Copyright: Copyright ® 1995 Somar Software


Somar ReDial Help Contents
Somar™ ReDial™ Version 1.2 Help Contents

Copyright © 1995 Somar Software

Send problem reports and comments to 72202.2574@compuserve.com

For more information about the Somar product line, visit the Somar Software Web site at http://www.somar.com.

Overview

Installation/Uninstallation

.INI Parameters

Known bugs and limitations

License/Registration/Warranty Disclaimer


Overview of Somar ReDial
Overview

Somar ReDial is a Windows NT service that maintain a full-time dial-up PPP Internet or other RAS connection, by redialing whenever the connection is lost (for example, due to modem failure).

Since the program normally runs as a service, it is not necessary for a user to be logged on for the redialing to occur. Also, if the computer itself is restarted, the connection will be automatically established during system initialization.

Because some WINSOCK services, notably the EMWAC HTTP server that is part of the NT 3.5 resource kit, lock up when PPP TCP/IP the connection is stopped and restarted, Somar ReDial allows you to specify a list of services that are to be stopped and started whenever the connection is restarted.

Because some users are charged per call made (for example, I am charged $.06 per call), there is also an option to throttle the redialing attempts, so an excessive number of calls is not made during a period when the provider's modems are not working properly. If this option is not specified, unlimited redialing will occur until a connection is established.

Pseudo Code

Initialize

If RAS connection specified in REDIAL.INI is active

Goto Waitloop

Endif

Do forever

If stop requested for Somar ReDial service

Return

Endif

If new hour boundary reached

Reset dial count to 0

Endif

If dial count >= max retries per hour

Delay 1 minute

Else

Dial RAS connection

If any return code other than line busy

Increment dial count

Endif

If connection successful

Start services specified in REDIAL.INI

Do forever

Delay 10 seconds

Waitloop:

If stop requested for Somar ReDial service

Return

Endif

If RAS disconnect (due to modem dropout or other error)

Break loop

Endif

Enddo

Stop services specified in REDIAL.INI

Hang up RAS connection

Endif

Endif

Delay 10 seconds

Loop


Installation
Installation/Uninstallation

1) Place REDIAL.EXE, REDIAL.HLP and REDIAL.INI together in any directory. Note that because REDIAL.INI will contain password information, a special directory should be used to which ordinary users do not have read access.

2) Modify REDIAL.INI as appropriate. See .INI parameters for a description of the parameters in this file.

3) Normally, Somar ReDial is run as a service. However, for diagnostic or evaluation purposes, it is possible to run as a console application using the following command line:

REDIAL.EXE /run

4) To install Somar ReDial as a service, use the following command line:

REDIAL.EXE /install

The service must run under the LocalSystem account if it is to stop and start other services.

5) Somar ReDial adds event log entries when it is run as a service. The following event log registry key is created when Somar ReDial is installed as a service:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\EventLog\Application\Somar ReDial

6) To uninstall Somar Redial as a service and delete the event log registry key, use the following command line:

REDIAL.EXE /uninstall

7) Somar Redial must be uninstalled and reinstalled as a service if the .EXE file is ever moved to another directory.


.INI Parameters

Example REDIAL.INI file

[Parms]

EntryName=DIGEX

UserName=user1

Password=pass1

MaxTrysIn1Hour=4

Service0=HTTP Server

Service1=SMTP Server

Parameter	Description
EntryName	Name of RAS entry.
UserName	RAS Username.
Password	RAS Password.
MaxTrysIn1Hour	Max number of redialing attempts to make in 1 hour period. If this limit is reached, the program waits until the next hour period before redialing. A limit of 0, which is the default, indicates that there are no limits to redialing.  Dialing attempts which fail due to line busy are not counted. The hour boundaries used are not the local wall clock hour boundaries, but rather based on the hours the system was last booted. Since an hour is still an hour long, the net effect is the same - only so many dialing attempts per hour.
ServiceNNN	Display name or internal name of service which is to be stopped and restarted whenever the connection is stopped and restarted. Up to 50 services can be specified. The NNN values must start at 0, increase by 1 for each entry and be in ascending order.


Known bugs and limitations

1) Due to some sort of bug in RAS, you may encounter problems while trying to use the RAS manager while the Somar ReDial service is running. You can stop the service, then run the RAS manager, then restore, without disrupting the RAS connection.

2) If the RAS connection is active when the Somar Redial service is started, none of the services specified in the .INI file will be started or stopped, until the RAS connection fails. So, make sure these services are properly running, at the time you start the Somar ReDial service with the RAS connection active.

3) You need to make sure that the various Remote Access services and the services you want Somar ReDial to start are all configured using the Services applet of Control Panel for manual startup. Only Somar ReDial should be configured for automatic startup.


License/Registration/Warranty
License/Registration/Warranty Disclaimer

You should carefully read the following terms and conditions before using this software. Use of this software indicates your acceptance of these terms and conditions. If you do not agree with them, do not use the software.

License Agreement

This is not free software. You are hereby licensed to: use the Shareware Version of the software for a 21 day evaluation period; make as many copies of the Shareware version of this software and documentation as you wish; give exact copies of the original Shareware version to anyone; and distribute the Shareware version of the software and documentation in its unmodified form via electronic means.  There is no charge for any of the above.

You are specifically prohibited from charging, or requesting donations, for any such copies, however made; and from distributing the software and/or documentation with other products (commercial or otherwise) without prior written permission, with one exception: Disk Vendors approved by the Association of Shareware Professionals are permitted to redistribute Somar ReDial, subject to the conditions in this license, without specific written permission.

Unregistered use of Somar ReDial after the 21-day evaluation period is in violation of federal copyright laws.

To register, send a check payable to Somar Software in the amount of $10 in US dollars drawn on a US bank, to Somar Software, 1 Scott Circle NW Suite 816, Washington DC 20036, USA.

A single registered copy of Somar ReDial can only be installed on a single computer. Thus, if you have 3 computers on which you want to install Somar ReDial, you must register and pay for 3 copies of Somar ReDial.

Governing Law

This agreement shall be governed by the laws of the District of Columbia.

Disclaimer of Warranty

THIS SOFTWARE AND THE ACCOMPANYING FILES ARE SOLD "AS IS" AND WITHOUT WARRANTIES AS TO PERFORMANCE OF MERCHANTABILITY OR ANY OTHER WARRANTIES WHETHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED. IN PARTICULAR, THERE IS NO WARRANTY THAT SOMAR REDIAL WILL MAINTAIN A PPP OR OTHER RAS CONNECTION ON YOUR COMPUTER. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO MONITOR THE MESSAGES PRODUCED BY SOMAR REDIAL AND VERIFY THAT THE CONNECTION IS BEING MAINTAINED CORRECTLY. IN ADDITION, SOMAR ACTS IS NOT GUARANTEED TO RUN ON ANY PARTICULAR COMPUTER, DUE TO THE GREAT VARIETY OF COMPUTER SOFTWARE/HARDWARE CONFIGURATIONS AND DIFFERENT TYPES OF PPP CONNECTIONS, UPON MOST OF WHICH SOMAR REDIAL HAS NOT BEEN TESTED. THERE IS NO WARRANTY OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

GOOD DATA PROCESSING PROCEDURE DICTATES THAT ANY PROGRAM BE THOROUGHLY TESTED BEFORE RELYING ON IT. THE USER MUST ASSUME THE ENTIRE RISK OF USING THE PROGRAM. ANY LIABILITY OF THE SELLER WILL BE LIMITED EXCLUSIVELY TO PRODUCT REPLACEMENT OR REFUND OF PURCHASE PRICE.