Help for WATCHDOG

Presentation


WATCHDOG is a program which is intended to run together with SIMPLEX, V1.8.2 and later, inside a repeater.
Its purpose is to watch the good functioning of SIMPLEX. This watching is done through the TCPIP server of SIMPLEX.
When working normally, SIMPLEX sends “pings” every minute to its connected clients. These “pings” are simple 5-characters ASCII strings of “ ZZZZZ ”.
WATCHDOG watches the regular emission of these “pings” by SIMPLEX. If they are not received regularly, WATCHDOG decides that SIMPLEX is not working correctly. Then it closes SIMPLEX - and also INTERCOMM and COUCOU if required – and restarts the relevant programs.

CAUTION : When restarting the programs, the restored configuration will be the last one that has been saved. To be sure that this configuration is the good one, it is very important that these configurations are saved before starting WATCHDOG.

Initialisation

When starting WATCHDOG, the later recommendation is reminded to you.
The first operation to do is to fill the pathname field of SIMPLEX and eventually the pathname field of INTERCOMM and COUCOU. Use the Browse buttons for this. If both fields are filled, both programs will be closed and restarted.

You can test the good opening and starting of your programs with the Test Open and Test Close buttons. You may then verify that the configuration is the right one when restarting the programs.
The full re-initialisation sequence can be tested with the Init button. It is highly recommended to test this full sequence so that you can verify that every thing will work correctly after restarting : configurations are OK and server connections are OK.

To connect WATCHDOG to the SIMPLEX server, proceed as following : At first, verify that the SIMPLEX server is active ( see DTMF panel, icon TCPIP, in SIMPLEX), then note the IP address and port number of SIMPLEX and set these two data in the WATCHDOG window. Then click the Connect IP button.
If the connection succeeds, the message “ Server connected ” must appears. If not, verify that the SIMPLEX server is active and that IP addresses and Port numbers are the same in SIMPLEX and WATCHDOG.

If the server is connected, then the watching begins. One minute later, the message “ SIMPLEX OK ” must appears. This means that SIMPLEX works normally.
As soon as WATCHDOG detects an abnormal functioning of SIMPLEX, the message “SIMPLEX lost” will appear and WATCHDOG will close and restart SIMPLEX (and INTERCOMM and COUCOU if required).
The watching restarts if everything has been reset normally.
A file named « watchdog.log » dates and logs the main actions of the watchdog : Start, Quit, Connection and disconnection from the server, Reset of the associated programs.

Mains power OFF

In case of mains power shutdown, WATCHDOG will automatically launch the programs SIMPLEX and INTERCOM if the relevant checkboxes in the left panel are selected. The functioning of the repeater will restart normally. Some precautions must nevertheless be taken :

- The program Watchdog must be included in the Start programs of Windows, other else WATCHDOG will not restart when mains power is here again. If a local network is implemented in your machine, you will have to insert Watchdog in a batch file which includes a delay to let the network be fully installed when restarting Windows and before running Watchdog. For example, when needing a delay of one minute, you can use the following batch file : ping 127.0.0.1 -n 60 > NUL cd c:/watchdog_directory start watchdog.exe The ping command generates a delay of approximately one second. You can also use the sleep command if it is available in your machine.

- Your computer must itself restart when mains power comes up again. For that, verify in the BIOS of your computer that the option is enabled (ON or AUTO).

- When you change the configuration of the WATCHDOG, save the actual configuration other else it will be lost if mains power is shutdown.

Utilisation without SIMPLEX

Obviously, it is possible to use WATCHDOG to close and restart manually up to three applications in your computer.

You may also create your own application that generate identical “pings” as those generated by SIMPLEX. When connected to the server of your own application, WATCHDOG will watch your application and reset it if bad functioning.