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Spector 360 relies on several software components:
A hidden Client Recorder installed on each computer
A set of Server Components installed
at a central computer, including:
(a) Primary Server
(b) Control Center
(c) Data Vault / Databases
(d) Web Filter Server (optional)
A Dashboard installed at select computers for monitoring user activity
Note: You can install one Client for each Client license purchased and one Primary Server per serial number.
A hidden program on each user's PC, the Client Recorder records all user activity. The Client captures email sent and received, chat and instant messaging, keystrokes typed, web sites visited, programs used, network connections made, documents transferred, log on/off times, and will send an email alert if a specified keyword is detected. The Client automatically uploads its recorded data to the Data Vault at regular intervals.
The Primary Server is a Windows service installed at a centralized computer. It communicates with the Client computers to provide licensing and software updates. The Client will not record unless it can establish network connection to the Primary Server. The Primary Server operates automatically, behind the scenes. As soon as your Spector 360 installation has been "unlocked," it assigns a license to each Client you install.
Installed at a centralized computer, the Control Center is an application that communicates with a Windows service (the Control Center Server) that sends configuration information and retrieves status and state information on all Clients. The Control Center Server processes multiple requests in parallel to facilitate communications with the clients, while the Control Center application allows remote installation, configuration and monitoring of the Client. Use the Control Center to specify types of activities to record, how often to take Screen Snapshots, and so on. See the Spector 360 Administrator's Guide for instructions on using the Control Center.
Spector 360 processes and allows viewing of recorded Client data using these components:
The Spector 360 Data Vault Server (a Windows Service) automatically communicates with Spector 360 Clients on the network and receives all recorded Client data. Every few minutes, the Data Vault Server processes recorded data for insertion into the Spector 360 Database and sends related Email Attachment and Screen Snapshot files to File Storage folders. You will manage the Data Vault Server settings from the Spector 360 Control Center.
The Spector 360 Database is a SQL Server instance that allows storage and retrieval of recorded Client data, Web Filtering data, Dashboard users, and other Dashboard information from several databases. Spector 360 uses Microsoft SQL Server 2005 or 2005 Express as its SQL Server database management system. If your Spector 360 purchase includes MS SQL Server 2005 Express, an additional Job Agent service (Spector360 SQL Agent) is included to handle certain database tasks. You will manage the Database using the Spector 360 Dashboard.
The File Storage location, external to the Database (by default located at C:\Spector360Data on the Database machine), holds Email Attachment and Screen Snapshot files associated with event data in the Database. All Dashboard users will require "permission" to access and read files from this location. The Dashboard provides Management tools to easily create a common Dashboard "share."
OPTIONAL. The Web Filter Server is a Windows service that automatically enforces Website Filtering rules. Client computers query the Web Filter Server before accessing the Internet, and the Web Filter Server applies filtering rules provided by the Spector 360 Database (as set up and enabled by Website Filtering in the Dashboard). If you will not be using Spector 360 Website Filtering, there is no need to install this component. See the Spector 360 Dashboard Guide for complete information on Website Filtering.
Installed on managers' PCs, the Dashboard connects to the Spector 360 Database and displays recorded data. The Dashboard allows managers to query the database by date, time, user, computer, and other event criteria. See the Spector 360 Dashboard Guide to learn how to use the Dashboard to review, analyze, and report on recorded data.
Note: You may install the Dashboard on as many computers as needed. Provide each Dashboard user with a login account that limits his or her access to specific users, user groups, computers, and/or types of events (e.g., keystrokes, email, file transfers).
