WatchDog - Tool to monitor file changes

WatchDog is simple windows service application to monitor file changes and send email alerts in local server. Main purpose of the application is to alert Consultants & IT administrators about accidental changes in configuration files.

Installation

Pre-reqs:

•   .NET Framework 4.5.2
•   User with Administrator priviliges

Installation Procedure

• Create folder “Watchdog” in your local drive ex: C:\WatchDog
• Download and copy the following files under “Watchdog”
  • WatchDog.exe
  • WatchDog.exe.config
  • FilesToWatch.cfg
  • readme.txt
• Open command prompt with Administrator priviliges and navigate to “WatchDog” folder
• Type and run command WatchDog.exe install
• On successful execution, windows service “WatchDog” installed in your computer

Download Link : https://www.dropbox.com/sh/kzbg2tbpe4oe2gh/AAAjJxwwsadxpGCe2PMpYPZaa?dl=0

To uninstall

• Open command prompt with Administrator priviliges and navigate to “WatchDog” folder
• Type and run command WatchDog.exe uninstall
• On successful execution, windows service “WatchDog” is uninstalled in your computer
• Delete “WatchDog” folder from your computer

Configuration details

File : WatchDog.exe.config

• Service -> FlexiContact.serviceName : Windows service name. This should be unique value in the local server. Default value: FxWatchDog
• Service -> FlexiContact.serviceDisplayName: Windows service display name. Default value: WatchDog
• Service -> FlexiContact.serviceDescription:  Windows service description. Default value: Windows Service to monitor file changes
• WatchDog.Properties.Settings -> smtp_host: SMTP Server IP address or host name
• WatchDog.Properties.Settings -> smtp_port: SMTP Server port number
• WatchDog.Properties.Settings -> smtp_userName: user name for SMTP authentication. Must be configured if “smtp_useSMTPAuthentication” set to ‘True’
• WatchDog.Properties.Settings -> smtp_userPassword: user password for SMTP authentication. Must be configured if “smtp_useSMTPAuthentication” set to ‘True’
• WatchDog.Properties.Settings -> smtp_fromAddress: From Address
• WatchDog.Properties.Settings -> smtp_toAddress: To Address. Use pipe delimiter to send email to multiple address. Ex: john@doe.com|findme@johndoe.com
• WatchDog.Properties.Settings -> smtp_enableSSL: Set to ‘True’ if SMTP Server requires SSL. Valid values: TRUE, FALSE
• WatchDog.Properties.Settings -> smtp_useSMTPAuthentication: Set to ‘True’ if SMTP Server requires authentication. Valid values: TRUE, FALSE

For changes to take effect, you need to restart application/service

File : FilesToWatch.cfg

Configure the folder and files to monitor for configuration changes. You need to configure each file in seperate row.

For example,

"C:\Temp\","*.log"

• “C:\Temp”    => Folder
• “*.log”        => File Pattern.

In this case, email alerts will be generated for any file with *.log extension in ‘C:\Temp’ folder.

log4net.config

WatchDog application Apache log4net library for logging. Please refer to https://logging.apache.org/log4net/release/manual/configuration.html