UNC Path Checks Test

It is normal practice for Windows users to access folders on remote servers using the UNC path of those servers.

Typically, if a user does not have the required access permissions to the remote server, or if the remote server is down, or if the network link to the remote server breaks, then that user will be unable to access that remote server using its UNC path.

To alert administrators to the inaccessibility of specific remote servers/folders well before users complain, the UNC Path Checks test periodically checks whether/not the UNC path configured for each of those remote servers is available. The time taken to access the remote server/folder is also reported, so that administrators are notified of probable network latencies.

This test is disabled by default. To enable the test, go to the enable / disable tests page using the menu sequence : Agents -> Tests -> Enable/Disable, pick the desired Component type, set Performance as the Test type, choose the test from the DISABLED TESTS list, and click on the << button to move the test to the ENABLED TESTS list. Finally, click the Update button.

Target of the test : A Windows host

Agent deploying the test : An internal agent

Outputs of the test : One set of results for every sharename configured

Configurable parameters for the test
Parameter Description

Test Period

How often should the test be executed.

Host

The host for which the test is to be configured.

Port

The port at which the specified host listens. By default, this is NULL.

Share name

Clicking on the button here will invoke a CONFIGURATION OF WINDOWS SHARES window, where you can configure the details of the UNC paths to be monitored. To know how to configure the UNC paths and their access details, refer to Configuring the UNC Paths.

Measurements made by the test

Measurement

Description

Measurement Unit

Interpretation

Availability

Indicates whether/not this UNC path is accessible.

 

If the configured UNC path is available, then this measure will report the value Yes. If the value of this measure is No, it means that the UNC path is unavailable/inaccessible.

Typically, if a user does not have the required access permissions to the remote server, or if the remote server is down, or if the network link to the remote server breaks, then that user will be unable to access that remote server using that UNC path.

The numeric values that correspond to the measure values (Yes/No) are listed in the table below:

Measure Value Numeric Value
Yes 100
No 0

Note:

By default, the measure reports the Measure Values only to indicate the accessibility / availability of the UNC path. In the graph of this measure however, the same is achieved using the numeric equivalents only.

Response time

Indicates the time taken to access this UNC path.

Secs

Ideally, the value of this measure should be low.

A high value could be indicative of a latent network connection between the agent host and the remote server being accessed.

Configuring the UNC Paths

As already mentioned, to configure the UNC paths, you need to click on the Configuration icon button against ShareName in the test configuration page. Figure 2 will then appear.

Configuring UNC Paths

Figure 2 : Configuring the UNC Paths

In Figure 2, specify the following:

  • Display Name - Provide a meaningful display name for your specification. This is the name that will be displayed as the descriptor of the test.

  • Share Name - Specify the UNC Path of the remote server/folder that has to be monitored. Your specification can be, \\192.168.10.24\Share.

  • Domain Name - Indicate the domain to which the user with access rights to the configured remote server/folder belongs.

  • Username, Password, and Confirm Password -  Against Username and Password, enter the credentials of a user who has rights to access the configured Share name. Confirm the password of the user by retyping it in the Confirm Password text box.

To save the specification, click the Update button in Figure 2. To cancel/clear the specification, click Clear. If you want to add another UNC path for monitoring, then click Add More. If this is done, then an additional row will appear in Figure 2, using which you can add one more UNC path and its access credentials. To remove a particular UNC path from monitoring, simply click the encircled '-' corresponding to that path specification in Figure 2.