How to Autostart Interactive Syslog Viewer

Overview

This FAQ explains how to configure Interactive Syslog Viewer to start automatically when Windows boots, ensuring continuous syslog monitoring without manual intervention.

Background

Interactive Syslog Viewer is a Windows application designed for real-time syslog message monitoring and analysis. By default, it must be launched manually after each system startup. For production environments or dedicated monitoring systems, automatic startup provides continuous availability.

The application supports command-line parameters that enable auto-listening mode, making it suitable for unattended operation.

Methods for Autostarting Interactive Syslog Viewer

There are two primary methods to configure Interactive Syslog Viewer to start automatically on Windows:

Method 1: Using Windows Startup Folder (Recommended for Current User)

This method starts the application automatically when the current user logs in.

Steps:

1. Locate the Startup folder

   • Press Win + R to open the Run dialog

   • Type shell:startup and press Enter

   • This opens the Startup folder for the current user

2. Create a shortcut to Interactive Syslog Viewer

   • Navigate to the Interactive Syslog Viewer installation directory (typically C:\Program Files (x86)\MonitorWare Agent\ or C:\Program Files (x86)\WinSyslog\)

   • Right-click on InterActive SyslogViewer.exe

   • Select “Create shortcut”

   • A shortcut will be created in the same directory

3. Configure the shortcut with command-line parameters

   • Right-click the newly created shortcut and select “Properties”

   • In the “Target” field, add the /autolisten parameter after the executable path

   • Example: "C:\Program Files (x86)\MonitorWare Agent\InterActive SyslogViewer.exe" /autolisten

   • Optionally, add other parameters such as /port=10514 to customize the listening port

   • Click “OK” to save changes

4. Move the shortcut to the Startup folder

   • Cut the configured shortcut from the installation directory

   • Paste it into the Startup folder opened in step 1

5. Verify the configuration

   • Restart your computer or log off and log back in

   • Interactive Syslog Viewer should start automatically and begin listening for syslog messages

Method 2: Using Windows Task Scheduler (Recommended for System-Wide Startup)

This method starts the application at system boot, regardless of user login, making it suitable for dedicated monitoring servers.

Steps:

1. Open Task Scheduler

   • Press Win + R to open the Run dialog

   • Type taskschd.msc and press Enter

   • Task Scheduler opens

2. Create a new task

   • In the right pane, click “Create Task…” (not “Create Basic Task”)

   • This opens the Create Task dialog

3. Configure General settings

   • Name: Enter a descriptive name, such as “Interactive Syslog Viewer Autostart”

   • Description: Optional description, e.g., “Automatically starts Interactive Syslog Viewer at system boot”

   • Security options:

     • Select “Run whether user is logged on or not”

     • Check “Run with highest privileges” if the application requires elevated permissions

     • Choose the user account under which the task should run

   • Configure for: Select your Windows version from the dropdown

4. Configure Triggers

   • Switch to the “Triggers” tab

   • Click “New…” to create a new trigger

   • In “Begin the task:” dropdown, select “At startup”

   • Optionally, set a delay (e.g., 30 seconds) to allow other services to start first

   • Click “OK” to save the trigger

5. Configure Actions

   • Switch to the “Actions” tab

   • Click “New…” to create a new action

   • Action: Ensure “Start a program” is selected

   • Program/script: Enter the full path to Interactive Syslog Viewer executable

     Example: C:\Program Files (x86)\MonitorWare Agent\InterActive SyslogViewer.exe

   • Add arguments (optional): Enter command-line parameters

     Example: /autolisten /port=10514

   • Click “OK” to save the action

6. Configure Conditions (Optional)

   • Switch to the “Conditions” tab

   • Review power and network conditions as needed

   • For dedicated monitoring servers, consider unchecking “Start the task only if the computer is on AC power”

7. Configure Settings

   • Switch to the “Settings” tab

   • Recommended settings:

     • Check “Allow task to be run on demand”

     • Check “Run task as soon as possible after a scheduled start is missed”

     • Uncheck “Stop the task if it runs longer than” (to allow continuous operation)

   • Click “OK” to create the task

8. Test the configuration

   • In Task Scheduler, find your newly created task

   • Right-click the task and select “Run”

   • Verify that Interactive Syslog Viewer starts correctly

   • Restart your computer to confirm automatic startup

Available Command-Line Parameters

Interactive Syslog Viewer supports the following command-line parameters for customization:

• /autolisten - Automatically start the syslog server upon launch

• /port=<port_number> - Override the configured listening port (e.g., /port=10514)

• /windowpos <x>,<y>,<width>,<height> - Set the default window position and size (e.g., /windowpos 0,0,512,800)

• /? - Display available command-line options

Example combined usage:

"C:\Program Files (x86)\MonitorWare Agent\InterActive SyslogViewer.exe" /autolisten /port=514 /windowpos 0,0,1024,768

Summary

Interactive Syslog Viewer can be configured to start automatically on Windows using either the Startup folder (for user-based startup) or Task Scheduler (for system-wide startup). The /autolisten command-line parameter enables automatic syslog listening, making the application suitable for unattended monitoring scenarios.

For production environments requiring robust syslog collection, logging, and processing capabilities, consider using WinSyslog or MonitorWare Agent, which are designed specifically for server-side syslog operations.