was part of a Custom Filter was removed, it caused the Inventory Dashboard for sites to return an error.
- Meraki Integration: there was an issue while parsing the data retrieved from the Meraki cloud.
- Juniper integration: The JunOS driver did not allow generic port mapping to work as expected.
- There was an issue preventing the configuration of the Cisco CBS-350 for the Configuration Management functionality.
- Surgex SQUID Support fix for an issue in the firmware reference.
- ZIP Code was wrongly reported (with a hash code) in the monthly PDF reports.
- M-LAB-based Speed Test failed on the Domotz Collectors configured on the Domotz Box.
- Monitoring Dashboards and Tables were not sorting devices correctly via IP addresses.
Known limitations
- No data from the GlassWire For Business (GW4B) Application is available centrally on the Domotz Platform. However, in the next few months, we will add more and more stats about the remote endpoint into the Domotz App/WebApp.
- Alerts for IP Conflict cannot be removed without removing the default custom filter for all the Agents.
- There is no central repository for all the alerts configured on SNMP PreConfigured, OS Monitoring, and Custom Integration script sensors.
- It is impossible to downgrade the GlassWire For Business endpoint amount purchased without contacting Domotz Support.
- Monitoring Dashboards are currently limited to Monitoring Tables as Widgets.
- Luxul Router-based Agents do not support VPN on demand. To elaborate, we’ll add this capability as soon as Luxul’s team provides us with the required API.
- You can’t configure the static IP address on the Domotz Box before configuring the Agent.
- Lastly, you can’t leverage DHCP on additional VLANs on the Domotz Box.
These release notes cover the changes, including Domotz Pro Cloud, Domotz Agent, and Domotz Pro App. Learn more about our software on our website or read our blog to stay updated with modern network and IT Infrastructure monitoring and management.