Client Local Data Files Settings

Configure the settings from:

Client Deployment Utility - Pre-configure the security options in the Client installation file Security
Control Center >Configure Computer View > Client Settings - Select security options to enable or disable

Why is this needed?

All recorded events are first stored locally on the Client before being uploaded to the Data Vault. From the Data Vault, the recorded events can be archived.
Reasons for increasing storage size include if the Client is a laptop and is not always connected to the network and the Data Vault.
The events are stored in hidden data files in a Windows system folder. After the events are uploaded, they are deleted.

See Client Local Storage Recording Overview for a overview.

Data Files

Random Folder - Select to locally store the recorded hidden data files a randomly created Windows System folder.
Specified Folder - Select to specify a folder on the Client computer to store hidden data files. Type the path in the box provided (available when this option is selected).

Extension - Specify the file extension to be used for all files created in the Data File Folder. The default file extension is .SDF.

Password - Password-protect the data files. Click the Set button to open the Enter New Password box. Type and verify a password to access the data files. If a password is set, the recorded data will be encrypted with a security key and will not be subject to unauthorized access.
Hide Data Files in Windows Explorer - Select this option to set the Windows "Hidden file" attribute for data files, where recorded information is stored. Setting the hidden file attribute hides them from view in MS Explorer.

Snapshot Data Files

Delete Data After n Days - Set a number of days after which to delete the locally stored Snapshots. Default is 30 days. If events are being uploaded over the network to the Data Vault, the Snapshots will be transferred and cleared from the local computer frequently every day. If the maximum days is exceeded for any Snapshot file, it will be deleted.
Maximum Data Size n MB - Set a data storage maximum size limit for Snapshots. Default is 500 MB. If you are recording Snapshots in color and if the network connection to the Data Vault is not available, Snapshots will be deleted after the limit is reached (starting with the oldest files first).

Other Data Files

Delete Data After n Days - Set a number of days after which to delete the other locally stored event files. Default is 45 days. If events are being uploaded over the network to the Data Vault, events will be transferred and cleared from the local computer frequently every day. If the maximum days is exceeded for any file, the file will be deleted.
Maximum Data Size n MB - Set data storage maximum size limit for recorded events. Default is 30 MB. With normal uploading to the Data Vault, this limit will almost never be exceeded. If the network connection to the Data Vault is not available and data size exceeds the maximum, the oldest recordings will be deleted to meet the set maximum size.

Note If you wish to store data indefinitely, place a zero (0) in both the Maximum Data Size and Delete Data After fields. Data will never be deleted using these settings if unable to connect to the Data Vault.

Local Data Folders and Files

The default local storage folders for recorded data files depends upon Windows operating system installed. The files are stored locally and "*" indicates this folder is randomly created during installation.

Windows NT and 2000 - Path to the data folder is: C:\winnt\system32\*
Windows XP - Path to the data folder is: C:\Windows\system32\*
Windows 98 and ME - Path for the data folder is: C:\windows\system\*

You can specify to store the data files in a different Windows folder. In addition to accepting a standard Windows folder path specification, the Data File Folder configuration allows the following variables to be used:

%systemroot% - will substitute the Windows system folder name on the computer.
%systemroot%\spectorhidden\ would translate to c:\windows\system32\spectorhidden on a Windows XP Professional computer and would translate to c:\winnt\system32\spectorhhidden on a Windows 2000 system
%user% - will substitute the User log on name.
%computer% - will substitute the Windows computer name.